Jaeger Lecoultre ‘Tank’ 6129.21

At a glance, this is a Cartier. But upon close study, this JLC ‘Tank’ presents a very charming alternative to the French monolith. If you like the aesthetic of Cartier but want a Swiss watchmaker’s expertise, this may be your best option.

The 6129 features a slightly more rounded 18K YG case with a snap back and cabochon sapphire crown. The Calibre 846 is adjusted to four positions, manually wound. In a white dial with Roman indices, it is a timeless design. This model was the predecessor to the Ladies’ Reverso, which remains in their line today. It’s not an icon in the same way that an actual Tank is. It’s a more lighthearted, earnest variation of the popular theme.

This example comes from Arbitro, a small retailer in Japan with an eccentric inventory. There’s no outsized appreciation tagged on the ask here, like you doubtless would receive with a 70s Tank. Despite that, these aren’t exactly common. Particularly with white Roman Dials. One went at Antiquorum a some years back but I haven’t seen another since. If you’re a fan of rectangular dress pieces, you really cannot go wrong with this JLC (unless you have larger wrists, 33mm case).

Find this 6129.21 here from Arbitro for 4000 USD.