Women's Cartier Watches

Founded in Paris in 1847, Cartier is the consummate French Jeweler, specializing in acutely modern, supremely elegant jewelry designs and some of the world’s most sought-after timepieces. Of these, the most legendary is Tank, a triumph of design that’s been a mainstay of the maison since 1917 (its shape is loosely based on the tracks of a World War I-era Renault tank).

Most vintage Cartier Tank watches will bear the hallmarks of the original: Roman numerals, sleek, sword- or spade-shaped hands and a blue cabochon sapphire winding crown.

Over the years, Cartier has introduced many iterations of Tank, with the classic rectangular face elongating or squaring off, the sleek, polished "chemin de fer" decorated with diamond pavé or the leather strap replaced by gleaming gold or stainless bracelet links.

Style Icons

The classic design has resonated with a number of stylish women, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Catherine Deneuve, Princess Diana, Charlotte Rampling, Jacqueline Bisset, and Angelina Jolie. The maison’s other horological style icons include Santos (named for Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont); Pasha (distinguished by a round face and four Arabic numerals); and Panthere (an homage to one of Cartier’s heritage motifs with a slinky, supple bracelet formed by overlapping, interwoven links).

Quick Facts

• The Tank watch has had cameos in a number of stylish films, especially in the 1960s (e.g., "La Piscine" and "Let's Make Love")
• Sir Elton John has worn Cartier watches throughout his career (and even wrote a song about the maison in 1980)
• One of Cartier’s first-ever sales in America was that of a certain 45.52-carat blue diamond—the Hope Diamond