1980 Cartier Tank Ref.78086

Few designs in watchmaking (or in general) have remained as consistent and as relevant as the Cartier Tank. Introduced in 1917, it’s been worn by artists, writers, and icons of every stripe. Its rectangular case, Roman numerals, and railroad minute track have barely changed over the decades, and for good reason: it just works.
This example, believed to be from 1980, is built in solid 18k yellow gold, unlike the far more common vermeil (gold-plated silver) Tanks on the market. Despite its ultra-slim 6.5mm case thickness, it’s powered by an in-house manually wound mechanical movement, a significant technical achievement for that era. The white enamel lacquer dial is especially well-preserved, with crisp black Roman numerals, railroad minute track, and the signature blued sword hands. The printing is clean and sharp, with no signs of discoloration or fading. The case and original buckle show minor surface wear consistent with age, and the original blue cabochon crown is still present. 
All-in-all, this is an excellent example of a solid gold, manual-wind Tank from the early 1980s - clean and elegant, with painstaking attention to detail.

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