What is the Tank Américaine Ref. 1735?

The large manual-wind Américaine in 18k yellow gold: a curved 26 × 45 mm case, a cream or white dial with black Roman numerals, blued sword hands and a sapphire cabochon crown, on an alligator strap or a gold bracelet. Sotheby's catalogs it at 45 × 26 mm on a Piaget-based Cal. 9P2 with 18 jewels.

Is the 1735 the same as the 1735-1?

Archiva treats them as the same watch. Sotheby's catalogs a Ref. 1735 and a Ref. 1735 1 at the same 45 × 26 to 26.5 mm size, in 18k yellow gold, on a 9P2 manual movement. The suffix appears to be a case-back variant.

A CPCP limited edition. European Watch Co. sells the plain 1735 under the Collection Privée name too, so the letter on the case back is what separates them. Sotheby's sold a 1735B with a cream dial and a case number reading 113/170, and Loupe This lists a CPCP 1735B at 26.5 × 45 mm. It is a separate reference with its own number, so confirm the letter on the case back.

How do I tell the 1735 from the 1741?

The 1741 is the white gold automatic with a date at 6 and the Cal. 120. The 1735 is yellow gold and hand-wound with no date. Both measure about 26 × 45 mm.

What movement is in the 1735?

A hand-wound Piaget-based movement. Sotheby's catalogs Cal. 9P2 with 18 jewels on both the 1735 and the 1735-1. European Watch Co. names Cartier Cal. 430 MC on two 1735 watches, so sources disagree on the label.

When was the 1735 made?

Catalogs disagree. European Watch Co. gives a 1998 release and Bulang & Sons dates a serial to 1998, and Sotheby's dates two watches c. 2000. Sotheby's dates one c. 1990 and Amsterdam Vintage Watches dates one c. 1995. Archiva publishes c. 1998–early 2000s as an estimate.

Cartier · Tank Américaine

Tank Américaine, Yellow Gold, Large, Manual Wind

Ref. 1735 · c. 1998–early 2000s

Also catalogued as 1735-1

The Cartier Tank Américaine Ref. 1735 is a large 26 × 45 mm 18k yellow gold manual-wind Américaine made c. 1998–early 2000s on a Piaget-based movement, with no date, which separates it from the automatic Ref. 1741.

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Specifications

Reference

1735

Large, 18k yellow gold, manual wind

Year

c. 1998–early 2000s

Estimated from documented examples; European Watch Co. gives a 1998 release, Bulang & Sons dates a serial to 1998 and Sotheby's dates watches c. 2000, while Sotheby's dates one c. 1990 and Amsterdam Vintage Watches one c. 1995

Movement

Manual

Piaget-based hand-wound movement, catalogued by Sotheby's as Cal. 9P2 with 18 jewels and by European Watch Co. as Cartier Cal. 430 MC; catalogs disagree on the label

Case

26 × 45 mm, 18k Yellow Gold

Dial

Cream, white or silvered guilloché

Black painted Roman numerals, railroad minute track, hidden signature in the VII; a guilloché center on some examples

Hands

Blued steel

Sword-shaped

Crystal

Sapphire

Listed by dealers; catalog entries do not state it

Strap

Alligator leather or 18k yellow gold bracelet

Leather examples carry an 18k yellow gold buckle; others sit on a five-link gold bracelet with a butterfly or deployant clasp; sapphire cabochon crown

Visual Description

The 1735 is the Américaine at its longest in manual-wind form: an 18k yellow gold case about 26 mm wide and 45 mm long, curved to follow the wrist. Sotheby's catalogs it at 45 × 26 mm and 45 × 26.5 mm, and Amsterdam Vintage Watches measures one at 44.5 × 26.5 mm. The dial is cream or white with black painted Roman numerals and a railroad minute track, and some dealers describe a guilloché center. Blued steel sword hands cross it, and a sapphire cabochon sits on the crown. Most auction examples are on a black alligator strap with a gold buckle; dealers also sell it on a five-link gold bracelet.

Reference Significance

The 1735 is the hand-wound counterpart to the automatic Ref. 1741 in the large Américaine. It has no date and no center seconds, which leaves the dial clean, and its movement is a thin Piaget-based caliber: Sotheby's catalogs Cal. 9P2 with 18 jewels, while European Watch Co. names Cartier Cal. 430 MC. The labels differ but both point to a Piaget base.

The family has branches that share the case. European Watch Co. also sells the 1735 under the Collection Privée name. The 1735-1 is a case-back variant that Sotheby's lists at the same size and movement, including a salmon-dial watch made to mark King Rama IX's 50th anniversary. The 1735B is the CPCP limited edition, with a case number of the form 113/170 on the Sotheby's lot, and it is a separate reference.

Historical Context

The Tank Américaine was introduced in 1989, but the manual-wind 1735 came later. European Watch Co. gives a 1998 release and calls it one of the few manual-wind Américaine references, and Bulang & Sons dates a 1735-1 serial to 1998. Sotheby's dates two lots c. 2000, one c. 1990 and Amsterdam Vintage Watches one c. 1995. Archiva publishes c. 1998–early 2000s and records the earlier dates as dissent.

Examples change hands regularly at specialist dealers: European Watch Co., Bulang & Sons and Amsterdam Vintage Watches have all sold them. Sotheby's offered a 1735 in a November 2019 online sale and a 1735-1 in a Hong Kong sale in September 2020, and offered 1735B watches in 2024 and 2025.

What to Look For

Confirm the reference and its suffix on the case back, then the movement: a hand-wound Piaget-based caliber with no date. A date aperture means a different reference such as the 1741. Check the case for polishing, because the Américaine's curves and sharp lug transitions flatten quickly, and check the hallmarks on the inner case back.

The dial should have crisp numerals and, where fitted, an even guilloché center; Bulang & Sons notes a hidden signature in the VII, which a refinished dial often loses. Salmon, cream and white dials are all documented, so judge originality by print quality rather than color. On bracelet watches, check that the bracelet and clasp are Cartier and match the case, because Bulang & Sons sold one on its original full gold Cartier bracelet with a concealed clasp. Leather examples should carry an 18k gold buckle.

Known Variants

Documented dial, case, and bracelet variations of Ref. 1735.

Cream or White Dial, Leather Strap

The most common configuration at auction: a white or cream dial with black Roman numerals on a black alligator strap and an 18k yellow gold buckle.

c. 1998–early 2000sPrimary documented variant

Gold Bracelet

Dealers have sold the watch on a five-link 18k yellow gold bracelet with a butterfly or double deployant clasp.

c. 1998–early 2000sDocumented at several dealers

Salmon Dial, Rama IX Commemorative

Sotheby's sold a Ref. 1735-1 with a salmon dial and an 18k pink gold folding clasp, cataloged as made to mark the 50th anniversary of King Rama IX. Sotheby's dates that watch c. 1990, earlier than the other sources.

Single catalog entrySingle source

Diamond Bezel

DeMesy listed a Ref. 1735 with a two-row factory diamond bezel on a gold bracelet. Treat as a single-source variant.

Not statedSingle source

How to tell it apart

What separates a Ref. 1735 from its neighbors, and what to check before you buy or sell one.

What is the Tank Américaine Ref. 1735?: The large manual-wind Américaine in 18k yellow gold: a curved 26 × 45 mm case, a cream or white dial with black Roman numerals, blued sword hands and a sapphire cabochon crown, on an alligator strap or a gold bracelet. Sotheby's catalogs it at 45 × 26 mm on a Piaget-based Cal. 9P2 with 18 jewels.
Is the 1735 the same as the 1735-1?: Archiva treats them as the same watch. Sotheby's catalogs a Ref. 1735 and a Ref. 1735 1 at the same 45 × 26 to 26.5 mm size, in 18k yellow gold, on a 9P2 manual movement. The suffix appears to be a case-back variant.
What is the 1735B?: A CPCP limited edition. European Watch Co. sells the plain 1735 under the Collection Privée name too, so the letter on the case back is what separates them. Sotheby's sold a 1735B with a cream dial and a case number reading 113/170, and Loupe This lists a CPCP 1735B at 26.5 × 45 mm. It is a separate reference with its own number, so confirm the letter on the case back.
How do I tell the 1735 from the 1741?: The 1741 is the white gold automatic with a date at 6 and the Cal. 120. The 1735 is yellow gold and hand-wound with no date. Both measure about 26 × 45 mm.
What movement is in the 1735?: A hand-wound Piaget-based movement. Sotheby's catalogs Cal. 9P2 with 18 jewels on both the 1735 and the 1735-1. European Watch Co. names Cartier Cal. 430 MC on two 1735 watches, so sources disagree on the label.
When was the 1735 made?: Catalogs disagree. European Watch Co. gives a 1998 release and Bulang & Sons dates a serial to 1998, and Sotheby's dates two watches c. 2000. Sotheby's dates one c. 1990 and Amsterdam Vintage Watches dates one c. 1995. Archiva publishes c. 1998–early 2000s as an estimate.