What is the Tank Basculante Ref. 2386?

The small steel Basculante, which Artcurial catalogs as the petit modèle: a 22 × 32 mm stainless steel case that pivots inside its frame so the dial can be turned to face the wrist, with a quartz movement, a sapphire cabochon in the crown and a white, silvered or gray dial.

How is the 2386 different from the 2405?

Both are stainless steel quartz Basculantes. The 2386 measures 22 × 32 mm; the Ref. 2405 is the mid-size model at about 23 × 35 mm. Measure the case and read the reference on the back, since the two look alike in photographs.

How is the 2386 different from the 2390?

The Ref. 2390 is larger, about 25 × 38.5 mm, and hand-wound on the Cartier Cal. 060 MC. The 2386 is smaller and runs on a quartz movement. Both are stainless steel with a case that swings face down in its frame.

What should the case back of a 2386 read?

The reference 2386 and a case number ending CD. Catalogs print five-digit numbers such as 47346CD, 48118CD and 73155CD and six-digit numbers such as 351080CD and 354891CD.

When was the 2386 made?

Aguttes and Artcurial date examples circa 1990, a catalog estimate. The earliest dated papers found are from 1999, and other catalogs date examples circa 2000 and into the 2000s.

Cartier · Tank Basculante

Tank Basculante, Small Model, Steel, Quartz

Ref. 2386c. 1990–2000s

The Cartier Tank Basculante Ref. 2386 is the small model of the steel Basculante: a 22 × 32 mm stainless steel quartz watch made c. 1990–2000s, with a case that pivots in its frame to turn face down.

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Specifications

Reference: 2386; Small model, stainless steel, reversible case, quartz
Year: c. 1990–2000s; Aguttes and Artcurial date examples circa 1990 and Bulang & Sons to the 1990s; the earliest papers found are dated 1999 (European Watch Co.), and Antiquorum and Heritage date examples circa 2000
Movement: Quartz; Cartier quartz; caliber not confirmed by two sources
Case: 22 × 32 mm, Stainless Steel
Dial: White, silvered or gray; Roman numerals with a railway minute track on white and silvered dials; a gray patterned dial with Arabic numerals is also cataloged
Hands: Blued steel
Crystal: Sapphire; Sapphire crystal (Heritage); the crown is set with a sapphire cabochon
Strap: Leather; Leather strap with a Cartier steel buckle or deployant clasp; Heritage cataloged one on a Cartier suede and fabric strap

Visual Description

The 2386 is the small model of the steel Basculante: a 22 × 32 mm stainless steel case held in a frame on two pivots, with the crown at 12 set with a sapphire cabochon. Pressed at one end, the case swings through the frame to lie face down against the wrist. European Watch Co. gives the case as 6 mm thick.

Most cataloged examples have a white or silvered dial with black Roman numerals, a railway minute track and blued steel hands. Gray patterned dials are also cataloged, one with white Arabic numerals. The watch comes on a leather strap with a Cartier steel buckle or a steel deployant clasp.

Reference Significance

The 2386 is the small quartz model of the steel Basculante line. It sits below the mid-size quartz Ref. 2405, about 23 × 35 mm, and the hand-wound Ref. 2390, about 25 × 38.5 mm on the Cartier Cal. 060 MC. Antiquorum titles one example a lady's Basculante, and Artcurial calls it the petit modèle.

Historical Context

Two French auction catalogs, Aguttes and Artcurial, date their 2386s circa 1990, but the earliest papers found are dated 1999, on an example European Watch Co. sold. Other catalogs date examples circa 2000 and into the 2000s, so the page gives c. 1990–2000s.

What to Look For

Read the case back for 2386 and a case number ending CD, then measure the case: 22 × 32 mm is the 2386, and a case of about 23 × 35 mm is the 2405. Work the mechanism: the case should swing smoothly through its frame and seat firmly at each position, without wobble at the pivots. Check that the sapphire cabochon is present in the crown, and that the dial printing is crisp and even. A Cartier buckle or deployant clasp should be steel and signed.

Known Variants

Documented dial, case, and bracelet variations of Ref. 2386.

White or Silvered Dial, Roman Numerals

A white or silvered dial with black Roman numerals and a railway minute track, as Aguttes, Artcurial, Christie's and European Watch Co. catalog it.

c. 1990–1999 (dated examples)Documented at three auction houses and two dealers

Gray Patterned Dial

A gray patterned dial, cataloged by Antiquorum on case 354891CD and by Heritage, as grayish silver with white Arabic numerals, on case 351080CD.

c. 2000 (dated examples)Documented at two auction houses

How to tell it apart

What separates a Ref. 2386 from its neighbors, and what to check before you buy or sell one.

What is the Tank Basculante Ref. 2386?: The small steel Basculante, which Artcurial catalogs as the petit modèle: a 22 × 32 mm stainless steel case that pivots inside its frame so the dial can be turned to face the wrist, with a quartz movement, a sapphire cabochon in the crown and a white, silvered or gray dial.
How is the 2386 different from the 2405?: Both are stainless steel quartz Basculantes. The 2386 measures 22 × 32 mm; the Ref. 2405 is the mid-size model at about 23 × 35 mm. Measure the case and read the reference on the back, since the two look alike in photographs.
How is the 2386 different from the 2390?: The Ref. 2390 is larger, about 25 × 38.5 mm, and hand-wound on the Cartier Cal. 060 MC. The 2386 is smaller and runs on a quartz movement. Both are stainless steel with a case that swings face down in its frame.
What should the case back of a 2386 read?: The reference 2386 and a case number ending CD. Catalogs print five-digit numbers such as 47346CD, 48118CD and 73155CD and six-digit numbers such as 351080CD and 354891CD.
When was the 2386 made?: Aguttes and Artcurial date examples circa 1990, a catalog estimate. The earliest dated papers found are from 1999, and other catalogs date examples circa 2000 and into the 2000s.