How much will a dealer pay for a Tank Cintrée?

Dealers buying to resell usually bid below public market value, because they carry the cost and risk of the resale. At this level the right route depends on the specific watch, so Archiva talks each sale through with the owner personally first.

What makes the Tank Cintrée different from other Tanks?

It curves. The Cintrée, which Phillips and Sotheby's date to 1921, draws the Tank out into a long rectangle bent from end to end to follow the wrist, with Roman numerals graduated to the long dial.

Is the Tank Cintrée rare?

No production figures appear in the sources consulted. Phillips writes that for many decades the Cintrée was made in very small numbers or to order. The Collection Privée Ref. 2843 of about 2004 was a platinum edition of 50.

What do 7 lignes, 8 lignes and 9 lignes mean on a Cintrée?

Case sizes. Phillips writes that the first Cintrées came in three sizes, 7, 8 and 9 lignes, dictated by the size of the movement inside, and calls the 9-ligne Grand Tank Cintrée the largest, at about 23 × 46 mm. A platinum example of 1929 with an 8-ligne movement measures 36 × 20.5 mm; the sources consulted do not measure a 7-ligne case.

What should I check before buying a Tank Cintrée?

The curve first: sight along the case for dents or flat spots. Then compare the hand-stamped Cartier numbers on the case and the clasp, which match on examples Phillips and Sotheby's have sold; check that the hand-wound movement fits the period, most often signed European Watch & Clock Co. on early examples, and that the metal matches the case marks. Look closely at the dial, since a dealer has described the dial of one platinum example as reprinted.

Cartier

Tank Cintrée

The curved Tank of 1921: a long rectangular case bent from end to end to follow the wrist, made in 18k gold and platinum with hand-wound movements.

What's it worth?View references Collector's Corner

History

The First Curved Tank

Phillips and Sotheby's date the Tank Cintrée, the curved Tank, to 1921. The case is a Tank drawn out into a long rectangle and bent from end to end to follow the wrist, with Roman numerals graduated to the long dial.

Phillips writes that the Cintrée was crafted and sold in the Paris workshop and later adopted by Cartier New York and London, and that for many decades it was made in very small numbers or to order.

The First Sizes

Phillips writes that the first Cintrées came in three sizes, 7, 8 and 9 lignes, dictated by the movements inside. The largest, the 9-ligne Grand Tank Cintrée, measures about 23 × 46 mm; a platinum example of 1929 with an 8-ligne movement measures 36 × 20.5 mm, and the sources consulted do not measure a 7-ligne case.

The early production is documented in platinum in the 1920s, in 18k yellow gold from about 1925 to about 1950 and in 18k white gold in the 1930s, hand-wound on movements most often signed European Watch & Clock Co.

Later Cintrées

Cintrées without reference numbers were also made after the early production; catalogs document one of 1965 and one of about 1976.

The dual-time Ref. 11061 of the 1990s puts two independent hand-wound cal. 2412 movements, each with its own crown, in a curved 25 × 45 mm case of platinum or 18k white gold, with the dial split into two time zones.

The Collection Privée Cartier Paris, launched in 1998, revived the Cintrée as the Ref. 2843: a hand-wound platinum edition of 50 at 23 × 46 mm on the Cal. 9770 MC, which Phillips and Monaco Legend date to about 2004, with Arabic numerals in place of Roman ones.

What to Look For

Sight along the case for dents or flat spots in the curve, compare the hand-stamped Cartier numbers on the case and the clasp, and check that the movement and the metal fit the period and the case marks. Look closely at the dial: a dealer has described the dial of one platinum example as reprinted.

Quintessential Reference

Tank Cintrée (1921) · Launched 1921; examples c. 1925–1950s

Reference photography unavailable.

Want to sponsor this reference with your studio photography? Become a sponsor

Reference: Tank Cintrée (1921); Early production, curved case, manual wind
Year: Launched 1921; examples c. 1925–1950s; Phillips and Sotheby's give 1921 for the introduction; dated examples run from about 1925 to about 1950
Movement: Manual-wind; Movements by the European Watch & Clock Co. (cal. 9''') or Cartier cal. 460-1B, by example
Case: About 23 × 46 mm, 18k gold or platinum
Dial: White; Chemin de fer minute track, stretched Roman numerals
Hands: Blued steel; Sword-shaped
Crystal: Mineral glass
Strap: Leather; Cartier deployant clasps, some numbered to match the case; one example on a bracelet

The original Tank Cintrée, which Phillips and Sotheby's date to 1921: a long rectangular case curved from end to end to follow the wrist, about 23 × 46 mm in its largest size, in 18k gold or platinum. Dated examples run from about 1925 to the 1950s, hand-wound on movements most often signed European Watch & Clock Co., with Roman numerals graduated to the long dial.

Other Known References

2 documented references across 2 eras

Art Deco & Interwar1920–1945

1 ref

	Reference	Case Material	Movement	Case Size	Dial	Crystal
	Tank Cintrée (1921)18k gold or platinum · Manual-wind	18k gold or platinum	Manual-wind	About 23 × 46 mm	White	Mineral glass

Reunion & Democratization1964–1992

1 ref

	Reference	Case Material	Movement	Case Size	Dial	Crystal
	Ref. 11061Platinum · Manual-wind	Platinum	Manual-wind	25 × 45 mm	Silvered, split in two

What is a Cartier Tank Cintrée worth?

Choose your reference, set its condition, and see what it's likely to bring. Each estimate uses sales of that exact reference where there are enough of them.

Which reference is yours?Tank Cintrée (1921)Early production, curved case, manual wind6 salesRef. 11061Dual time, two manual-wind movements, platinumStill gathering

Versions without a reference page yet1960s–1980s, Paris and London, gold7 sales

ConditionVery good

Needs workFairVery goodExcellentExceptional

The typical public example: light wear, original-looking dial, runs well. This is the baseline.

Unpolished case+20% on the estimateMade by Cartier London+25% on the estimateOriginal gold bracelet+10% on the estimate

Estimated market value

$78,450

Likely range $70,600 to $86,250

Median of 6 sales of the Tank Cintrée (1921), Nov 2023 to Nov 2026.

Median $78,450

Condition: Very good ×1.00

A watch at this level deserves a conversation first.

Above $50,000, the right sale depends on the specific watch: its history, its papers, which auction calendar suits it, and which private buyers are looking. Before any panel, we'll talk it through with you personally. It's free and there's no obligation.

If a dealer panel is the right route, the winning bid is still yours in full, and the dealer pays Archiva's fee.

Talk to us about this watch

From November 2023 to June 2026, 6 counted sales of the Tank Cintrée (1921) ran from $53,600 to $105,000, with a middle price of $78,450. The most recent was $81,250 at Antiquorum Monaco in June 2026.

See all 7 sales of the Tank Cintrée (1921): 6 counted, 1 not

Date	Ref.	Where	Details	Counts as	Price
Jun 2026	Tank Cintrée (1921)	Monaco Legend AuctionsAuction	Lugano sale. YG c.1950s on YG herringbone bracelet	This reference	CHF 60,000≈ $75,600
Jun 2026	Tank Cintrée (1921)	Antiquorum MonacoAuction	Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces, lot 199, 28 Jun 2026. Jumbo, 18k yellow gold, manual wind, 46 mm long, c. 1950s, case no. 35695, white dial, unrestored with patina, sapphire cabochon crown, leather strap with gold buckle, no box or papers listed. Antiquorum Sold: figure; the lot page does not say whether it includes the buyer premium.	This reference	EUR 70,848≈ $81,250
Apr 2026	Tank Cintrée (1921)	Monaco Legend AuctionsAuction	YG c.1950s, EWC, silver dial	This reference	EUR 55,000≈ $64,000
Nov 2024	Tank Cintrée (1921)	Phillips GenevaAuction	YG c.1925, Cartier cal. 460-1B, matching clasp	This reference	CHF 76,200≈ $87,000
May 2024	Tank Cintrée (1921)	Phillips GenevaAuction	YG c.1950, EWC movement, 46.5x23, exceptional unpolished	This reference	CHF 95,250≈ $105,000
Nov 2023	Tank Cintrée (1921)	Phillips GenevaAuction	YG c.1940, JLC movement, EJ case, retailed by Cartier London	This reference	CHF 48,260≈ $53,600
May 2023	Tank Cintrée (1921)	Christie's Geneva (via Collector Square)	Platinum c.1925, presented 1926	Not countedplatinum; this version covers gold examples	CHF 302,400≈ $336,000

Sales from November 2023 to November 2026, or from the last five years for a reference with fewer than three in that time. Only sales that name a reference count toward its estimate; sales of the rest of its version are shown for comparison and never folded in. Auction prices include the buyer's premium unless a row says hammer; dealer prices are the price at sale. Currency figures are converted near the sale date. Some figures are as reported by the auction house's own articles or the press and are rounded. Rows via Collector Square come from its public results index and should be confirmed at the auction house. Results that some houses show only to signed-in visitors are read from the house's own page with an Archiva account. The 2843 is dated 2004 by both auction houses that sold it, after this archive's vintage scope, so its results are not counted. The condition and option adjustments, the expected bid (75 to 85% of market value) and the auction range (62 to 72%) are working assumptions, to be replaced by Archiva's own bids as they come in. A sale far above or below the other sales of its reference is listed but not counted, so one unusual result can't pull the estimate. An estimate from public results, not an appraisal.

Collector's Corner

What every buyer, inheritor, and first-time collector should know.

Buying Guide

01DIAL

The Secret Signature

Introduced 1977

A microscopic 'CARTIER' hidden within the Roman numerals, present on every genuine post-1977 dial.

02CASE

Case Back Hallmarks

Varies by origin and era

A Cartier case carries the Cartier signature, a reference and serial number on later pieces, and small struck marks for the metal and the case maker. Which marks appear depends on where the case was made: an eagle's head on Paris gold, JC and a date letter on London cases, the Helvetia head on Swiss 18k before 1995. The hallmarks guide shows what each one means.

03MOVEMENT

Movement Sourcing

Varies by era and model

Cartier sourced movements from various Swiss manufacturers throughout history, including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Frédéric Piguet, ETA, and in-house production. Knowing the correct caliber for a specific reference is essential for identifying the watch and establishing provenance.

04CROWN

Crown Sapphire Cabochon

A Cartier hallmark since the early 20th century

The blue sapphire (or spinel on less precious models) cabochon crown is a Cartier signature. Original crowns show consistent color saturation and are set flush with the crown body. Replacements often show misalignment or incorrect stone dimensions that reveal themselves under magnification.

05BRACELET

Bracelet and Clasp Markings

Check the clasp first

Cartier bracelets carry their own reference markings and the deployment clasp should bear the Cartier name and logo. Aftermarket bracelets are extremely common on vintage pieces, so checking that the clasp is original and that reference numbers match is crucial to the overall picture.

06DIAL

Dial Aging and Patina

Patina tells the story

Vintage Cartier dials develop characteristic aging: cream dials warm to ivory, lacquer dials may develop fine crazing, and applied indices can show legible wear patterns. Understanding acceptable versus concerning dial aging is key to valuing a vintage piece accurately.

Questions collectors ask

Direct answers about the Cartier Tank Cintrée, drawn from the reference records below.

What is a Cartier Tank Cintrée worth?: Public auction and dealer results from November 2023 to November 2026 put the 1920s–1950s gold at $66,900 to $85,550, median $78,450 across 6 sales; and the 1960s–1980s paris and london gold at $63,900 to $132,100, median $88,500 across 7 sales. Condition, a recent Cartier service, and the original box and papers move an individual watch within or beyond these ranges, and the calculator on this page adjusts for each.
How much will a dealer pay for a Tank Cintrée?: Dealers buying to resell usually bid below public market value, because they carry the cost and risk of the resale. At this level the right route depends on the specific watch, so Archiva talks each sale through with the owner personally first.
What makes the Tank Cintrée different from other Tanks?: It curves. The Cintrée, which Phillips and Sotheby's date to 1921, draws the Tank out into a long rectangle bent from end to end to follow the wrist, with Roman numerals graduated to the long dial.
Is the Tank Cintrée rare?: No production figures appear in the sources consulted. Phillips writes that for many decades the Cintrée was made in very small numbers or to order. The Collection Privée Ref. 2843 of about 2004 was a platinum edition of 50.
What does CPCP mean on a Tank Cintrée?: Collection Privée Cartier Paris, a line Cartier launched in 1998. Its Tank Cintrée is the Ref. 2843, a hand-wound platinum edition of 50 at 23 × 46 mm on the Cal. 9770 MC, which Phillips and Monaco Legend date to about 2004, with black Arabic numerals in place of Roman ones. It falls outside this archive's vintage scope.
What do 7 lignes, 8 lignes and 9 lignes mean on a Cintrée?: Case sizes. Phillips writes that the first Cintrées came in three sizes, 7, 8 and 9 lignes, dictated by the size of the movement inside, and calls the 9-ligne Grand Tank Cintrée the largest, at about 23 × 46 mm. A platinum example of 1929 with an 8-ligne movement measures 36 × 20.5 mm; the sources consulted do not measure a 7-ligne case.
What should I check before buying a Tank Cintrée?: The curve first: sight along the case for dents or flat spots. Then compare the hand-stamped Cartier numbers on the case and the clasp, which match on examples Phillips and Sotheby's have sold; check that the hand-wound movement fits the period, most often signed European Watch & Clock Co. on early examples, and that the metal matches the case marks. Look closely at the dial, since a dealer has described the dial of one platinum example as reprinted.

Next Steps

INHERITOR