What is a Cartier Tank Française Ref. 1821 worth?

Archiva has found one public sale of Ref. 1821 in the last three years: $5,250 at Antiquorum Monaco in June 2026. One sale is a rough guide, not a market price.

What is the Tank Française Ref. 1821?

The midsize Tank Française in 18k yellow gold: a 25 × 30 mm case with a quartz movement and no date, a silvered dial with black Roman numerals and blued steel sword hands, on a leather strap with a gold buckle or on the integrated gold bracelet. Bonhams, Fellows, Antiquorum and Aguttes all catalog it as Ref. 1821.

How is the 1821 different from the 2466?

Both are midsize 25 × 30 mm 18k yellow gold quartz Tank Françaises. The 2466 has a date window and Antiquorum gives it the Cal. 175A; the 1821 records describe no date window, and Bonhams and Fellows give the Cal. 157. A midsize gold Française with a date is a 2466.

Is the 1821 the same watch as the 1820?

No. The 1820 is the small 20 × 25 mm gold quartz Tank Française. The 1821 is the midsize, 25 × 30 mm. Measure the case and read the case back.

What should the case back of a 1821 read?

The reference, 1821, and a serial beginning MG: Antiquorum, Fellows, Smith & Singer and Aguttes print case numbers such as MG263303, MG252075 and MG243606. Antiquorum and Smith & Singer describe a case back held by four screws, and gold examples carry 18k marks (750).

Are there diamond-set 1821s?

Yes. Antiquorum sold a 1821 with the bezel and lugs set with 42 round diamonds, which it dates to the 1990s.

Cartier · Tank Française

Tank Française, Yellow Gold, Midsize

Ref. 1821c. 1996–2000s

The Cartier Tank Française Ref. 1821 is the midsize 25 × 30 mm 18k yellow gold Tank Française on the quartz Cartier Cal. 157, made c. 1996–2000s, with a silvered Roman numeral dial and no date window.

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One recent sale of Ref. 1821

Jun 2026Antiquorum MonacoImportant Modern & Vintage Timepieces, lot 187, 28 Jun 2026. 18k yellow gold, quartz, white dial, 30 x 25 mm, c. 2000s, case no. MG280142, leather strap with original gold buckle, very good condition, no box or papers listed. Antiquorum Sold: figure; the lot page does not say whether it includes the buyer premium.$5,250

One sale is a rough guide. See it in the calculator.

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Specifications

Reference: 1821; Midsize model, 18k yellow gold, quartz, no date
Year: c. 1996–2000s; Fellows sold one with papers dated December 1996 and Antiquorum dates two to the 1990s; Bonhams, Smith & Singer and Aguttes date examples circa 2000, and Antiquorum one to the 2000s
Movement: Quartz; Cartier Cal. 157 (157.06), quartz
Case: 25 × 30 mm, 18k Yellow Gold
Dial: Silvered or off-white; Black Roman numerals, secret Cartier signature in the VII, no date
Hands: Blued steel; Sword-shaped
Crystal: Sapphire
Strap: Leather strap with an 18k gold buckle, or integrated 18k yellow gold bracelet; Double folding clasp on the bracelet

Visual Description

The 1821 is the midsize Tank Française in 18k yellow gold: a 25 × 30 mm case, polished and brushed, with an octagonal crown set with a cabochon. Bonhams, Fellows and Smith & Singer catalog a silvered dial with black Roman numerals; Antiquorum calls its dials off-white or ivory, and Aguttes cream. The hands are blued steel swords. Bonhams, Smith & Singer and Antiquorum place the secret Cartier signature in the VII. None of the records describes a date window.

Reference Significance

The 1821 sits between the small gold Ref. 1820, 20 × 25 mm, and the large gold automatic 1840, 28 × 32 mm. Its quartz Cal. 157 is the caliber Fellows and Sotheby's give for the midsize steel 2301.

The midsize gold 2466 is the same size and metal, but with a date window and, per Antiquorum, the Cal. 175A.

Historical Context

The 1821 belongs to the first Tank Française range. Fellows sold one on its gold bracelet with papers dated 24 December 1996, and Antiquorum dates two examples to the 1990s. Bonhams, Smith & Singer and Aguttes date others circa 2000, and Antiquorum dates one to the 2000s.

What to Look For

Read the case back for 1821 and an MG serial, and check the 18k marks. The case should measure about 25 × 30 mm; Antiquorum once cataloged one as 25 × 22 mm, which no other record supports. A date window means a 2466. Most examples at auction are on leather straps with an 18k gold buckle; on the gold bracelet, check the links for stretch and the double folding clasp for wear. The quartz movement should run with no battery corrosion.

Known Variants

Documented dial, case, and bracelet variations of Ref. 1821.

On Strap

Leather strap with an 18k gold buckle, as Bonhams, Smith & Singer, Aguttes and Antiquorum catalog it

c. 1996–2000sDocumented at auction

On Gold Bracelet

Integrated 18k yellow gold bracelet with a double folding clasp; Fellows sold one with papers of 1996

c. 1996Documented at auction

Diamond-Set

Bezel and lugs set with 42 round diamonds; Antiquorum dates its example to the 1990s

1990sDocumented at auction

How to tell it apart

What separates a Ref. 1821 from its neighbors, and what to check before you buy or sell one.

What is a Cartier Tank Française Ref. 1821 worth?: Archiva has found one public sale of Ref. 1821 in the last three years: $5,250 at Antiquorum Monaco in June 2026. One sale is a rough guide, not a market price.
What is the Tank Française Ref. 1821?: The midsize Tank Française in 18k yellow gold: a 25 × 30 mm case with a quartz movement and no date, a silvered dial with black Roman numerals and blued steel sword hands, on a leather strap with a gold buckle or on the integrated gold bracelet. Bonhams, Fellows, Antiquorum and Aguttes all catalog it as Ref. 1821.
How is the 1821 different from the 2466?: Both are midsize 25 × 30 mm 18k yellow gold quartz Tank Françaises. The 2466 has a date window and Antiquorum gives it the Cal. 175A; the 1821 records describe no date window, and Bonhams and Fellows give the Cal. 157. A midsize gold Française with a date is a 2466.
Is the 1821 the same watch as the 1820?: No. The 1820 is the small 20 × 25 mm gold quartz Tank Française. The 1821 is the midsize, 25 × 30 mm. Measure the case and read the case back.
What should the case back of a 1821 read?: The reference, 1821, and a serial beginning MG: Antiquorum, Fellows, Smith & Singer and Aguttes print case numbers such as MG263303, MG252075 and MG243606. Antiquorum and Smith & Singer describe a case back held by four screws, and gold examples carry 18k marks (750).
Are there diamond-set 1821s?: Yes. Antiquorum sold a 1821 with the bezel and lugs set with 42 round diamonds, which it dates to the 1990s.