What is the Tank Française Ref. 1840?

The large Tank Française in 18k yellow gold with an automatic movement and a date at 6 o'clock: a case of about 28 x 32 mm, a silvered guilloché dial with black Roman numerals and blued sword hands, on the integrated gold bracelet or a strap. Christie's, Sotheby's and Bonhams catalog it this way.

How is it different from the 1820?

Size and movement. The 1840 is the large 28 x 32 mm automatic with a date; the 1820 is the small 20 x 25 mm quartz with no date. Both are 18k yellow gold.

What is the 1840A of 1996?

Sotheby's sold an 1840A engraved 15 April 1996, numbered 31 of 40, from a series made for the reception that introduced the Tank Française. It dates the reference to the model's launch.

What should I check on an 1840?

18k hallmarks on the case and bracelet; bracelet stretch and replaced links, which are costly in gold; a date that changes cleanly at 6 o'clock; and an automatic that winds and keeps time. On a strap, the price sits well below the same watch on its gold bracelet.

Cartier · Tank Française

Tank Française — Yellow Gold, Automatic

Ref. 1840 · c. 1996–2010s

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Specifications

Reference

1840

Large model, 18k yellow gold, automatic, date at 6 o'clock

Year

c. 1996–2010s

A Sotheby's example is engraved 15 April 1996, one of 40 made for the model's launch; examples run into the 2010s

Movement

Automatic

Cartier Cal. 120 (dealer sources), with date

Case

28 × 32 mm — 18k Yellow Gold

Dial

Silvered guilloché

Black Roman numerals, date window at 6 o'clock, hidden signature

Hands

Blued steel

Sword-shaped

Strap

Integrated 18k yellow gold bracelet, or strap with gold buckle

Folding clasp on the bracelet

Visual Description

The 1840 is the large gold Tank Française: a case of about 28 × 32 mm in 18k yellow gold, with the Française's integrated, lugless transition into either a gold bracelet or a strap. The silvered guilloché dial carries black Roman numerals, blued steel sword hands and a date window at 6 o'clock.

Reference Significance

The 1840 is the only large gold automatic in the first Tank Française range, and the reference collectors usually mean when they ask for a gold automatic Française. It was previously confused in this archive with the small gold quartz Ref. 1820. Public results show the gold bracelet is the biggest single factor in its price: examples on the bracelet sell for well above those on a strap.

Historical Context

Cartier introduced the Tank Française in 1996. Sotheby's has sold an 1840A engraved 15 April 1996, one of 40 made for the launch reception, so the reference dates from the start of the line. Examples run into the 2010s, later also cataloged under W-prefixed numbers.

What to Look For

Confirm the 18k hallmarks on the case back and bracelet. Check the integrated bracelet for stretch and replaced links. The date should change cleanly at midnight, and the automatic should wind smoothly and keep time; dealers give the movement as the Cartier Cal. 120. Measurements vary by source between 32 and 33 mm long, depending on how the case is measured.

Known Variants

Documented dial, case, and bracelet variations of Ref. 1840.

On Gold Bracelet

Integrated 18k yellow gold bracelet with folding clasp

c. 1996–2010sStandard

On Strap

Leather strap with an 18k gold buckle

c. 1996–2010sCommon

How to tell it apart

What separates a Ref. 1840 from its neighbors, and what to check before you buy or sell one.

What is the Tank Française Ref. 1840?: The large Tank Française in 18k yellow gold with an automatic movement and a date at 6 o'clock: a case of about 28 x 32 mm, a silvered guilloché dial with black Roman numerals and blued sword hands, on the integrated gold bracelet or a strap. Christie's, Sotheby's and Bonhams catalog it this way.
How is it different from the 1820?: Size and movement. The 1840 is the large 28 x 32 mm automatic with a date; the 1820 is the small 20 x 25 mm quartz with no date. Both are 18k yellow gold.
What is the 1840A of 1996?: Sotheby's sold an 1840A engraved 15 April 1996, numbered 31 of 40, from a series made for the reception that introduced the Tank Française. It dates the reference to the model's launch.
What should I check on an 1840?: 18k hallmarks on the case and bracelet; bracelet stretch and replaced links, which are costly in gold; a date that changes cleanly at 6 o'clock; and an automatic that winds and keeps time. On a strap, the price sits well below the same watch on its gold bracelet.