Cartier Tank Basculante Australian Federation 100th Anniversary Edition 2390
An incredibly iconic timepiece, the Cartier Tank features one of the most easily recognizable watch designs of all time. With its thin rectangle-shaped case and elegant dial, it remains as classical a timepiece today as when it was first released in 1917. Inspired by the Renault FT-17 Tank, the Cartier Tank is, somewhat ironically, a dress watch. Recognizing the need for a more robust variant, Cartier released the Tank Basculante. Launched in 1933, Cartier took inspiration from the JLC Reverso, another classically styled early sports watch that would rotate within its case, to create the Tank Basculante, a watch that would also rotate vertically over itself. As such, the Basculante rotates along the 12 to 6 axis within its case to protect its dial from damage caused during sports, and enabling it to double as a table clock if you so wished. A pillar of Cartier's elegant design, this Basculante Le Australia ref. 2390 was launched in 2001 as a limited edition series of 26 pieces to celebrate 100 years of the Australian Federation. Featuring a bright blue dial, the Basculante Le Australia features four stars mixed within Cartier's signature Roman numeral display and a fifth star at the 3 o’clock side of the central pinion, as it pays homage to the five stars of the Southern Cross on the Australian flag. Featuring the Australian flag's rich shade of blue, the Basculante Le Australia features the same five stars in a similar arangement that make up the flag's Southern Cross. Inspired by the JLC Reverso, the Tank Basculante can turn on its vertical axis so that its case back faces out, as its dial would usually. This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
