Cartier, Tank Basculante, "Mécanique", ca 2005.

The Cartier Tank is a truly iconic timepiece, instantly recognizable for its distinctive rectangular case, slim profile, and refined dial. It retains the same classical elegance today as when it made its debut in 1917. Interestingly, the Tank's inspiration hails from the Renault FT-17 Tank, and despite its military origins, it paradoxically takes its place as a dress watch. What's truly remarkable about the Tank model is its ability to adapt and transform over the course of a century, spawning numerous variants while staying true to its core DNA.

One notable offshoot of the Tank family is the Tank Basculante, which made its debut in 1930s. It drew inspiration from the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, a double-sided sports watch that swiveled within its case to safeguard its dial. The Basculante adopted a similar concept but with a distinctive twist. Rather than rotating on its horizontal axis, it flipped over its vertical axis, allowing it to stand upright in a mid-rotation position, effectively doubling as a table clock. This clever transformation was elegantly executed through the central jewel of the watch, which could be effortlessly flicked open with a nail.

While various iterations of the Basculante have been introduced since the 1990s, the Ref. 2390 has consistently shone as the reference of choice for collectors. This distinction is partly attributed to its high-quality mechanical movement, in contrast to many Basculante models from the era, which were typically quartz-powered, produced during the tail-end of the Quartz Crisis. The Cartier Tank Basculante, with its distinct character and mechanical prowess, continues to captivate watch enthusiasts and remains a timeless emblem of the Tank lineage.

To pay homage to the original Tank Basculante's rich heritage, Cartier introduced the ref. 2390 in the early 1990s, infused with modern updates while retaining period-correct details. The result was a stunning horological piece that resonated with a specific niche of enthusiasts. The Tank Basculante has since garnered a devoted following, thanks to its quirky design and its unique place within the Tank collection.