Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu

Cartier. A gold rectangular wristwatch, Tank, London hallmark for 1941.
Movement: manual winding, no. 110199.
Dial: silvered, Arabic numerals.
Case: 18ct gold, back secured by four screws, no. 1103 2270, stamped LAO (London Assay Office), London hallmark for 1941.
Signed: dial, movement signed Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Dimensions: length 34.5mm, width 22.5mm
£5,000-£7,000

The Cartier Tank was created by Louis Cartier in 1917, inspired by the military tanks used on the Western Front in World War I.
Cartier founded their first London store in 1902 in 4 New Burlington Street. Only three years later they moved to where the store remains today at 175-177 New Bond Street.
The top floors of the building were used for their workshops where they trained English jewellers and watchmakers in the Cartier style and aesthetic. From 1920 to 1966, Cartier London sold wristwatches using movements from companies, such as Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The London workshops went on to produce its own line of wristwatches in the 1960’s. These pieces have become symbols of innovative design, creativity and craftsmanship, which includes the much sought after Cartier Crash with its unique asymmetric case.