Cartier Tank Must 'Roman Lemon Dial' (LM)

The Must de Cartier Tank watch, introduced in the 1970s, is a special variant of the classic Cartier Tank. This model is distinguished by the characteristic Must de Cartier inscription on the dial.

The term Must de Cartier was used as a brand name and marketing strategy to make Cartier products more accessible. It allowed Cartier to offer watches and accessories at an affordable price without compromising the high quality standards and distinctive design for which Cartier is known.

The Must de Cartier Tank watch became a great success and enjoyed wide popularity in the 1970s. The model retained the iconic rectangular design of the original Cartier Tank and was released in various versions, including steel, gilded gold, and with a variety of dials.

The Must de Cartier Tank watch that we present here is fitted with the so-called lemon Roman dial. The name refers to the beige/light orange color combined with the Roman hour markers. This ensures that the dial contains all the characteristic features that a vintage Cartier Tank should have. This type of dial was made with a kind of lacquer finish, giving it a porcelain-like appearance. It is also characteristic that this type of dial almost always shows a slight craquelé, which is normal for the year of this watch. This is only visible from certain angles and is hardly noticeable while wearing!

Characteristic of the Must de Cartier Tank watches is that they are fitted with a silver case, plated with gold. This model is the large size, also known as LM (Large Model), with dimensions of 23 x 30 mm. What we often see with this type of watch is that the plating starts to flake over time, especially at the corners where it becomes lighter. Therefore, we have provided this beautiful vintage Tank Must with a professional new plating, making the case look almost like new and ready for years of enjoyment.

This vintage Cartier Tank Must features the well-known blue hands and the blue cabochon crown, just as it should for a true Cartier Tank. The Cartier manual winding movement, caliber ETA 2512, has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Additionally, the watch is fitted with a new black lizard leather strap. The watch comes with a 24-month warranty on the movement.

Would you like to view this watch in person, while enjoying a good cup of coffee? Click here to explore the options for booking an appointment.

What you need to know:
- Must de Cartier Tank with 'Lemon Roman' dial
- Gold plated case, almost like new 
- Large model (LM), dimensions: 23 x 30 mm
- Fitted with a new black lizard leather strap (without Cartier buckle)
- Manual winding movement, fully serviced
- 24 months warranty on the movement
- Free insured shipping within the EU

Cartier Tank

The Cartier Tank watch is one of the most iconic watches in the history of haute horlogerie. The tank was first introduced in 1917 and quickly became a timeless symbol of style and elegance. To this day, the Cartier Tank remains one of the most popular and successful models from Cartier. 

The story behind the Cartier Tank watch begins with Louis Cartier, the founder of Cartier. He was inspired by the tanks used during World War I. The sleek lines and shapes of the tanks piqued his interest, and he decided to translate this into a watch design. In 1917, the first Cartier Tank watch was introduced. The model stood out with its rectangular case with rounded corners, reminiscent of the shape of a tank. The tank featured a simple dial with Roman numerals and blue steel hands. It was a radical design for its time, as most watches then had round cases. The Cartier Tank watch quickly became popular among high society and celebrities, including style icons like Jacqueline Kennedy, Andy Warhol, and Princess Diana. The watch was regarded as a symbol of refinement and class.