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Cartier Tank Basculante 2390 - White Roman Dial

Details

The Tank that does a little dance

This Cartier Tank Basculante brings one of Cartier’s most clever designs into a modern-vintage window. Produced between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, it keeps the classic Tank proportions but adds a functional twist, a reversible case that flips to protect the dial.

Why the Basculante matters

The Basculante sits off the main Tank path, and that’s exactly the appeal. The swiveling case was originally designed as a practical solution of protection, but it ended up becoming a defining design feature. At 25x31mm, the proportions are sharp and balanced, wearing cleanly on the wrist without feeling delicate.

The white Roman numeral dial is unmistakably Cartier, crisp and timeless. The stainless steel case keeps the watch versatile and easy to wear. Powered by a manual-wind movement, it stays true to the Tank’s traditional roots rather than drifting into novelty.

Condition, honestly presented

The watch shows light wear consistent with age, including a small polish scuff on the back portion of the case. The dial remains in good condition, the crystal is clean, and the watch is running well with healthy amplitude and stable timekeeping. The flipping action is clean and can be demonstrated in two motions as origninally intended. It’s fitted with a custom DVW strap and a new buckle, giving it a clean, ready-to-wear setup. 

A Tank with personality

This isn’t the most common Tank, and that’s the point. The Basculante offers a little more interaction, a little more character, while still delivering everything people want from a Cartier Tank. It's a smart, wearable option for someone who appreciates classic design but wants something slightly off the expected path.

Key Specs

Brand: Cartier

Reference: 2390

Model: Tank Basculante

Year: 1994–2002

Movement: Manual wind

Case Size: 25 × 31mm

Bezel: Stainless steel

Bracelet: Leather band (non-original)

Dial: White Roman

History

Louis Cartier designed the Tank in 1917, inspired by the aerial view of a Renault FT tank on the Western Front — its parallel "rails" mimicking the tracks, its rectangular body echoing the vehicle's profile. The watch was introduced in 1919 and immediately claimed its place as one of the most significant case designs in watchmaking history.

The Tank has never gone out of production, and its list of admirers reads like a century of cultural history: Jackie Kennedy, Andy Warhol, Princess Diana, Yves Saint Laurent. It is the watch of the intelligentsia, the creative, the quietly powerful.

The Tank Must — introduced in the 1970s in vermeil (gold-plated silver) — democratized the design, bringing the silhouette to a new generation. The Tank Louis Cartier in 18-karat gold represents the elevated end. The Tank Solo in stainless steel is the accessible entry point. All three carry the same essential idea: that a rectangle of precious metal can be more beautiful than any complication.