Cartier’s best announcement at Watches and Wonders wasn’t a Santos or a Panthère. It was a rectangular watch with no visible hands.
The Tank à Guichets is back. Originally introduced in 1928, this jumping hour complication disappeared from the catalog around 2005. Now it returns as part of the Privé collection.
What Makes It Special #
“Guichets” means windows in French. Instead of traditional hands, the time is displayed through two apertures. Hours jump instantly at the top. Minutes drag smoothly at the bottom.
It’s technically a digital display using mechanical means. You read the time like you’d read a digital clock, but it’s powered by a hand-wound movement with no battery in sight.
The original 1928 version was revolutionary. This update keeps the core concept while improving the mechanics. Cartier claims better stability and more precise jumping action.
The Models #
Three standard versions in yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum. Dimensions stay true to the Tank DNA - elongated rectangle, brancards (the vertical bars) framing the dial, crown at 12 o’clock.
There’s also a limited edition of 200 pieces with a highly unusual metallic finish that’s unlike anything Cartier has done before. Almost brutalist in appearance.
The Prices #
Yellow gold: €32,000 Rose gold: €32,000 Platinum: €45,000 Limited edition: €50,000
Not cheap, but this is haute horlogerie disguised as a dress watch. The jumping hour mechanism is genuinely complex.
Why This Matters #
Jumping hour watches experienced a mini-boom in 2025. Gerald Charles, Bremont, and Fears all released variations. But Cartier has the historical pedigree here. They literally invented this format 97 years ago.
The Tank à Guichets proves Cartier can do more than elegant simplicity. Their design codes translate beautifully to mechanical complications.
If you want something different from the endless sports watch releases, this is worth consideration.