It was a massive 38mm watch with a thick case, stylised centre lugs with cross member-like end pieces and a very cool
screw-down cap that covered the crown and provided water resistance. This system was actually derived from
water-resistant military watches from the ’30s and, as such, was a wonderful stroke of creativity. The Pasha was, of
course, a massive hit and was soon made in a truly heady variety of models: the Pasha Perpetual Calendar (using a
Génta movement); the Pasha Seatimer with a rotating bezel; the Pasha “Golf”; and our personal favorite, the Pasha
Grid, which features a grid-like protection over the crystal which was also gleaned from military watches of the
era. This, on the delicate brick “Figaro” bracelet in yellow gold, was a work of ravishing, opulent decadence.
The present example at our shop is a 32mm yellow gold example from 2000. With a silver dial featuring a grid overlay
studded with diamonds, and stylised Arabic numerals and the sense of style that is truly timeless, this Pasha proves
that a practical watch can have a real personality. And personality goes a long way. The automatic movement inside
offers both reliability and precision.The watch comes with its original set of box and papers and a two-year
warranty from Watchfinder.
The Tank
The Tank has been through a huge number of variations. Think of it like a jazz standard; a theme that everybody knows
and loves but executed or performed in different ways, thus appealing to a different range of audiences. These riffs
on a classic include, not exhaustively, Tanks Normale, Cintree, Chinoise, Obus, Basculante and Asymetrique. There is
a saying in the UK, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Hold a Tank from the 1920s next to a Tank that you bought
yesterday and you will see that essentially they are the same. Sure, the movement may be more technical now and the
manufacturing of the dial might be a little more precise, but to the untrained eye they will look the same. Like a
’59 Gibson Les Paul next to a modern version, not a lot has changed over the decades.
Tank Francaise
The Tank Francaise, like the steel Santos from 1978, the Panthère from 1983 and the Clé from 2015, was designed with
an integrated bracelet. The combination of the bracelet and the watch is the reason for the success of the Tank
Francaise. It made the watch incredibly easy to wear.
The case and the bracelet have become a magnificent piece of jewelry and no one would think about the idea of
separating the two. Nevertheless, after some time, the Tank Francaise XXL and some different gold models with
leather strap and deployant buckle were introduced.
The men’s model of the Tank Francaise has an automatic 220 caliber, while the chronograph is powered by the
well-known Chronoflex quartz movement. Considering all the Tanks in Cartier’s collection, the Tank Francaise has
managed huge popularity, especially among a younger crowd, due to its availability in steel, its comfort and its
versatility. The watch has been a part of the selling collection ever since 1996.
The present example in steel and yellow gold is from 2005. The watch has a 27.5mm steel case, octagonal crown in
yellow gold set with a synthetic cabochon-shaped spinel, silvered flinqué dial, blued-steel sword-shaped hands,
sapphire crystal, two-tone bracelet. The watch comes with a two-year warranty from Watchfinder.
