Amazon.com Product Description
From Cartier's Tank Americaine collection comes this elegant expression of time in solid 18 karat white gold. The petite elongated rectangular case curves gently to fit the contours of the wrist and presents on a beautiful 18-karat white gold link bracelet. Two small sword hands and large stylized Arabic numerals are featured against a dark grey dial, which is capped with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. An 18-karat white gold octagonal crown, set with a faceted spinel sapphire stone, accents the case. A luxury timepiece with a signature Cartier aesthetic, this watch offers Swiss quartz precision and is rated water resistant to 99 feet.
The Cartier Story
The name Cartier is synonymous with luxury, quality, and style. Founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier, the company became renowned worldwide for its design and production of beautiful jewelry and opulent objets d'art. A royal commission in 1904 made Cartier a supplier to Europe's Crowned Heads of State and led England's King Edward VII to describe Louis Cartier, grandson of the founder, as the jeweler of Kings, the King among jewellers.
By the early 20th century, Cartier had expanded its collection to include watches. At a time when pocket watches were still considered de rigueur for the distinguished gentleman, Cartier helped popularize the wristwatch, making it a bold fashion statement for men and women as well as a status symbol among the well-to-do. Louis Cartier is credited with creating the first men's wristwatch, the Santos, in 1904. He developed and named the watch for his client and friend, the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who needed a device that would allow him to read the time without taking his hands off the controls of his airplane.
Other classic designs followed, including Cartier's signature timepiece--the Tank--which debuted in 1917 during the First World War and was inspired by the tough new war machine the Americans introduced to the fighting in Europe. Cartier's first water-resistant watch was named after the Pasha of Marrakesh, who requested that Cartier create watch that he could wear while in his swimming pool and not lose track of time.
And while it is known more for its luxurious design, Cartier is also credited with creating the highly functional deployment folding clasp in 1910, which is now used by watchmakers around the globe.
Modern Cartier watchmakers still base their watch designs on the early fundamentals developed by Louis Cartier. Treasured by collectors, Cartier watches are distinguished by their impressive variety of shapes (round, square, oval, Tank, Tortue and Tonneau), by their exceptional materials and workmanship, and by their recognizable Cartier aesthetic, an elegant blend of classic and modern design.
