Cartier Skeletonizes the Tank Américaine for the First Time With the New 1988 MC Caliber

Summary

Cartier is expanding the Tank Américaine with a pair of skeleton watches and a burgundy Art Deco model, all keeping the collection's elongated, curved caseThe skeletons debut the hand-wound 1988 MC caliber, the first skeleton movement fitted to the Américaine, with bridges shaped as Roman numeralsThe skeletons come in platinum and rose gold, while the Art Deco model runs an automatic caliber in platinum

Cartier is pushing the Tank Américaine into openworked territory for the first time, introducing two skeleton editions built around a new hand-wound caliber alongside an automatic model with a graduated burgundy dial. Each retains the elongated, curved case that has defined the Américaine since 1988, now used as a frame for very different technical and decorative treatments.

The headline development sits under the crystal. Both skeleton watches run the 1988 MC, a manually wound movement making its Tank Américaine debut and named for the year the model itself launched. Rather than hiding the mechanics, Cartier shapes the movement's bridges into Roman numerals and suspends them within the case, so the openworked structure doubles as the dial's typography. The bridges curve to follow the case, reinforcing the vertical lines that give the Américaine its stretched silhouette. The caliber carries 24 jewels and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, with the movement measuring 33.9 x 20.8 mm across and 4.2 mm thick.

The two skeletons are separated by metal and stone. The platinum reference pairs a matching platinum faceted crown set with a faceted ruby against blued-steel sword hands, and ships on two straps, a semi-matte burgundy alligator and a dark gray alligator, closed with a platinum interchangeable deployant buckle. The rose gold version swaps in a faceted sapphire on its crown, arrives on a navy blue alligator strap with a second dark gray strap, and offers roughly a 50-hour power reserve. Both measure 44.4 x 24.4 mm with a case 8.24 mm thick and are water-resistant to 3 bar.

The third watch trades openwork for depth of color. The Tank Américaine large model in platinum runs the automatic 1899 MC caliber and centers on a burgundy dial worked in opaline and a satin sunray effect, matched to rhodiumized steel sword hands beneath a sapphire crystal. It shares the 44.4 x 24.4 mm footprint, sits 8.6 mm thick, and comes on a semi-matte burgundy alligator strap fastened with an 18K white gold interchangeable deployant buckle, with water resistance to 3 bar. The graduated burgundy tone is built up through layered lacquer and finishing rather than a single flat coat, giving the dial its dimensionality.

The new Tank Américaine skeleton and Art Deco watches are part of Cartier's latest additions to the Tank collection.

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