Buying My Wife A Tank - Or Equivalent

CanberraOmega · Apr 5, 2013

Hi all,
So not sure if this is a good idea, or not....

Will it mean she appreciates watches more and leaves me alone, or deplete my watch budget???

I've been showing my wife different watches and she really likes the simple, classic tank design. White dial, Roman numerals, blue steel hands, e.g.:
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/view...4fffcf791?itemId=380606297912&kw=380606297912

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365154187.626288.jpg

Ideally solid gold. She has a small wrist and ha always worn a small watch, so I've been looking at the 20mm ones. Do they have a particular model name?

That one went to auction and went for just under $1k.

So, some questions:
- I haven't found any other brands that do anything quite as elegant as the tank. Can anyone suggest other similar brands/models
- for some reason, most of the tanks on eBay are BIN, not auction, making fair value harder to determine. What is good value
- most of the listings I found didn't have movement shots. Obviously I'd prefer movement shots - Are these watches hard to open?
- any other tips/advice? Are redials/fakes a major issue?
Thanks
Daniel

Privateday7 · Apr 5, 2013

Well it's not as elegant as Cartier tank IMO, but women never refuse Chopard.

SpikiSpikester · Apr 5, 2013

Cartier are popular - in various meanings of the word. A lot of them are also quartz, so that's another decision to make.

The positive thing about their popularity is that they come up in most watch auctions. That's probably a better place to get an idea of values.

Fellowes have a watch auction coming up pretty soon. I haven't been able to download the brochure, but they have had Cartiers in most of the watch auctions over the last year so it should be worth a look.

As for alternatives, I'm obviously biased towards Reverso's but they are pricey and not as common on eBay or at auction as Cartier. There are always plenty offered by dealers - at dealer prices.

Perhaps you should also check out Baume & Mercier. They tend to maintain Art Deco influenced square and rectangular designs in their ranges - and the prices are gentler.

ulackfocus · Apr 5, 2013

The name brand is very important to women. Stick with Cartier unless she really knows watches and demands a Jaeger. 😜

cicindela · Apr 5, 2013

On the down side Cartier is one of the most faked brands. You have to be very careful buying used.
Also, others may just assume her new watch is a fake, causing her concern and regret.

SpikiSpikester · Apr 5, 2013

U ulackfocus
The name brand is very important to women. Stick with Cartier unless she really knows watches and demands a Jaeger. 😜

Yes, be careful what you wish for...

Alpha · Apr 5, 2013

Saw the header of the op, thought you had lost the plot and started commenting on your good ladys driving skills -

ulackfocus · Apr 5, 2013

Alpha
Saw the header of the op, thought you had lost the plot and started commenting on your good ladys driving skills -

Alpha · Apr 5, 2013

One of our Ukrainian friends could surely apply "Cartier" to the side ?

cicindela · Apr 5, 2013

Alpha
One of our Ukrainian friends could surely apply "Cartier" to the side ?

You sure that's not the knock-off with the Chinese engine 👎

Alpha · Apr 5, 2013

cicindela
You sure that's not the knock-off with the Chinese engine 👎

If only my eyes were half as good 👍

CanberraOmega · Apr 5, 2013

Alpha
Saw the header of the op, thought you had lost the plot and started commenting on your good ladys driving skills -

That would be in "open discussion" rather than "other watch brands"!

CanberraOmega · Apr 5, 2013

cicindela
On the down side Cartier is one of the most faked brands. You have to be very careful buying used.
Also, others may just assume her new watch is a fake, causing her concern and regret.

So will usual precaution of demanding movement shots suffice?

dsio · Apr 5, 2013

CanberraOmega
So will usual precaution of demanding movement shots suffice?

Probably not, its an ETA Quartz movement decorated by Cartier IIRC, they're very common and easy to write Cartier on. Its not like an Omega Cal 5xx/7xx where the design is specific and unique to a company.

ulackfocus · Apr 5, 2013

CanberraOmega
So will usual precaution of demanding movement shots suffice?

Better to ask for clear close-ups of the dial, then post here. Cartier usually snuck their name in one of the Roman numerals. Only the better fakes copy that.

CanberraOmega · Apr 5, 2013

U ulackfocus
Better to ask for clear close-ups of the dial, then post here. Cartier usually snuck their name in one of the Roman numerals. Only the better fakes copy that.

Thanks. Will do.

CanberraOmega · Apr 5, 2013

dsio
Probably not, its an ETA Quartz movement decorated by Cartier IIRC, they're very common and easy to write Cartier on. Its not like an Omega Cal 5xx/7xx where the design is specific and unique to a company.

Am looking at the manual winds ATM

Stewart H · Apr 6, 2013

U ulackfocus
Better to ask for clear close-ups of the dial, then post here. Cartier usually snuck their name in one of the Roman numerals. Only the better fakes copy that.

My Tanque Francaise has the Cartier on the "V" of the number VII. The photo in the original post seems to have that but it would need a high definition photo to tell if it does actually say Cartier..

Privateday7 · Apr 6, 2013

Alpha
One of our Ukrainian friends could surely apply "Cartier" to the side ?

I will order that one please.........dont forget to bubble wrap it, I don't want the movement break up during shipping

Stewart H · Apr 6, 2013

Stewart H
My Tanque Francaise has the Cartier on the "V" of the number VII. The photo in the original post seems to have that but it would need a high definition photo to tell if it does actually say Cartier..

As you will see from these pictures, the angle of the photograph is important, because of the way Cartier is printed on the guilloche (if the one you are after has a guilloche dial)