Quick answer
The Tank Must is a steel Cartier watch on a quartz movement. Cartier launched the line in 2021 to replace the Tank Solo. Replica makers copy the rectangular case, the silvered dial with Roman numerals, the blued steel hands, and the blue cabochon crown. A replica can match the outside shape. It does not carry a Cartier serial, a Cartier warranty, or a Cartier service record. Counterfeit watches that use the Cartier marks are illegal to import into the United States.
Genuine Tank Must specs
- Small: 29.5 mm by 22 mm, steel case, quartz.
- Large: 33.7 mm by 25.5 mm, 6.6 mm thick, steel case, quartz caliber 157.
- XL: 41 mm by 31 mm, steel case, automatic caliber 1847 MC.
- SolarBeat: comes in the Large size. Photovoltaic movement. Cartier states the battery runs about 16 years. The strap uses plant-based material.
- Water resistance: 30 m on the quartz models.
- Crystal: sapphire.
- US retail for the Large steel quartz on a leather strap: about $3,200.
Must de Cartier and Tank Must are two things
Must de Cartier started in 1973. Those pieces were vermeil, which means gold plating over sterling silver. They came with lacquer dials in red, blue, and black. The modern Tank Must is stainless steel. Sellers who mix the two names describe different watches. A listing for a "Must de Cartier Tank" in vermeil with a lacquer dial points to the 1970s line, not the 2021 line.
What replica listings claim
Common terms: 1:1, first copy, AAA, and Swiss movement. For this model most replicas use a Chinese quartz movement. That matters less here than on an automatic watch, because the genuine Large and Small Tank Must are quartz. Automatic replicas exist for the XL size.
- 1:1: the seller claims case dimensions taken from a real watch. Measure with calipers. The Large case measures 33.7 mm across, side to side, crown excluded.
- Swiss movement: rare in this model. The Cartier 157 is a quartz caliber. Few replicas carry it.
- Sapphire crystal: mineral glass is common at low prices. Sapphire feels cooler and resists a steel point.
- Yellow gold: not offered on the Tank Must. Gold color on this line comes from plating, or from a different Cartier line.
Checks on a suspect watch
- Cabochon: blue synthetic spinel on genuine pieces. Glass or plastic on most replicas.
- Caseback: engraving depth and font. Genuine pieces carry a serial and a reference number.
- Dial print: the Cartier logo, the Roman numerals, and the minute track. Spacing errors show under a 10x loupe.
- Seconds hand: a quartz caliber steps once per second.
- Weight: steel quartz Tank Must pieces sit in a narrow weight band. Weigh the watch against a known example. Published weights for this model are not consistent, so treat any single number with care.
- Papers: box, booklet, and stamped card. These items get copied too, so they prove little on their own.
Legal status in the US
Cartier holds trademarks on the Tank name, the dial signature, and the case shape. A watch that carries those marks without a license is a counterfeit. US law, 19 U.S.C. 1526, bars import of counterfeit goods. CBP can seize a shipment and destroy it. Sellers face civil claims and, in some cases, criminal charges.
What a replica cannot supply
- Cartier after-sales service and parts.
- The warranty. Cartier covers its watches and offers an extension through registration.
- Resale value. Counterfeit watches trade near the price of the parts.