5 Things People Look For When Collecting the Cartier Tank Americaine Watch

When you are looking at unique and special watches to collect, you should always consider the Cartier Tank Americaine watch. This is one of Cartier’s best-known and most beloved pieces, and it is one of the watches that lots of collectors prioritize when looking for classic styles to add to their collection. If you are going to look for this specific watch, you will want to know more about it so that you are sure that you are checking out the real thing.

Cartier Tank Americaine is a watch that is highly distinctive, and you will be able to recognize many of the features that make it quite unique and ideal for collectors. If you are familiar with Cartier, you will recognize some of the features that are common to all of these pieces when you start learning more about this watch.

Things to Look for When Collecting the Cartier Tank Americaine Watch

1. Curved Case Shape
One of the most unique and recognizable features of this watch is the curved and elongated case shape. It is longer and more rounded at the edges than many of the other Cartier pieces, including the other Tank models in the Cartier catalog. The shape of this watch face is one of the reasons that it is so well-loved.

This is a very elegant and yet masculine watch, and the shape of the face has a lot to do with this presentation.

2. Cartier Roman Numeral Dial
The Roman numeral dial is a common feature of Cartier-made luxury watches, and this watch also has Roman numerals on its face. This is a very classic design, and it is one of the features that is most sought-after with Cartier pieces. Digital watch faces and watches that use standard numerical indicators are not always popular with those who collect quality watches from various luxury brands.

3. Blue Sword Hands
The blue sword hands are a very sought-after and recognizable feature of this watch. They are a pair with the blue stone cabochon on the winding crown. This is part of the theming of the watch, and it is one of the first things that you should check out when you are trying to verify if you have the right kind of watch before you.

4. Mechanical and Automatic Movement
This is not a quartz watch, so you should look for mechanical and automatic movement to verify what kind of watch you are looking at. If you are not sure how to verify a mechanical watch’s function, you can listen for a “ticking” noise and the distinctive seamless glide of the hands. Quartz watches have a distinctive tick-tick motion that causes the hands to jump from one mark to the next. The second hand will give away this function right away.

5. Serial Number and Model Number
The ultimate way to be sure that you are looking at the right kind of watch is to match the serial number and model number with the original paperwork provided by the seller. These are typically located on the back of the case and are typically eight characters long. There will be six numbers and two characters in the string.

There might also be a case reference number that is a four-digit string also engraved on the back. Poorly etched markings or hard-to-read markings can be an indicator of an inauthentic watch.

Should I Buy From a Private Seller?

There are always risks when you work with a private seller to buy a luxury product. If you are not sure that you can verify the authenticity of the watch, you should probably avoid buying from a seller that is not verified and is selling through private channels. Even friends who might be selling a quality or luxury watch could have ended up with a counterfeit item without meaning to, and then could seek to resell it to you.

It is almost always better to work with a respected watch dealer or an experienced third-party who knows how to source these quality watches and verify that they are authentic before you ever take a look at them. If you know what to look for when shopping for a Cartier Tank Americaine, you will be far less likely to start your search in the wrong place, and you can double-check all of these features when you check out unique watches that you might want to purchase.

Cartier is a quality brand and one of the most sought-after makers of timepieces. You will love investing in this kind of watch, but you will want to be certain that you are not buying a watch that is not a genuine Tank Americaine. The more educated you are as a buyer, the better, no matter what kind of luxury products you are seeking to add to your personal collection or home.

Understanding What to Look For When Shopping for Cartier Watches is Ideal

When investing in quality watches, understanding how to verify the identity of the watches that you are going to look at matters. You should be an educated buyer so that you are not likely to wind up with a fake watch that has no value. Many people are discouraged from shopping for luxury watches because they are worried about buying a fake item. You can avoid this fear and enjoy adding watches to your collection if you are confident about your ability to verify which watch you are holding in your hands.

Shopping for Cartier is easy in many ways, because these watches are so distinctive that they are not easy to copy. However, you should be sure that you are paying attention to the variables that will make it possible to be certain about the watch that you are considering buying. Always be sure to work with a skilled agent if you are not sure that you can identify the watches that you might want to check out.

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Hannah Longman
Hannah Longman
From fashion school in NYC to the front row, Hannah works to promote fashion and lifestyle as the communications liaison of Fashion Week Online®, responsible for timely communication of press releases and must-see photo sets.

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