1990s Cartier Tank LC 18K YG "Extra Plate" (Ref. 16121) Flinque Dial W/ Teardrop Bracelet

The Cartier Tank has become one of the most iconic watch designs of all time, and other than some more eclectic references produced has remained relatively the same over its long run of production. The Cartier Tank was originally designed in 1917 and became commercially available in 1919, and its design was inspired by the Renault FT-17 tank used by the French Military in the First World War. Although the Cartier Tank appears to have remained the mostly same for the course of its production life, there have been some interesting anomalies that were introduced during its illustrious tenure, resulting in very collectible and very rare timepieces.

This Carter Tank Louis Cartier, or Tank LC, is best known amongst collectors as the "Extra Plate" or "Extra Thin" and is one of the thinnest Cartier watches ever produced and features a total thickness of 5mm including the crystal. This impressive feat is achieved through the utilization of the renowned Piaget Cal. 21 ultra-thin mechanical movement. Though this Cartier Tank LC Extra Plate is one of the thinnest watches Cartier ever made, it retains the standard height and width dimensions of the Tank LC in this era. This makes for a perfect dress timepiece, both beautiful and elegant with the added benefit of sliding under the shirt cuff with ease. The ref. 16121 is also renowned for its alluring "Flinque" dial, which is a painstaking dial-making process that involves a carved guilloché pattern that is then finished with a layer of enamel, creating a truly beautiful dial presentation with incredible depth. This specific model is also fitted with its original and extremely rare "teardrop" bracelet which was reserved specifically for VIP clients of Cartier at the time, whereas standard models were typically fit with the standard Cartier strap and deployant buckle, and remains highly sought-after and celebrated today for its intricate, unique, and beautiful design.