106 Cartier A very rare and sought-after, Tank Allongée, rectangualar-shape manual wristwatch in yellow gold, rear-wound, with big roman numerals, made in London.

Estimate: Fr. 50'000 –⁠ 100'000

• Model Tank Allongée London
• Year Circa 1970
• Case Material 18K yellow gold
• Case Number 9'028
• Bracelet Material Leather strap
• Movement Manual, cal. 430, jewelled
• Movement Number 2'142'302
• Dimension 17mm width x 39mm length
• Signed Case, dial and movement

A refined expression of Cartier London’s avant-garde creativity during the late 1960s and early 1970s, this Tank Allongée exemplifies the maison’s pursuit of pure proportions and architectural elegance. Distinguished by its remarkably elongated silhouette, the present watch reinterprets the classic Tank form through a narrower and more extended yellow gold case, lending the design a striking linearity and understated sophistication.
Most notably, the winding crown has been discreetly positioned on the reverse of the case, preserving the uninterrupted symmetry of the watch’s profile. This unusual and highly elegant solution highlights the experimental spirit of Cartier London production, where aesthetic purity frequently prevailed over convention. The interior caseback bears the correct London hallmarks together with the “JC” casemaker's mark, signatures commonly encountered on British-made Cartier watches of the period. Furthermore, the presence of the uppercase letter “P” allows the watch to be dated to 1970. Powering the watch is a Jaeger-LeCoultre movement, reflecting the high level of technical collaboration between Cartier and the finest Swiss manufactures of the era. The minimalist dial further enhances the watch’s modernist character: only the Roman numerals at 12 and 6 are retained, while the remaining markers are rendered as slender baton indexes. Signed “Cartier” beneath 12 o’clock and “London” above 6 o’clock, the dial proudly emphasizes its British production and the singular identity of Cartier London creations. Completing the ensemble, the clasp repeats the same numbers found on the case, confirming the coherence and originality of the present example. Elegant, highly unconventional, and unmistakably representative of the creative freedom of Cartier London, this Tank Allongée stands as a compelling collector’s piece from one of the most celebrated periods in the maison’s history.