18ct yellow gold Cartier Tank 'Basculante' wristwatch. Made 1960

Cartier is a brand that has forever been associated with Opulence, class and sophistication.

Cartier’s dalliance with horology started in 1904 when Louis Cartier befriended the aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. Santos-Dumont complained about the difficulties of checking a pocket watch mid-flight, so Louis Cartier designed a wristwatch with a distinctive flat profile that would henceforth be known as the Cartier Santos-Dumont. This was the first men’s wristwatch made by Cartier and established the foundation of every watch they have produced to this day. It is considered by many to be the pioneer of modern wristwatch design. Takes on classics such as the Tank and Santos Dumont were followed by new designs, including pieces like the Ellipse, the Tonneau, the Ceinture, and more.

The 'Basculante' model was first released in 1932 and was designed in collaboration with Le Coultre, similar to the Reverso. The point of the mechanism being, that the wearer is able to turn the watch 360 degrees and thus are able to conceal the crystal.
Today vintage Cartier collectors have the choice of different designs and models from London, Paris and New York houses.