New Launch: Cartier’s First Ever Solar-Powered Watch, The Tank Must SolarBeat

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Cartier has been a total boss when it comes making inspiring moves both on as well as off the field. One of the watchmaker’s major initiatives regarding the surreal art of horology came to light during the Watches & Wonders Geneva 2021. That being said, this year, Watches & Wonders has introduced us to some genuinely amazing timepieces. A worthy mention is the all-new Tank Must with the SolarBeat movement. The timepiece is the first ever solar-powered watch in the entire Tank collection. And as it happens, it is also the first solar-powered watch ever from the French Maison, Cartier.

A New Era For Cartier Watches: The SolarBeat Tank Must

The timepiece is released in two sizes, a large size and a small size. The large size is essentially 33 mm x 25.5 mm while the small size is 29.5 mm x 22 mm in size. Now, Cartier claims that the watch owners can expect, on an average, a run time period of about 16 years before they need to rush to the service centre.

The idea behind this timepiece is not just to make it a long lasting, wear it and forget it, good looking dress watch. It is also to focus on its impact on the environment. There are many ways a watch can impact the environment and everything related to it. The materials used to make the watch are the most important things to focus on. For instance, the leather straps are made out of non-animal products, primarily apple scraps from the European food industry.

First Impressions

The concept of making a solar powered Tank is not that “out of the box”. It sounds perfectly logical. We already have a Quartz Tank, why not take that to the next level use the most efficient technology available?

Cartier’s creative director earlier stated that the watch”s design was a major hurdle to overcome. You see, the light had to enter via the Roman numeral hour markers. Hence, it had to be such that the amount of light was ample enough to charge the movement.

The first ever solar watch was released in 1972 and it was called the “Synchronar”. For a technology that entered the mainstream market in the 1970s, one would think that it would have blown up by now. Nonetheless, it is truly great to see behemoths like Cartier to start venturing into the realm of solar powered movements.

Honest Opinion

The SolarBeat Tank Must is a monumental initiative as it is. But it is also a great step towards a new stream of luxury watches. Right now, as you read this, there aren’t many luxury watches in the industry that endorse the idea of a luxury solar watch.

Apart from the solar power perspective, the watch also solidifies the precedent of Cartier being an original in the world of luxury watchmaking. The Must de Cartier was released in the 1970s and it established Cartier image as a bold designer. The watch created a benchmark for luxury of design, which does not compulsorily be defined by cost.

The SolarBeat Tank Must might be the most practical Tank yet with its up to date as well as efficient solar technology and aesthetic design.

Getting Into The Details

The watch has a 33 mm x 25.5 mm sized case for the large model, and a 29.5 mm x 22 mm sized case for the small model. The watch has a stainless steel case, a synthetic spinel crown, and an ivory dial. Hour markers are Roman numerals with the Cartier secret signature. The bracelet, as mentioned earlier, is non-animal leather.

The movement used is a Cartier quartz SolarBeat offering hours and minute features. The mechanism offers a photovoltaic charging system. This contributes to an expected life of 16 years before requiring any kind of service.