Cartier Tank Basculante 2390 – Manual Winding, 38mm Among the various Tank models created by Cartier, the Tank Basculante is widely regarded as one of the most intriguing. When the case is pulled out, a complex “cabriolet” mechanism is revealed, allowing the dial to be flipped over and exposing the back of the watch. • Early examples were often referred to as “Tank Cabriolet” or “Reversible Basculante”, terms frequently encountered on vintage auction platforms. • It was not until 1999, when Cartier resumed production of the model in larger numbers, that the name “Tank Basculante” was officially standardized. • The Basculante employs a unique cabriolet system (French for “convertible”), enabling the case to pivot and reverse the dial. • This flipping mechanism was developed by Spécialités Horlogères, the same company responsible for the sliding case of the Reverso, later integrated into Jaeger-LeCoultre watches. • The release latch used to pull out the case is located at 6 o’clock. Modern versions often feature a cabochon or ruby-colored stone at this position, allowing the reverse side of the case to be rotated upward. • When held at an intermediate position, the Basculante can even be transformed into a small, elegant desk clock. • Between 1920 and 1960, Cartier produced fewer than 2,000 Tank watches in total. At the “The Magical Art of Cartier” auction held by Antiquorum in 1996, only six gold Tank Basculante examples from Cartier Paris, dating from the 1930s to the 1960s, were presented—each powered by movements supplied by European Watch & Clock Co., Cartier’s long-standing movement partner. • While retaining all the defining characteristics of the Cartier Tank, the Basculante expresses a distinct and highly individual design language, setting it apart within the collection. The Tank Basculante ref. 2390 was produced in the early 1990s. One key difference from later versions is that the dial bears only the word “SWISS” at 6 o’clock, whereas later examples are marked “SWISS MADE.” Technical Details & Design Highlights: • The case is crafted entirely from stainless steel, measuring 38 × 26mm, with a remarkably slim thickness of just 5.8mm. • The horizontal flipping frame features a blue cabochon, a refined and signature Cartier design element. • A white dial with hand-executed guilloché, Roman numerals, and a hidden Cartier signature at 7 o’clock. • Heat-blued sword-shaped hands, standing out beautifully against the silvery white dial, enhancing the watch’s classical elegance. • Powered by the Cartier Calibre 050 MC, a manual-winding movement based on the Frédéric Piguet Cal. 6.10, operating at 21,600 vph with an approximate 40-hour power reserve. Thanks to its well-balanced proportions, the Basculante wears exceptionally well on the wrist. Its combination of elegance, refinement, and a subtle sense of luxury has earned it strong admiration among enthusiasts, making it a highly sought-after model in today’s collector market.