Thoughts on the Tank SolarBeat

One of the most iconic watch that I’m starting to grow fond of

It is excellent to get such a cool watch which is solar powered. Winner! 👍

I recently bought the Tank Solarbeat for myself as a birthday present, and I’ve been wearing it every day since. It’s an amazing watch, and it goes great with casual clothes.

Quality of the watch is superb, and I really can’t find any faults with it. Only issue I had was with the strap, as it was way too small for my wrist, which is 18.5 cm.

I say go for it. It’s an icon for a reason😄

What type of strap is that? Looks fantastic with the Tank.

Thank you. It’s a Gold Chevre on a deployant from Delugs.

I have the small and I love it. You do need to charge it more than just wearing it as those small solar cells just don't get enough light.

There are a few reports floating around online saying these movements cannot be repaired. I cannot confirm that myself, but would do a lot of research if I was considering buying one. Personally, if I’m spending more than 1k on a watch I need to know that it’s serviceable many years down the line. The report I read had a guys watch break under warranty and Cartier couldn’t fix it and they ended up swapping the whole watch out for the person.

Thanks for your detail opinion, I really appreciate that!

Think I’m going to go for it next month. Feels like a really nice summer watch too, being small, light weight and versatile.

Can I ask what the strap is in your photo? And great photograph by the way too!

Uh, I see you already answered my question here. Thanks for the details :) I might have to copy you. If I post a photo at some point, I’ll credit your good taste 😅

Yeah, this worries me a little too, which is why I’m considering perhaps getting the standard quartz version as it’s identical in size and proportions. I think you can only really tell the difference if you look at the back of the watch or under x5 magnification

I have been thinking of another Cartier but my sales guy who sells many different brands claims the solar model to have some minor snafus based on his experience selling the watch since its launch. I may decide to pick up the mechanical in L. I do prefer movements that can be repair over time.

The regular large Tank (std quartz) can be serviced and also comes on a bracelet which appeals to me I have to say

I have some negative experience with quartz Cartier just my bad luck. The bracelet is available on the large as well. I actually gifted the large tanks on bracelet to my 2 daughters, honestly the size is perfect on my older girl but a bit large on the younger. I chose the bracelets because it could be sized. You cannot go wrong. Best of luck.

Serviceability would be my number one concern, no idea if it really is an issue.

Do ADs offer a discount on Cartier tank?

Not an owner and would like to be one.

I love it and want one for myself 👍👍👍

Definitely a design I hope they improve. I’ve heard rumors that Cartier is discontinuing it. I hope it becomes the dominant Louis Tank and Tank generally.

They’re both quartz. The only difference is in the power, not in the method of timekeeping

Of course. Did anyone say any different? We are using the terms “solar” and “quartz” to differentiate the 2 different models that OP was talking about.

Would that just be “solar” and “battery powered” tho, since they’re both quartz?

We use these 2 terms very commonly in our community so that people know whether it’s solar powered or battery powered. Yes, they’re both quartz movements. If one says “solar” they know it doesn’t take a battery. If one says “quartz” the community knows it’s battery powered. We aren’t using these terms to be technical, but so that there’s a common definition that’s understood by all. When someone says “I bought a quartz watch” we don’t ask if it’s solar, we all just assume it’s battery powered, because they would’ve said solar if it was solar powered.

This isn’t so much the case. Solar powered watches are still referred to as quartz watches, since they are. This seems to create kind of a needless conflation that confuses new people. Ditto the whole “mechanical = manual wind only” thing I see sometimes.

I think it’s getting turned into something it’s not. If you go on Seikos website and sort by movement they list automatic, spring drive, solar, and quartz. We all know solar is quartz, but it makes it easy for everyone to understand the movement type when they are labeled as such. I’ve never seen someone be confused about the terminology until now.

To my understanding, it is discontinued. There's just some stock left.

That’s not the case according to the sales person that I deal with at Mappin & Webb. He said that Mappin & Webb have heard nothing about it being discontinued, just that there were supply chain issues initially. They have a 5-7day turn around re procurement.

Although, he did confirm something I feared when I popped in today. The SolarBeat movement cannot be serviced, they throw it away and replace with an entire new movement and this includes the dial. This makes me slightly concerned about the serviceable nature of this watch in the longer term.

I think just the regular Quartz might be the better option perhaps if this of concern. I’m going to get a second opinion on this, when I visit Cartier in London tomorrow.

Maybe they figured out the supply chain. 🤷‍♀️

Everything I've read says they've discontinued making them. The small is no longer available on Cartier's website and my understanding was they'd sell what's left and not make anymore. If your AD has one, jump on it. They've been near impossible to get

Both the Small and Large are available from Mappin & Webb, but given the response I just got from Cartier on New Bond Street, I won’t be buying one lol 😂 I’m going to opt for the standard Quartz instead. They look absolutely identical, other than the numeral three. I’d rather have a reliable watch than something I’m going to have to replace when the solar cell dies

I've had three different sources tell me that the SolarBeat cannot be serviced, the whole movement gets replaced....all be it, every 12-15yrs (depending on how much you use the watch). A real shame 🥺

The sources being

• Mappin & Webb (Bond Street)

• Cartier (Bond Street)

• Watches of Switzerland (Heathrow)

Maybe a lot of people will not care, but throwing a whole movement away just doesn't feel in the spirit of things, even for what is effectively a quartz movement.

I would rather have a standard quartz movement that I can service myself i.e. replace the battery myself every 8yrs or so. With a standard quartz movement, the quartz crystal will need replacing every 20-30yrs (with a service), but you don't need to dispose of the movement to do so.

The other big thing for me...the SolarBeat isn't available on the standard Tank bracelet. You have to buy that separately for the SolarBeat at a premium. The standard tank is available on the bracelet at £400 more than the black strap version. One of the main things about Cartier design is their bracelet designs, so that alone is a deal breaker for me.

I actually picked up the bracelet featured on the You're Terrific YouTube page (from an seller on Etsy), just to see if that would negate not being able to get the SolarBeat on the Cartier Bracelet (as standard). But unfortunately the quality of that bracelet is 🙄meh...the buckle in particular. Not for me, but it might be OK for you. The buckle is large and looks like it longs on a sports watch and the whole things just feels a bit light-on when paired with a Cartier watch.

I'll be picking my Tank up next month, so will report back on here 😀

So, for those of you that care at this point 😂

I ended up opting for a slightly older Cartier Tank Solo, that being manufacture reference No. W5200014. My particular Tank being manufactured in May, 2021.

Its listed as a Men's / Large variant, ever so slightly larger than the current Woman's / Large variant, but still significantly smaller than the current Men's / X-large model. The case dimensions being:

• Case size: 35mm x 27.5mm

• Lug width: 20mm

For comparison, the current Tank Solo (Woman's large) has the following dimensions:

• Case size: 34mm x 25.5mm

• Lug width: 19mm

I'm not sure there is continuity re where the dimensions are taken from. With that in mind, I have attached some images of the W5200014 below.

Think I prefer:

• The flatter front of the side tracks

• The more standard 20mm lug width and also the slightly more rounded cabochon on the W5200014, but that's a very minor point.

• One of the main things driving my decision was the price point. Purchased directly from Chrono24 for £2850, on the bracelet, saving myself £850 on the RRP of the current Solo Tank/Large/on bracelet. Includes box and papers.

• Because its listed by Cartier as a "men's" variant, I also do not have to worry about additional links pushing the price up even further. This reference is sized to fit a 7" wrist and includes two additional links.

The only thing I would have liked to see would be the quick release strap detail on the new models. But not a deal break. I think I'll keep this on the bracelet most of the time.

I'm not sure there is much more to say, but feel free to contact me regarding my experience with Chrono24 or any of the decision making for this purchase

I'll take some candid shots when the watch arrives on Wednesday and also confirm the dimensions I have listed above are accurate.

I couldn't wait until next month...this hobby is an illness 😂😭