Cartier Advice

I've always been advised to go with the model with the bracelet (and switch it out for a strap if I prefer to wear it that way) because that's a much better deal than buying a bracelet later. 

But I agree, wearing the Tank on leather looks fantastic. 

That's how I'm leaning, but $800 for bracelets I don't think we'll use is a bitter pill.

I think it depends on the tank.  The tank must solar and that tank solo have super straight rounded lugs that look pretty inferior on the stock bracelet.  I can't ever envision a scenario where I'd wear the bracelet on those.

I have a soft spot for the various five part tank americaine bracelets and the angular lugs of the tank Francaise and the h link bracelet on those.

Yeah, stick to the leather options. And put that extra $$$ in the future BB58 fund.

For reference, the choice is between these...

The Tank Must Solar? I texted my Cartier boutique guy to ask his opinion and he said no one buys it on the bracelet.

I think this is one of those times it's okay to break the "only buy on bracelet" rule because it's frankly not intended to be worn on the bracelet.  Just to satisfy my curiosity, I looked on chrono24 for tank must.  Of 250ish hits, only 30 had the steel bracelet.  I can't imagine it would even impact resale value or velocity a ton.

To me, the Tank looks best on a strap (simply classic) and at its‘ price point, I cannot justify the cost either. I bought my wife a Tank Solo (quartz) on black leather and she loves it. You will not go wrong, the red box always impresses.

Yes! The blue Tiffany box, the red Cartier box, and the green Rolex box - absolute classics 😍

I’d posit Cartier has the best presentation of the three. My wife has products from all three and she was absolutely amazed with the Cartier box, even for a relatively inexpensive piece.

What a gentleman 👌🏼

Agreed! My parents loved all things Cartier (lighters, pens, and so on) in the 80s/90s and I vividly remember those boxes - even as a child. 

Funnily enough I played with this exact idea for my wife and I’s 10 year anniversary this Sep. My wife loves her watches but a Cartier just doesn’t fit with what she has so the idea stopped there. Her choice would have been a Tank Must on a bracelet though. Mine was a Tank Must on a strap. 
 

I’m the same as you. It’s one of the few watches I’d break the “buy it on a bracelet and swap it out” rule because I’ve tried it on and really didn’t like it. 
 

Good luck with your decision. 

Personnaly I would buy a tank on leather strap. That is just the idea I have of a tank.

My wife bought hers with abracelet and regrets it. She will buy a leather strap eventually

Well, there's absolutely no reason for you to get it on the bracelet if you don't like the look of it. Personally, I like the look of the vintage beads of rice bracelet from Jackson Watch Bands on Etsy better than the one that comes on the Must. Check out You're Terrific's YouTube review of his Solarbeat to see how nicely that bracelet wears on a Tank.

Well we don’t have a tank but a Santos one thing though make sure the strap is long enough! My wife and I have The same size wrist of 7.5 and we had to order a longer strap since the original was a bit short. I hope it’s not the same for the Tanks.

Leather looks nice with the Tanks can’t go wrong with classic! 
Also hope you get the Champagne too 😉, when we got ours they gave a champagne bottle…😁  

Is that an aftermarket strap?  Looks great. 

Yes! Barton makes the odd 23mm for my size. Your proposed size will have a wider array of aftermarket straps available. 

Get the leather strap option. You’d get the buckle as well.

personally i’d do a Cartier Santos Dumont and Cartier Tank pairing, so both of you can “take turns” on wearing each other’s pieces. Makes it more intimate in my honest opinion, and maybe consider engraving too. Congratulations on your anniversary and i Do hope you get the Cartier champagne as well :)

I bought it on the bracelet and ordered the strap at the same time. The quick release makes it a versatile combination. 

I'm planning to get the Solarbeat for me and my girlfriend in the (hopefully no too distant) future and had been wondering the same as you. 

We went to a Cartier boutique a couple of months ago and got the chance to see some Tanks and in person I realized I would never use it on a bracelet, that watch on a strap goes well with any outfit, it dresses up or down seamlessly.

Also, I have a 18cm wrist (just over 7 inches) and the large model (that isn't really big, but to me the whole point of the tank is that it's small and elegant), came with a strap that was short for me, so I'd really try to buy the watches in a boutique to see all the straps they have available there and which suit you and your wife the best.

That's not a bad idea, but I can't see us sharing watches.  She's more of a one-watch person, so she would always wear the one she preferred.  Although, I do want a Santos as well...

There's a boutique about an hour away that I can call.  I didn't go to them first because the website seemed to indicate the Solarbeat wasn't available in the US, but I don't know if that's true.  I had wanted it to be a surprise, but maybe it makes more sense to let her pick what she prefers to wear.

I didn't specify but I tried the quartz regular version, not the solarbeat, it has the same dimensions so it served the same purpose. If you talk to the boutique, I suggest mentioning your wrist size and your wife's (maybe measure another watch or a bracelet for reference so to not spoil the surpirse), and ask for the strap options, before going. Good luck!

Yeah the solar beat supply is limited due to production slowdowns but you definitely can get them in the US. My AD had one for me after 4 months of begging 🤣

Thanks, it's good to know there's a chance of getting them.  I've got until the middle of October, I'll call them in the morning.  Fingers crossed.

Get them on bracelets to start. I know the price difference is substantial, but if ever sold on or passed down to kiddos they‘ll hold better monitory value on steel. Much more than $800 to find a bracelet after initial purchase. 

So I tell myself I don’t NEED a tank and I will only use tool watches… and then I see your shots on wrist and I start creeping on the Cartier site. Absolutely beautiful. 

Man, you guys are killing me😂  I had just decided on the strap, then a couple of people popped up to say get the bracelet.  Good arguments on both sides, this is why I put the question out.  

Or you could get the strap and…

The Solarbeats are available from Cartier ADs in the US. They sell very well and are usually aren't available to walk out with. However, if you have an AD near you suggest you just have them order it for you.