Solar-powered watches aren’t a novelty today, but for Cartier it’s a first. The company’s Tank Must is the first solar-powered Cartier that touts almost 16 years of lifespan before requiring a service.
With the introduction of the solar-powered Tank Must amid a lineup of watches at the Watches & Wonder – check out the finest timepieces from the event – Cartier is entering the future of green luxury watches. This is not only because of the solar-powered iteration – which obviously reduces its environmental impact – but also because the strap of the watch is made from “non-animal leather.”
Tank Must SolarBeat
Yes that’s the name of the first solar-powered Cartier Tank Must – a model that was introduced first in the late ‘70s, and has been a collector’s favorite. The SolarBeat features a photovoltaic movement – Cartier quartz SolarBeat- which is powered by the sun’s energy that penetrates through the dial, more significantly through its Roman numerals.
The photovoltaics are good to keep the watch accurate for up to 16 years straight, the company claims, before maybe the battery may need a replacement. The watch is a regular model that will come in two options – 33mm x 25.5mm and the 29.5 x 22mm model – both feature stainless steel casing and simple hour, minute function.
Availability and pricing
As informed earlier, the Tank Must SolarBeat doesn’t come on a regular leather strap. Instead, its vegan strap is specially made from apples grown in Europe. The strap available in black, blue and light green color options does meet the brand’s comfort and quality criteria.
The solar-powered Cartier watch is scheduled to go on sale starting September this year. The smaller model of the Tank Must SolarBeat could retail for about $2,500, while the larger variant may be priced at around $2,600.