Cartier. A Limited Edition 18K gold manual wind reversible rectangular wristwatch Model: Tank Basculante 150th Anniversary 'I Love Cartier' Collection Privee, Limited Edition No.18/150 Date: Purchased 25th May 1997 Movement: Jewelled manual wind Dial: Silvered with guilloché engraved centre, black Roman numerals, secret signature at 7, black inner minute track with 5 minute markers, blued steel sword hands Case: Brushed and polished reversible rectangular, cabochon set below 6, personal engraving to reverse, No.A109227 Strap/Bracelet: Burgundy Cartier alligator leather Buckle/Clasp: Signed 18K gold folding clasp Signed: Case, dial & movement Size: 23mm x 37mm Accompaniments: Cartier box, outer card, International Guarantee Certificate, instruction booklet Footnotes: The Tank Basculante was first designed in 1932 and was aimed at an elite clientele looking to protect their timepieces from impact whilst predominantly playing sport. The case is composed of 3 parts allowing the central body to be inverted in order to present a smooth solid case back thus protecting the more vulnerable glass side. Due to its similar first introduction date, the Tank Basculante is often compared with the 1931 Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. Although sharing a similar goal and developed by the same company Spécialités Horlogers, the Basculante differs from the Reverso in several key ways. In particular the method used to invert the case on the Basculante is via a swinging frame that pulls the central body out towards you before flipping and replacing. In comparison the Reverso is set within a track that allows you to slide the body out to the side before turning over. The original production of the Basculante was quite limited before being briefly revived in the 1990s. The current example hails from the late 90s and was presented in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Cartier. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com