Louis Cartier designed the Chinoise in 1922 based on the lintels of Chinese temples. Unlike the seamless corners of the Tank Louis, here the horizontal bars deliberately overlap the vertical brancards. Reference WE300131 sets factory diamonds into a "locking" geometry. It creates a squarer, denser footprint on the wrist than other Tanks.
Founded in Paris in 1847, Cartier approaches horology with the perspective of a master jeweler, prioritizing form, proportion, and aesthetic purity. The Maison was a crucial pioneer of the modern wristwatch, creating the purpose-built Santos-Dumont in 1904 for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont and later the iconic Tank in 1917, whose "brancards" seamlessly integrated the case and lugs into a singular design.
While historically collaborating with ebauche movement suppliers, Cartier has since invested significantly in its own manufacture capabilities in Switzerland, developing a suite of in-house calibres. The brand's enduring significance lies not in technical innovation, but in creating a portfolio of iconic case shapes that are foundational to watchmaking itself.
Overall Grade: 9 / 10 | Mint Condition, Light Visible Wear Production: 2006 Contents: Full-set Genre: Dress Watch
Size: 23x32mm Thickness: approx. 7mm Lug Width: approx. 18mm
Case: 18k rose gold rectangular case, mirrored finish, light visible wear Bezel: 18k rose gold brancards, factory-set with round brilliant diamonds, light visible wear Dial: Silver grained dial, black printed roman markers, inner minute track Hands: Blued-steel sword hands
Crown: 18k rose gold push/pull crown, set with a factory diamond, light visible wear Crystal: Sapphire crystal, light visible wear Bracelet: Black alligator leather strap, 18k rose gold deployant clasp, light visible wear Caseback: 18k rose gold, solid, screwed caseback, light visible wear Movement: Quartz Caliber: Swiss Ebauche