The "Cartier Tank Américaine" that arrived today is an SM-sized pink gold model that was added to the collection around 2009.
Pink gold, which has a soft, glamorous impression that blends well with the skin, is said to be a color that complements the skin tone of Japanese people very well.
Introduced in 1989 as a high-end Cartier model, the Tank Américaine was initially available only in solid gold.
At that time, the lineup consisted mainly of yellow gold and white gold versions, and while there seem to have been some limited platinum models, pink gold had not yet been added.
In the 2000s, various companies began introducing new products using pink gold and rose gold.
Cartier also began incorporating pink gold items into its lineup, and the long-awaited pink gold model of the Tank Américaine finally made its debut.
As a high-end Cartier model, the Tank Américaine does not appear often in the secondary market.
And rightfully so.
Because the solid gold models have a high retail price, the number of people who can purchase them is limited, and they generally do not enter the second-hand market unless the owner decides to part with them.
Furthermore, since the pink gold model was added later, its market circulation is extremely low compared to yellow or white gold.
Additionally, the current domestic retail price is a very steep ¥2,323,200.
Given that there are not many people in the world who can afford a watch costing over 2 million yen, this current arrival can truly be called a miracle.
Pink gold, which offers a soft impression not found in yellow or white gold, is said to achieve its unique hue due to a higher copper content than yellow gold, but I hear it is a difficult material to work with because achieving metal rigidity with that specific alloy ratio is challenging.
In fact, gold with a strong reddish tint, like pink or rose gold, is only seen among certain luxury watch brands and jewelry houses, and is rarely found in the lineups of mid-range or smaller brands.
Beyond the high retail price, the rarity of the metal itself is part of what makes pink gold so appealing, and the sense of exhilaration when seeing the watch in person is truly exceptional.
This is only the second time we have had this model in our shop; the previous arrival was only once in the past.
The fact that we can barely source one once a year really highlights how rare it is.
Because it is such a precious item, we wanted to ensure it was thoroughly maintained before sale. We had Cartier perform a complete service, replacing the glass and hands with brand-new ones.
We have also polished the case, so there are no noticeable scratches. Additionally, all original accessories from that time are included, making this a very complete set.
Not only are such pieces rarely available, but opportunities to purchase them are also limited.
I am sure many of you have been looking for this, so please do not miss out on this opportunity!
