Cartier · Collection
Tank Solo
No dial decoration, no complication, nothing to distract from the case. The Solo is the plainest watch in the line and the one with nowhere to hide.
No dial decoration, no complication, nothing to distract from the case. The Solo is the plainest watch in the line and the one with nowhere to hide.
The Tank Solo is the plainest watch in the Tank line: no dial decoration, no complication, nothing to draw the eye away from the case. That leaves three things to judge, the bezel line, the case-back engraving and the strap. It comes in an XL case at 31 x 41 mm and a small case, both quartz, from $329 with shipping included. We photograph the bezel in raking light and the case back square on, because those are the two frames that decide it.
A Solo is a rectangle of steel with Roman numerals and a cabochon. There is no guilloché, no skeleton, no diamond bezel, so the eye stays on the case: the bezel line, the four brancards, the way the case back sits into the band. On a decorated Tank a small error can hide behind the decoration. Here it cannot.
The case back is the part most often left rough, because it is the part nobody photographs. Engraving should be crisp and centered, and the screws should sit flush rather than slightly sunk. If that matters to you, ask for the case-back frame before you pay — it is a legitimate request and we take it on every Solo anyway.
The strap is the second decision. The Solo is a strap watch by design, and the buckle, the stitching and the stiffness of the leather change the whole impression more than the movement does. We fit the strap before dispatch and photograph the watch on it.
A plain case has fewer places to hide, so the list is shorter and the checks are harder.
One continuous step around the dial. A wavy or doubled line means the case was refinished after assembly, and it never quite disappears.
Crisp, centered, and cut rather than stamped. This is the frame we add to the QC set for anyone who asks.
Same check as every Tank: color, height, and a clean seat in the crown.
Stitching even at both lugs, buckle signed and square to the strap. A soft buckle is obvious in the hand.
The wordmark and the minute track. On a dial with nothing else on it, one thin letter is enough to date the watch.
Figures as stated by the line. The small case size is stated by the listing, not measured by us.
| Reference | Case | Movement | Bracelet | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W5200027 (XL) | 31 × 41 mm steel | High-grade quartz | Leather strap | $349 |
| W5200028 (XL) | 31 × 41 mm steel | High-grade quartz | Steel bracelet | $359 |
| Small | 34.8 × 27.4 mm steel | High-grade quartz | Leather strap | $329 |
Checked on 2026-10-19 · reference numbers from dealer listings · prices include shipping · sample figures for layout review
The Solo is not built by the Santos workshops. That removes the "which line" question and leaves only the condition of the watch in front of you.
| Line | What it covers here | Where it stands | We quote it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF / CR | Both Solo references | Only line listing the Solo in XL and small | Always, for this family |
| BV | Santos only | Does not list Tank references | Not quoted here |
| GF | Santos only | Does not list Tank references | Not quoted here |
Straight on and from the side, plus a raking shot along the bezel line where a soft step shows.
Case back square on, so the engraving and the screw seats can be read without a loupe.
Tag, card and case back. Three matching codes or the watch goes back.
The XL is 31 × 41 mm and wears like a thin dress watch with presence. The small is a cuff watch: under a shirt sleeve you will forget it is there. If you wear 40 mm sports watches, the XL will feel right and the small will feel like a token.
The XL is sold on both bracelet and leather. We quote whichever you ask for and we do not present one as the other.
Yes, standard spring bars. Any 20 mm strap will fit, and we can send a second strap with the watch.
Less steel and a smaller case, not a lesser movement. Both are quartz and both are finished to the same standard.
No. It is cut into the steel. What wears is the polish around it, so we photograph the back before dispatch and you have a reference point.
Two to four days to confirm, seven to twelve days in transit. QC photographs come before dispatch.