Cartier Tank Chinoise - Early CPCP piece

Tank Chinoise CPCP – Ref. WE300251

The Cartier Tank Chinoise has always stood apart within the Tank family, distinguished by its bold geometry inspired by Chinese architecture. The reference WE300251, crafted in platinum and set with brilliant-cut diamonds, is part of Cartier’s early Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP), a line that revived some of the Maison’s most iconic designs with the highest watchmaking standards.

Unlike later CPCP models, this early Tank Chinoise does not carry the customary “Paris” signature beneath the Cartier logo, nor does it feature the now-famous Rosace guilloché motif at the center of the dial. These omissions, found only on the very first pieces of the collection, make this reference exceptionally scarce and highly desirable among collectors of Cartier’s modern classics.

Case, Dial & Design Purity

The watch’s platinum case is adorned with diamonds along the brancards, offering a discreet yet striking brilliance that enhances its architectural lines.

Inside beats a manually wound movement supplied by Piaget, consistent with the fine calibres chosen for CPCP models of the era. The dial maintains a pure and restrained aesthetic, with elongated Roman numerals and a chemin-de-fer minute track framing the absence of any central decoration — a subtlety that underscores its rarity.

Why It Matters

This Tank Chinoise WE300251 represents a moment in Cartier’s history when tradition, exclusivity, and design purity converged. As one of the earliest CPCP pieces, and lacking both the “Paris” signature and Rosace motif, it sits in the small circle of ultra-rare Cartier Privée watches.

For collectors of high horology and Cartier connoisseurs alike, it is an opportunity to secure not only a jewel of a timepiece but also a significant chapter in the Maison’s modern heritage.

Condition & Set

The watch - estimated to have been manufactured around 1998-2000 period was hardly every worn since originally purchased. The timepiece comes with the original CPCP Box, the CPCP book as well as the user's manual.

The set is however incomplete as the original owner has misplaced the original warranty certificate, making this watch available at such an attractive price point.

Key Details

• Model: Cartier Tank Chinoise 

• Reference:  WE300251

• Case: Diamond-set Platinum case 37 x 29mm

• Dial: Silver

• Movement: Calibre 430 MC, based on Piaget's 430P Ultra thin movement

• Power Reserve: 38 hours 

• Year: Est. 1999

• Condition: Like-new, unpolished, shopworn 

• Provenance: Sourced N.O.S. from a former Cartier official distributor.

• Set: Complete with box, CPCP Booklet, Cartier Wallet - Missing Original Warranty certificate. 

• Location: Dubai, UAE

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