Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0357 Review: Large Yellow Gold

The Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0357 is the large-size Tank Louis Cartier in 18-karat yellow gold, paired with a silver dial, black Roman numerals and Cartier's signature blued, sword-shaped hands. The Tank line dates to 1917, when Louis Cartier drew the case's straight sides from the aerial view of a Renault tank on the Western Front; the Tank Louis Cartier variant, named for its designer, carries lugs soldered onto the case rather than integrated into a single block, the detail that separates it from the later Tank Française. This guide covers the WGTA0357's specifications, how the large quartz model compares with Cartier's extra-large manual-winding Tank Louis Cartier, how it wears, price context and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the WGTA0357 to order; the Cartier Tank collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 28, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0357 specifications

Source: Bizak's sourced listing for the WGTA0357 reference; general Tank history and Swiss watch industry context from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.

Why does the Tank Louis Cartier have soldered lugs?

Cartier's Tank design is one of the oldest continuously produced wristwatch shapes, drawn by Louis Cartier in 1917 from the straight-sided silhouette of the Renault tanks he had seen photographed on the Western Front. The Tank Louis Cartier, named for its designer, kept the original construction: the lugs, called brancards, are soldered onto the case as separate pieces rather than moulded into a single block with the case flanks. That is the detail that distinguishes it from the Tank Française, which Cartier introduced later with an integrated bracelet and case, and from other Tank-family models with their own case architecture. On the Louis Cartier, the soldered brancards let the case taper more sharply at the lugs, which is part of why the model reads as slimmer and more classically proportioned than its stablemates even in the large size. For the full family, see our Cartier Tank models compared guide.

Large quartz or extra-large manual-winding: which Tank Louis Cartier?

The two watches share a dial layout and a family resemblance, but they sit at different points in the range. The WGTA0357 is the more restrained, everyday proposition: quartz accuracy, a plain gold bezel and a lower price. The extra-large WT200006 adds a diamond bezel, white gold and a hand-wound mechanical movement, the combination collectors look for when they want the manual-winding experience Cartier reserves for its larger Tank Louis Cartier cases.

How does the Tank Louis Cartier wear?

Quartz movements let Cartier keep the case slim, which is part of the appeal of the large WGTA0357: it sits low on the wrist and slides comfortably under a shirt cuff, in keeping with the Tank's original brief as a dress watch rather than a tool watch. The rectangular case reads differently from a round watch of a comparable size, running the length of the wrist rather than sitting centred on it, so it is worth trying on before buying if you have not worn a Tank before. The leather strap keeps the whole package light. Because the movement does not need winding, the watch is ready to wear as soon as it is set, which is one reason quartz remains Cartier's choice for several Tank Louis Cartier sizes rather than only a cost-saving measure.

Who is the WGTA0357 for?

This reference suits a buyer who wants a recognisably Cartier silhouette in solid yellow gold without the added cost and bulk of a diamond bezel or a gem-set case. It reads as a first serious dress watch for someone drawn to the Tank's history, or as a second or third watch for a collector who already owns a sports model and wants a precious-metal piece for formal occasions. Quartz suits anyone who wants to wear it occasionally rather than in daily rotation, since there is no risk of the watch stopping and needing to be reset after weeks in a drawer.

How much is a Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0357? Price context in 2026

• Retail. Cartier sells the Tank Louis Cartier through its boutique network and authorised retailers rather than publishing a single fixed international price list that stays current; pricing varies by market and by case metal, dial and complication. Buyers who want an authorised-dealer quote should check with a Cartier boutique directly.
• Bizak catalogue ask. On 28 September 2026, Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the WGTA0357, brand new, at US$16,440, sourced to order.
• What moves the price. Case metal, whether the bezel is plain or diamond-set, dial finish, and whether the watch ships on a leather strap or a matching gold bracelet each shift the price meaningfully within the Tank Louis Cartier line, as the comparison with the extra-large WT200006 above shows.

Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact size, metal and dial; our guide to pricing watches outside the mainstream sports-watch market covers how to compare quotes on precious-metal and independent references.

Is the Tank Louis Cartier a good investment?

Buy a Tank Louis Cartier because the design and the history are what you want on your wrist, not because it is guaranteed to appreciate. The Tank has a genuine collector following, and vintage examples do appear at major auction houses such as Phillips, which regularly includes early Cartier Tanks in its watch sales alongside sports references from other manufacturers. A brand-new WGTA0357 is a current-production piece rather than a rare vintage find, so its resale performance will track the broader market for modern precious-metal dress watches more than it tracks headline auction results for pre-war Tanks. If resale matters to you, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit.

Buying a Cartier Tank Louis Cartier: what to check

• Confirm the reference number. The case back and any accompanying papers should both show WGTA0357; a different reference is a different watch even if the dial photographs similarly.
• Verify the case metal. Yellow gold should be hallmarked and documented. Ask for the manufacturer papers that confirm the case material rather than relying on colour alone.
• Check the full set. A brand-new Cartier should come with its box, papers and any accessories Cartier ships with the reference. Ask for a complete list before you commit.
• Inspect the dial and strap. Even a new watch can pick up handling marks in transit. Look at the dial surface and the leather strap under strong light before the sale is final.
• Price against the range. A brand-new WGTA0357 offered well under what boutiques and authorised retailers are asking for comparable Tank Louis Cartier pieces is the clearest warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

How is a quartz Cartier serviced?

A quartz movement removes the day-to-day winding routine, but it still needs periodic attention. The battery in a quartz Cartier typically needs replacing every few years, and Cartier's authorised service network handles that work along with checking the case seals that keep the watch water resistant. Buyers moving from an automatic watch sometimes assume quartz means no maintenance at all; in practice it means less frequent, simpler maintenance rather than none. Servicing through an authorised Cartier channel, rather than a general watchmaker, keeps the watch's documentation and resale value intact, and is worth budgeting for even on a watch that otherwise asks little of its owner.

Quick answers

How much is a Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0357?

Cartier does not publish a single current retail price across all markets for the Tank Louis Cartier. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the WGTA0357, brand new, at US$16,440 on 28 September 2026, sourced to order.

What movement does the WGTA0357 use?

A quartz movement, which keeps the large case slim and needs no winding, in contrast to the manual-winding mechanical movement Cartier uses in the extra-large Tank Louis Cartier.

What is the difference between the Tank Louis Cartier and the Tank Française?

The Tank Louis Cartier has lugs soldered onto the case as separate pieces, giving a sharper taper; the Tank Française, introduced later, has an integrated case and bracelet with a different clasp and silhouette.

Does the Tank Louis Cartier come in other sizes and metals?

Yes. Cartier offers the Tank Louis Cartier in small, medium, large and extra-large cases, in yellow, rose and white gold, with plain or diamond-set bezels depending on the reference.

Is the Cartier Tank Louis Cartier a good watch to buy?

It is a brand-new 18-karat gold dress watch with one of watchmaking's most historic case shapes. Whether it suits you depends on your taste for a rectangular case and how you plan to wear it; we recommend trying one on before deciding.

Request a Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0357 sourcing quote

Tell us the case metal, strap preference and whether full documentation is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, documentation and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: Tank Louis Cartier large, yellow gold, Tank Louis Cartier extra-large, white gold, diamond bezel; browse the Cartier Tank collection, the watches under $20,000 collection, or sell or trade your Cartier.

Related reading: The watch nicknames explained glossary · Richard Mille price guide · Our authenticity guarantee · Sell or trade your watch.