Cartier Is Too Expensive? Look At These 7 Vintage Inspired Tank Watches. From Alpina to Oris
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Icons like the Cartier Basculante or the Reverso by Jaeger-LeCoultre can be very expensive and out of reach. But luckily mid tier brands like Alpina, Frederique Constant or Tissot offer beautiful alternatives, that bring back the elegance of 30s and 30s square watches, named tanks.
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That Lorier is exquisite! Pure class, simple and elegant.
For those not wanting to spend that much, a Rotary Cambridge is a great choice, a very underrated brand. I know it’s been mentioned before, but want to recommend it too.
Longines Dolce Vita, of course. Definitely the best of these combining lots of smaller and larger versions, mechanical and quartz options, plenty of colors, good straps and even bracelets and various approaches regarding the dials - roman numerals , arabic numerals, indexes, completely clean dials, sector dials, guilloche dials etc. Not to mention the heavyweight brand and legacy, with the oldest trademarked logo in use… in the world (not only watches). And, for sure, one of the best names in the industry. Poetry.
Who does’n want a bit of “dolce vita” in their life?! 😃
I like the Lorier. The lack of the seconds hand is unique
The Alpina and the Frederique Constant are real stunners and look way more expensive than they are. The Art Deco design is very elegant and highly sophisticated. Living in Lisbon, I'd gladly buy a Lisboa, although it looks a bit rougher and cruder than most tanks.
Baume & Mercier Hampton Rectangular non-chronograph could have also been included. They are currently available online from some watch dealers here in the US.
I have a Dunhill that has a tank look and gets lots of compliments. They also made the Centinary.
The Seiko Tank is a winner and under $200. I’ve got one in stainless and a solar in gold tone. They are just great little guys. The gold tone was an impulse buy one evening while browsing. I scored it for under $100 and couldn’t say no. Then I had to grab the stainless quartz model a couple years later. They’re are both great. And no running seconds means who cares 😂.
I acquired a 1959 Bulova Senator extremely cheap - just $60 and in quite good condition - on ebay. A gorgeous tank style watch with a bubble dome crystal that makes the dial appear to curve and come toward you to fill the space.
I have the Longines dolce vita 27 x 43, silver dial, Arabics with blued hands on a semi gloss black alligator and calf strap. It's modified ETA is not COS certified, but clocks out at +6, -6 over 6 positions. The smooth crown is beautiful, but impossible to hand wind ... use a nylon glove and it winds just fine. It looks very expensive and is my poor man's Cartier. Thank you for your suggestions.
The Alpina is my fav, but they would all find a happy home on my wrist. I am currently looking at a Tissot Lisboa.
The Frederique Constant would be my choice. Very tasteful and stylish!
The Alpina I wasn't aware of, but a really nice watch! Glad that you've put this one onto my radar.
just bought the white dial Frederique Constant Classics Carree thanks to your video :) much love
Edit: It arrived and it looks and feels absolutely amazing tysm
I bought my Daughter a Tissot similar to the Lisboa but it's a quartz. Actually a lovely watch for not much.. TBH I'm a fan of Tissot. Affordable class.
Intersting, thanks. BTW funny it is seemingly exactly my first RLX in the Intro, with the steel bezel and the jubilee strap. Got it summer 1988, beautiful still. 🙂 The Alpina catches my eye... Longines Dolce Vita would also have a nice piece to add to the list, although a bit more expensive.
Hi Tim, well done on the video, another honorable and very affordable mention is the Casio MTP - M105L - AVDF, this watch is very affordable with a Quartz movement with the same Cartier look, it doesn't have the railway track markers and instead features a Moon phase and the sub dial, it comes with a leather strap or a steel bracelet. Thanks for sharing.
A few years ago I picked up an early 2000s Eterna Les Historiques 1935. The nominal case dimensions are long, but the lugs slope down and it's a very well-proportioned automatic watch for reasonable prices (I picked up mine for a little over $600 US). There are also a number of different dial styles and even a few cases in 18k gold.
Killer watch! I had that thing in 18k and sold it to a gentleman in Poland. Idiotic move as nearly as always when I sold a watch.
I have many watches and one of my favourite's is the Concord Delirium. I have one with a white dial with Roman numerals, and it is only 3mm thin! It is a quartz watch that will give the Cartier Tank Solo a run for its money in terms of overall quality.
I really like those Alpinas. The straps look very nice as well.
The Vario Versa looks like pure class in my opinion.
Excellent options.
Even though I already own a JLC Reverso and recently bought a Lorier Zephir (which I haven't received yet) I still find myself admiring these pieces and considering buying another rectangular watch. My favorites are Longines Dolce Vita and Baume & Mercier Hampton, but the others you showed are also admirable.
Excellent presentation Tim and many meaningful comments here. Thank you. Let me mention my favorite pieces from the bottom shelf: Sanda 1108 for men and 9031 for women. Chinese brand, Seiko Epson quartz, white dial with roman numerals, mineral glass, blue painted hands, missing second hands, 20 respectively 17.5mm lug width, for less than $20 each.
I couldn't resist buying both and we wear it often with big pleasure joined by my dear wife. Since then I also procured the corresponding aftermarket Cartier tank style steel bracelets each aprox. at the same price as the watches. Huhhh. These not only looks brilliant, but gives some heft to the otherwise lightweight watches. So, finally we got two budget friendly tank style watches, wearing well, slim but having some presence, looking very decent with any occasion and outfit. Who can resist buying one? 😂
Thank you!
My Raymond Weil Saxo on a nice leather strap is my go to when I’m feeling the mood.
I've drawn the line at any more watches for a while now, but I still want a Rotary Cambridge.
A cheap alternative would be the Seiko Tank. "Albert Villa Timepieces" has specialized on these tank watches with some very original designs.
Hi Tim,
Great topic!
I'd suggest adding the quartz, but very historical LIP T18 Churchill.
Excellent displays of these vintage watches.
Was nice to hear about Tissot Lisboa Z150 that just now rests on my wrist. Wonderfull tank. About other options, from my perspective you forgot to mention Eterna 1935 from their heritage line, there are a lot of dial options but ones with black dial and their own movement just standout. Wonderfull dial, wonderfull case, right size.
The Vario was a fun discovery! Rest of the reviews are spot on... but now I need a Vario...
First time for me to see the Tissot Lisboa and that reversible Vario! Both look quite appealing to me!
Thanks for not heating up the market on vintage Must de Cartiers, I'd hate to be priced out of collecting more
I have a Lip Churchill wich I think would have fitted nicely on this list!
Impressed with the Frederique Constant.
Great video, Tim. I love tank-style watches and recently bought a Cartier Tank Solo (slightly superior in design to the new Tank Must, imo), which I am very happy with. One watch that I really think deserved to be on this list is the Longines Dolce Vita, a very elegant yet contemporary watch that's very suitable for both men and women. And if you really want a tank on a shoestring budget, the Lip Churchill offers a very compelling and somewhat quirky interpretation of 1930s Art Deco style and is available with a quartz movement or, still at a pretty modest price, an automatic.
So many great watch designs, thanks Tim! 😎
love the Tissot and the blue Oris
Thank you for this video and all the brand i discover . The ORIS will be my favorite . At fair prices, you can also found the LONGINES DOLCE VITA.
Hello Tim,
These are interesting to me at least. My addition to the list would be the lip Churchill range of watches. they come if a few different sizes, mostly quartz, but also an automatic
My favorite Longines Evidenza should have made the list. It's beautiful 😍
Nice & very thoughtful collection, Tim. Each has something to recommend itself, and good to see something other than the $100 Seiko quartz...
Longines Dolce Vita. My favourite is probably the Alpina.
You missed what I consider to be the best, Longines DolceVita I did a review on this topic 😊
I agree
I 2nd that agree😊
I stumbled upon this page while looking for the Longine 👍🏽. I did like the first one
As a DolceVita owner I agree as well 😅
I was going to mention the Dolce Vita
That Lorier is beautiful.
Amazing value for less than $500 with an automatic.
Love the classic endless style of the Tank, I own a quartz tank solo but also have a blue dial hamiltom in a similar shape and a beautiful bulova frank sinatra black dial…. also agolocer makes a square dial with inhouse movement thats nice for less than $400
My favorite is the Frédérique Constant. What about the Baume et Mercier Hampton collection?
Another very interesting video. My choice would be the Tissot Lisboa.👍
I have the Tissot Lisboa, it is big but wears really nice.
Thanks for sharing, I'll be saving this video for future reference!
Alpina and FC for the win, IMHO. And one should be able to find these at a fairly attractive price.
For very shallow budgets, Seiko has some nice vintage looking two-hand tanks. But what I went with is the Casio MTP-M105, which has a moon phase. It has a standard rather than small seconds, which isn’t very traditional-looking, and it is fairly large, but dang is it a fun watch.
Also Longines has timepieces in tank - Dolce Vita - and tonneau - Evidenza - cases. Seiko makes a couple of tonneau models in Presage line.
Many handsome pieces, some of which I’d love to have in my collection. I was going to mention the one I do have, the Longines DolceVita, but it seems that a lot of folks beat me to it! Cheers!
Excellent reviews like always Tim - thanks!
I’ve a couple of vintage art deco watches, but my most wearable is actually a modern quartz. (Usually I prefer the mechanical art..)
It’s a Luch (Луч) from Belarus with beautiful stepped design and ornaments on the dial.
Thank you!
I would add the Bulova My Way watch from their Frank Sinatra collection. They are less than $500. I’m a big fan of Sinatra and my favorite song is “My Way”. So I had to have it . I should add that Bulova was good enough for Frank.
This was an awesome presentation. I prefer a bigger watch. The Hamilton Boulton hand winding would be my choice. I am waiting for Vario to produce a larger tank model.
Definitely the Tissot for me I have a 1940s Temco electric clock with a very similar dial.
Perhaps you didn't include it because it is the very definition of a Tonneau rather than a Tank, but I fully expected to see the Longines Evidenza, Humphry Bogart's watch, included in this video. These happen to be a favorite of mine, and appreciate that you can get them small & simple as well as large & complicated, with Triple Calendars, Power Reserve Indicators & Moon Phases. Great & enjoyable video- Thanks.
Thank you for a nice video, the Alpina is lovely. Personally, if I was spending a few bob on a tank I’d buy a Longines Dolce Vita automatic and if I wanted something very affordable I’d buy a Rotary Cambridge.
Thanks for watching!
I have the following collection - Fears Archival, GP Richville, Baume&M Hampton, Bulova Breton, and cheaper but interesting pieces from Ciga, Poljot, Montmartre, Tissot Porto, Akor. Fears & Bulova & Tissot favourites but enjoy them all! I would really like to get the JLC Reverso duoface, but unlikely!
@@philthyphil6662 Wow great watch, but not antishock or waterproof and obviously a NOS movement, but still a great looking piece. I read the Fears recent book very interesting, as I'm into collecting the British watch brands, CW being by far the best value.
I had my eye on the Longines DolceVita. But I've satisfied my tank-style watch craving with an old Tissot Z173k in excellent condition and I've treated it to a beautiful shell cordovan JLC style strap (cost as much as the watch :D).
How much did that set you back? If you don’t mind me asking.
Hi, l have a seiko solar tank, which is one of the thinnest and most accurate watch in my collection as well as being very good value it looks amazing
Agree, but the Solar model is too large for most male wrists. Seiko has two other Cartier Tank
Homages in more original classic sizes.
Great choices. Excellent presentation. There are some stainless steel quartz Reversos in the 2K range, but I think you were wise to stay under 2K. Seven excellent choices!
I really enjoyed this video. Thanks, good work. My question: does Cartier Must Tank makes sense? It is sort of what I want from Cartier tank, on the opposite side of spectrum would be gold tank with silver dial, manual winding...
Credor also offers 9F = 8J quartz rectangular dress watch with sharp details you can find better than GS.
I like that Hamilton, but at the very least, it should have a hand-wind movement, as the original did. The Swatch group has the movements, so they should do it right. I'd add the Seiko SWR064. Gold-tone case with champagne dial. Under $150, with a quartz movement.
A bit on on the thick side is the lip t26 (and t18 quartz models)auto. The strap compliments the blue hands. It runs on an NH 54 with a small exhibition window on the case back. It costs just under €500 and, supposedly, is made in France. There are far cheaper and thinner quartz models, as above, and a more expensive diamond set model.
Love it when you wear the Hamilton!
Tissot and Alpina for me, thanks for this
What about the Seiko 4N30-00G0 28mm? Or do you only focus at Swiss made alternatives?
I got a Hamilton vincent from 1941 and love it.
Another vote here for the Longines Dolce Vita, I have one of the chronometer versions and love it.
I would like to suggest a couple more for the big wrist crowd. Hamilton Boulton Mechanical is much bigger than its quartz cousin. Also, a Swedish microbrand named Söner makes a few variations on a theme using both Automatic and Quartz movements. I own the automatic version and besides wearing big it's a decent watch.
I actually own Tissot Lisboa and it's really an epidemy of a 30s art-deco rectangular watch for me.
At the same time I've also got few true 30s rectangular watches like Bulova and Beha. Of course, the latter ones are perceived as something fragile you have to care of.
So, indeed, modern production (well, it's all relative in regards to Lisboa :)) gives you more certainty and peace of mind in everyday care.
Epidemy? 🤔 Maybe epitome?
Tank watches should make a comeback. Especially for some of us who are visibly outraged at the gigantic offerings on the market. What happened to style and class? Yes, most tanks are unaffordable to the average buyer. There is scant offerings in tank watches by those who are completely involved in diver type, round watches!
Take a look at the Heritor Frederick. It's certainly not in the same class as the watches in your video, but on the other hand it's much more affordable and it has the tank look. I bought mine from Jomashop for about $175.00 USD.
Excellent tour of tanks! You might want to also consider the Longines Evidenza and Dolce Vita lines. Regards from Australia!
Thanks for the great content Tim. As long as we are looking at watches with SW200 any thoughts on Herbelin Cap Camarat Square Automatic?
Wife and i were buying SS watches for our 25th anniversary and she wanted the Tank look so she looked at several options coming down to Tank and Longines DolceVita with diamonds but at end of day the Tank won out. Not that expensive and she gets a lot of compliments.
that Oris is almost a dial for dial copy of the JLC Reverso….Lorier really have a following, I love that they have gone full vintage with a mechanical movement but no second hand, I’m not certain it’s a Tank though? tonneau? c case?
It’s a tank design. Cartier introduced the design just after the first world war, so best to judge against the Cartier rather than the JLC Reverso, which was designed for British Army polo players in India.
I like tank style watches, the alpina looks great, i have a french watch wich is well known sometimes, called LIP...this watch is the one the french general charles de gaulle weares one and dwight d. eisenhower, de gaulles offered the model T18 to winston churchill--- greets BM
Danke für das tolle Video, die LIP Churchill ( T18, T24, T26) wären auch eine Erwähnung wert gewesen.
Danke fürs gucken!
I had a Bulova Sutton. Less than $300. I liked it a lot, but it was a little too large for me. I passed it on as a gift. It's a very nice watch.
I am missing the Longines Dolce Vita and the Baume et Mercier Hampton on this list.
Tissot was my favorite.
I just scored a Raymond Weil 2875 (Don Giovanni) on FleaBay for $250. A little thick, but my 8" wrists can pull it off.
Love the Oris!
Yes! Such a quirky, fun, yet elegant watch. Quintessentially Oris.
For those not willing to spend over 500$ I could proudly recommend a Seiko Dolce tank watch or Seiko SWR052 very similar to Dolce.
Are there Other Quartz Option than the Hamilton ?
Love that Alpina. I hope they sell like hotcakes so they can make it to the secondary market for poor ol' me to scoop one up.
Seiko SUP 880 Solar watch. I would take this over a Cartier Tank. Used, they run between 350 to 550 U.S. dollars on Ebay.
I do like the Hamilton Boulton Mechanic, but its size is huge in comparison to the Tank
Very nice. I like the Vario
You missed Longines Dolce Vita and my favourite; Baume Mercier's Hampton.
I love the design of that Hamilton, I would have liked to see a sapphire crystal in it though, to me i don’t get companies that make ‘almost there’ watches.
There are Hamilton Bolton watches with sapphire and a mechanical movement. The one Tim showed was made especially for the Indiana Jones movie this year. And is way overpriced because of the movie. The mechanical one is actually cheaper.
The Alpina is really gorgeous. I would add two french ones on the list, the very affordable LIP Churchill and the way more original March Lab Mansart, less historical but with a huge amount of flair.
The Lip is really small on the wrist.
ORIS, ALPINA, VARIO. I already own two Oris rectangular watches.
other alternatives:
Fears Bristol Archival
The Sherlock from Watermans of York
Rotary Cambridge
Montres Lip T18
Bulova Sinatra
Fossil GR-9006
Michel Herbelin Art Deco
Bulova 96B332
I may be wrong here, but I believe that the Hamilton Boulton's crystal is sapphire. I own the stainless quartz model with the Roman dial. In any case, it is a perfectly sized dress watch.
I don’t have a watch question yet, but rather what is that lamp on your desk and where can one find it to buy it?
Ikea. I bought two of them some years ago, because they look good and are actually very useful. But I forgot the exact name, sorry, but perhaps you find them on their webpage.