Cartier strips the Tank Louis back to platinum and a minimalist grey dial

Cartier's Tank Louis remains an enduring example of how a simple shape can define a watch for more than a century. The platinum reference WGTA0303 makes its case for restraint with a grey sunray-finished dial almost entirely free of conventional hour markers.

Its polished rectangular case measures 33.7 by 25.5mm and is only 6.6mm thick. A ruby cabochon in the crown adds a restrained flash of colour, while slender rhodium-finished sword hands maintain the spare design language.

Inside sits Cartier's hand-wound calibre 1917 MC. The manual movement suits the watch's slim profile and traditional character, rather than treating a mechanical automatic rotor as essential in a modern luxury watch.

With its platinum case and richly textured but minimal face, this contemporary Tank Louis shows how Cartier can refresh one of its oldest designs through a change in materials and finishing.