Cartier Tank vs Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso: Current Models and Pre-Owned Generations
The Cartier Tank and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso are the two best-known rectangular dress watches, and they are often cross-shopped by people who want a slim watch on a strap with Art Deco roots. The Tank dates from 1917 and went on sale in 1919; the Reverso, whose case flips over to protect the dial, was patented in 1931. This page compares what both brands list as new today, including the Tank Must, Louis Cartier, Française and Américaine against the Reverso Classic, Tribute and One families, and the earlier generations a buyer can still find pre-owned, such as the Tank Solo, the Reverso Grande Taille and the 2011 Grande Reverso Tribute to 1931.
The short answer
Choose the Tank if you want the lower entry price and the wider choice of materials: a steel Tank Must starts at $3,750, and mechanical steel models begin at $5,700 (Tank Must XL). Choose the Reverso if you want a hand-wound movement in a case that flips to show a second dial or a blank, engravable back: the 2026 Classic Small Monoface is $8,000, and the Tribute Duoface Small Seconds is $14,100.
Both are rated to roughly 30 metres, so neither is a sports watch. Jaeger-LeCoultre pricing here comes from press and dealer reports, because the brand's own site could not be read. Prices observed October 14 and 15, 2026.
Cartier Tank vs Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso at a glance
Current flagship models compared side by side. Facts and prices checked October 2026; see each lineup below for every current variation.
| Cartier Tank | Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso | |
|---|---|---|
| Flagships compared | Tank Must (steel) and Tank Louis Cartier (gold) | Reverso Classic Small Monoface and Tribute Duoface Small Seconds (steel) |
| Case concept | Fixed rectangle framed by two vertical brancards | Rectangle with gadroon-edged carrier; the case swivels and flips (Monoface or Duoface) |
| Case size | Must Large 33.7 x 25.5 mm; Louis Cartier Large 38.1 x 27.75 mm; Must XL 41 x 31 mm | Classic Small Monoface 35.78 x 21 mm; Tribute Duoface Small Seconds 42.9 x 25.5 mm; Tribute Chronograph 49.4 x 29.9 mm |
| Thickness | 6.6 mm (Must Large), 8.18 mm (Louis Cartier Large), 8.37 mm (Must XL) | 7.4 mm (Classic Small Monoface), 9.23 mm (Tribute Duoface Small Seconds), 11.14 mm (Tribute Chronograph) |
| Movement | Quartz or SolarBeat on most Must; automatic 1847 MC on Must XL; hand-wound 1917 MC or automatic 1899 MC on Louis Cartier | Hand-wound calibres 846, 844, 854, 853, 860 and 834; quartz calibre 657 on the Monoface Origin |
| Power reserve | 40 hours (1899 MC); about 40 to 42 hours (1847 MC) | 50 hours (846, 844); 42 hours (854, 853, 834); 52 hours (860 chronograph) |
| Water resistance | 30 m (3 bar) across the pages checked | 30 m (3 bar) on the 2026 models |
| Dial faces | One | Monoface has one dial and a blank or engravable back; Duoface has a second dial on the reverse |
| Complications | Date on the Must XL; none otherwise in the models checked | Second time zone (Duoface), calendar, column-wheel chronograph, grande date with world time (Geographic), minute repeater |
| Strap or bracelet | Leather on most; Française has a steel bracelet; some Must have one | Alligator or calfskin strap; five-row steel bracelet on some Classic and Origin references |
| Metals | Steel (Must, Française, Américaine); gold and platinum (Louis Cartier) | Steel, 18k pink gold, 18k white gold; gem-set and enamel limited editions |
| Entry price, new | $3,750 (Tank Must steel on strap) | $6,850 (Classic Monoface Origin, quartz); $8,000 (Classic Small Monoface, hand-wound) |
| Cheapest mechanical, new | $5,700 (Tank Must XL, automatic) | $8,000 (Classic Small Monoface, calibre 846) |
| Pre-owned (steel) | Tank Solo about $2,500 to $4,000; Française median $4,195 | Modern Classic Monoface about $3,000 to $6,000; Tribute Duoface about $8,000 to $14,000 |
| Origin | Designed 1917; commercial production 1919 | Patent filed March 4, 1931; production halted 1948 and resumed in 1975 |
Current Cartier Tank lineup and variations
Cartier Tank: Cartier's US collection page lists 62 Tank models, and our fetch could see only about the first third. The rows below cover every reference we could verify on cartier.com on October 14, 2026 . Almost every page showed Unavailable online , which is a stock status and not a discontinuation. WatchScanning reports a Cartier US price increase on May 21, 2026. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso: jaeger-lecoultre.com returned an error to our fetcher, so the Reverso table below uses dated press and dealer reports observed October 15, 2026 , mostly 2026 MSRPs from Luxury Bazaar (September 16, 2026). Where we found only an older launch price or a dealer asking price, the notes column says so.
| Model | Reference | Case | Movement | Price (US, new) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank Must, Small | CRWSTA0135; CRWSTA0107; CRWSTA0137 (SolarBeat) | Steel | Quartz; SolarBeat photovoltaic | $3,750; $4,100; $3,750 | 30 m |
| Tank Must SolarBeat, Small bracelet | CRWSTA0121 | Steel, steel bracelet | SolarBeat | $4,100 | |
| Tank Must, Large | CRWSTA0136; CRWSTA0108; CRWSTA0106; CRWSTA0138 (SolarBeat) | Steel, 33.7 x 25.5 x 6.6 mm | High-autonomy quartz; SolarBeat | $3,900; $4,100; $4,400; $3,900 | |
| Tank Must, Small diamond-set | CRW4TA0031 | Steel with diamonds | High-autonomy quartz | $6,800 | |
| Tank Must, Extra-large | CRWSTA0141 | Steel, 41 x 31 x 8.37 mm | Automatic 1847 MC, date | $5,700 (up to $6,050 on bracelet per WatchScanning) | Cheapest mechanical Tank we found |
| Tank Louis Cartier, Mini | CRWGTA0352; CRWJTA0073; CRWJTA0078 | Yellow gold; yellow gold with diamonds; white gold with diamonds | Quartz | $9,300; $19,900; $21,200 | |
| Tank Louis Cartier, Small and Medium | CRWGTA0342; CRWGTA0343; CRWJTA0074; CRWJTA0079 | Yellow gold; diamond-set yellow and white gold | Quartz | $12,400; $13,900; $27,000; $28,900 | |
| Tank Louis Cartier, Medium hand-wound | CRWGTA0011 | Rose gold, 33.7 x 25.5 x 6.6 mm | Hand-wound 1917 MC | $15,800 | Page lists mineral crystal |
| Tank Louis Cartier, Large automatic | CRWGTA0357; CRWGTA0346; CRWGTA0373 | Yellow gold; rose gold; platinum; 38.1 x 27.75 x 8.18 mm | Automatic 1899 MC, 40 hours | $17,500; $17,500; $25,300 | Shown at Watches and Wonders 2025 |
| Tank Française, Small | CRWSTA0129 | Steel, 25.7 x 21.2 x 6.79 mm, steel bracelet | Quartz | $4,450 | Relaunched 2023; diamond-set small CRW4TA0029 listed at $9,650 |
| Tank Française, Medium and Large | CRWSTA0105; large steel automatic | Steel; large 36.7 x 30.5 x 10.1 mm | Medium quartz; large Sellita-based 1853 MC | $5,700; $6,950 (search listing) | Only the large steel model is automatic |
| Tank Américaine, Mini | CRWSTA0116 | Steel | Quartz | $3,850 | |
| Tank Américaine, Large | CRWSTA0083 | Steel, 44.4 x 24.4 x 8.54 mm | Self-winding (calibre not stated) | $7,100 | Navy alligator strap |
| Tank Normale and Tank Cintrée (La Collection, 2026) | Not confirmed | Yellow gold; Cintrée 23 x 46.3 x 6.95 mm | Cintrée: hand-wound 1917 MC | Price on request (prices not confirmed) | Shown at Watches and Wonders 2026 |
| Privé Tank à Guichets (2025) | WGTA0234 to 0237 | Yellow gold, rose gold, platinum; 37.6 x 24.8 x 6 mm | Hand-wound 9755 MC | $47,700 gold; $55,500 platinum | Limited Privé line, jumping hours |
Full history and every generation: Cartier Tank history.
Current Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso lineup and variations
| Model | Reference | Case | Movement | Price (US, new) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reverso Classic Small Monoface (2026) | Q2608442; Q2608142; Q2602542 | Steel or 18k pink gold, 35.78 x 21 x 7.4 mm | Hand-wound 846, 50 hours, silicon escapement | $8,000 (steel, alligator); $8,950 (steel, bracelet); $17,900 (pink gold) | Announced May 11, 2026; power reserve up from 38 hours; 30 m |
| Reverso Classic Small Duetto (2026) | Q2668443; Q2668143; Q2668423; Q2668123; Q2662543; Q2662143 | Steel or pink gold, 34.2 x 21 x 8.7 mm, diamonds on one or both sides | Hand-wound 844, 50 hours | $12,400; $14,100; $15,300; $17,000; $27,700; $43,900 | Strap and bracelet versions; pink gold bracelet is $43,900 |
| Reverso Classic Monoface Origin (2026 edition) | Q3878560; Q3878160 | Steel, 32.5 x 16.3 x 7.9 mm, diamond-set gadroons | Quartz 657 | $6,850 (strap); $7,800 (bracelet) | Original Origin launched 2025; cheapest Reverso found |
| Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds (2026) | Q3908410 | Steel, 42.9 x 25.5 x 9.23 mm | Hand-wound 854, 42 hours | $14,100 | New medium format with blue-grey reverse dial; black calfskin strap |
| Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds (2025) | Q398847J; Q3988481 | Steel, 47 x 28.3 x 10.34 mm | Hand-wound 854 | $13,700 (April 2025 launch price) | Whether it is still sold beside the 2026 medium was not confirmed |
| Reverso Tribute Duoface Calendar | Q3918420 (steel); Q3912530 (pink gold) | Steel, 49.4 x 29.9 mm | Hand-wound 853, 42 hours | $19,700 (dealer list, sold out); $14,500 at the October 2022 launch | Pink gold $26,900 at launch; current US retail not verified |
| Reverso Tribute Chronograph | Q389848J | Steel, 49.4 x 29.9 x 11.14 mm | Hand-wound 860, column-wheel chronograph, 52 hours | $28,900 (dealer, out of stock); $25,000 at 2023 launch | Boutique exclusive at launch; 30 m (3 bar) |
| Reverso Tribute Geographic (2025) | Q714845J (steel); Q714256J (pink gold) | 49.4 x 29.9 x 11.14 mm | Hand-wound 834, 42 hours, grande date with world time on the back | $21,200 (steel); $34,900 (pink gold) | Pink gold limited to 150 pieces; 2025 launch prices |
| Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds | Q713216J (pink gold) | 18k pink gold, 45.6 x 27.4 x 7.56 mm | Hand-wound 822 | $41,300 (2025 launch price) | Steel version's US retail was not verified |
| Reverso Classic Large Duoface | Q3838420 | Steel, 47 mm, 9.15 mm | Hand-wound 854A/2, 42 hours | $11,900 (MSRP per 5DWatches, undated) | Current-production status not confirmed; 30 m |
| Reverso One “La Vallée des Merveilles” (2026) | Q3292424; Q3292324; Q3292425; Q3292325; Q3293426 | 18k pink or white gold, 40 x 20 x 9.09 mm, gem-set, enamel back | Hand-wound 846 | Price on request | 20 pieces per model |
| Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds “Or Deco Cocktail” (2026) | Q713313J; Q713311J; Q713211J | White or pink gold with gemstones, 45.6 x 27.4 x 7.56 mm | Hand-wound 822, 42 hours | Price on request | 30 pieces per model, Milanese mesh bracelet |
| Reverso Tribute Enamel (Hokusai Waterfalls, Turner series) | Q39334T7, T8, T6, Q39331T9; Q39334W1 to W4 | 18k white gold, 45.6 x 27.4 mm | Hand-wound 822 | About $150,000 each (Hokusai); Turner on request | 10 pieces per model |
| Reverso Tribute Nonantième Enamel; Shahnameh; Minute Repeater | Q71125E1; Q39334S3; not listed | Pink or white gold | Hand-wound 826; 822; 953 | $74,000; $142,000; $299,000 (2025 launch prices) | Haute horlogerie; Hybris Mechanica Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Q13125S2 listed at $754,000 |
Full history and every generation: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso history.
Prior generations: what you can buy pre-owned
Both families have long pre-owned tails, but the dividing lines are different. The Tank keeps reissuing the same shape, so generations blur; the Reverso splits more clearly by case size and by the 2016 reorganisation into Classic, Tribute and One . Pre-owned prices below come from dated dealer guides, Loupe market values and live listings, and are indicative only. Some Reverso eras had no usable price source, and the table says so rather than guessing.
Cartier Tank: generations
| Era | Models and references | What changed | Pre-owned price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 to today | Tank Must de Cartier (steel, quartz, SolarBeat, XL automatic) | Thinner, more elongated case with softer brancard edges than the Solo; pointed spinel cabochon; XL automatic uses 1847 MC | Steel quartz about $2,500 to $3,800 (Watch Affinity, Jul 2026); Loupe about $3,700 to $4,900 for recent Must references (Oct 14, 2026) |
| 2023 to today | Tank Française (relaunch) | Monobloc bracelet end link, recessed crown, applied numerals; only the large steel is automatic | Bob's live listings $3,595 to $8,695, median $4,195 (all years) |
| 2004 to 2019 | Tank Solo (small, large quartz; XL automatic 1847 MC) | Flat, sharp-edged brancards, domed spinel crown; the Must replaced it | $2,500 to $4,000 (Watch Affinity, Jul 2026); Bob's $3,295 to $4,895; Grailr $1,500 to $2,000 (May 2026, estimate) |
| Early 2000s | Tank Divan, Tank Anglaise | Divan: wide rectangle with offset dial; Anglaise: curved with an integrated crown guard | Divan one Bob's listing at $5,995; Anglaise one listing at $20,495 |
| 1989 onward | Tank Américaine | Elongated, curved case; steel and gold | Bob's $5,495 to $14,495, median $8,495 |
| 1922 onward | Tank Louis Cartier (gold) | Rounded brancards, always precious metal; gold retains about 70 to 80 percent of retail (Grailr estimate) | Gold $9,500 to $12,000 (Grailr); Bob's median $11,245; Loupe market value for WGTA0011 $13,421 (Oct 2026) |
| 1977 | Original Tank Must de Cartier | Gold-plated case, quartz, coloured dials, the accessible line | From around $1,500 (dealer-guide summary, lower confidence) |
| 1919 to 1930s | Tank Normale, Cintrée, Chinoise, Basculante, à Guichets | The original and early variations | $15,000 and up (Bob's Watches) |
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso: generations
| Era | Models and references | What changed | Pre-owned price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 to today | Reverso Classic, Tribute and One families (Monoface and Duoface) | Reorganised line; Tribute adds complications and enamel; One adds quartz Monoface and the Duetto; 2026 Classic Small models gain a 50-hour calibre | Classic Monoface modern steel $3,000 to $6,000; Tribute Duoface modern steel $8,000 to $14,000; gold and complications $10,000 to $50,000 and up (TrueFacet, Jul 2026); Loupe: Q3988481 $13,095, Q3918420 $16,812, Q389848J chronograph $25,939 (Oct 2026) |
| 2011 to 2016 | Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931 | 80th-anniversary model, about 46 x 27.5 mm and 7.2 mm thin, steel, calibre 822 | No sourced price range (a Bezel page showed no usable price) |
| 2006 to 2015 | Squadra | Sports-styled line up to 52.9 x 36.5 mm, retired in 2016 | One 2007 Squadra Hometime listed at $7,495 (Bob's); TrueFacet calls the line an accessible pre-owned option |
| Early 2000s | Grande Reverso family | Larger 46.5 x 29 mm case (sources date it 2002 or 2003), calibres including 970, 875 and 874 | 2017 rose gold Grande Reverso Calendar listed at $16,995 (Bob's) |
| 1994 | Reverso Duoface (refs 270.x.54) | Two dials, two time zones, calibre 854, 42 x 26 mm | Loupe: 270.8.54 $9,826, 270.1.54 $12,342 (Oct 2026) |
| 1991 | Reverso Grande Taille (refs 270.x.62) and 60th Anniversary | 42 x 26 mm case about 9 mm thick, calibre 822; the 500-piece Soixantième used hand-wound 824 and started the complicated Reversos | Loupe: 270.8.62 $6,871 (Oct 2026); an 8-day reference 240.8.14, 39.5 mm steel, listed at $9,500 (Gray & Sons, Jun 2026) |
| 1993 to 2000 | Tourbillon, Répétition Minutes, Chronographe Rétrograde, Géographique, Perpetual Calendar | Limited complications, mostly 500 pieces each, in the Grande Taille case | No sourced range; TrueFacet says limited 1990s editions have appreciated significantly (single source) |
| Late 1980s | Reverso Classique, water-resistant Reverso (1985), Reverso II (1982-83) | 38.5 x 23.1 mm Classique on calibre 846/1 or quartz 657; Reverso II mostly quartz | Vintage 1970s and 1980s pieces about $2,000 to $4,000 (TrueFacet) |
| 1972 to 1975 | Corvo Reverso | Steel cases left from before 1948 were fitted with calibre 840 in 1972; production resumed in 1975 | No sourced range; collectors prize the 1972 run of about 200 cases |
| 1931 to 1948 | Original Reverso | 38 x 23 mm, Tavannes-made movements, then LeCoultre calibres 410 and 411 from 1933; production halted in 1948 | No sourced range |
Design and wearing
Both watches are rectangles, but they are built on different ideas. The Tank is a fixed case defined by two vertical brancards, and the Must Large is 33.7 x 25.5 mm and 6.6 mm thick. The Reverso sits in a carrier that slides and flips, with horizontal gadroons along the case. The 2026 Classic Small Monoface is 35.78 x 21 mm and 7.4 mm thick, which makes it narrower than the Tank Must Large but a little longer.
The flip is the point. A Monoface shows one dial and turns to a blank steel back that can be engraved, according to The Watchology; a Duoface carries a second dial on the reverse, set from its own crown, as a second time zone. The Duoface format dates to 1994, and the 2026 Tribute Duoface Small Seconds (42.9 x 25.5 mm) returned to proportions closer to that original, Time and Watches reports. The larger Tribute models run to 49.4 x 29.9 mm, and the chronograph is 11.14 mm thick, so they wear as substantial watches.
The Watchology suggests Classic models suit wrists under 6.5 inches and Tribute models 6.5 to 7.5 inches. The Tank's narrow footprint suits small wrists, while the Must XL at 41 x 31 mm and 8.37 mm is the one that competes with a Tribute for presence. Both families are rated to about 30 metres, so handwashing and rain are fine and swimming is not. Our Tank history and Reverso history cover each design in depth.
Movement and complications
This is where the two lineups differ most. Nearly every Reverso we found is hand-wound, from the 2026 Classic calibres 846 and 844 (50 hours, up from 38 after a silicon escapement and larger barrel, per Barrington Watch Winders and Luxury Bazaar) to the Tribute calibres 854, 853, 834 and the column-wheel chronograph 860 at 52 hours. The exception is the Classic Monoface Origin, which uses quartz calibre 657.
Reverso complications go further than anything in the Tank catalogue we could verify. The Tribute Duoface Calendar uses calibre 853, the Tribute Geographic (2025) pairs a grande date with a world-time display on the back, and the top of the range includes minute repeaters at $299,000 (Tribute) and $754,000 (Hybris Mechanica Ultra Thin).
The Tank is mostly simpler. The Tank Must is typically quartz or SolarBeat, and the mechanical Tanks are the Must XL (automatic 1847 MC, with date), the Louis Cartier Large (automatic 1899 MC, 40 hours), the Louis Cartier Medium and the Cintrée (hand-wound 1917 MC), and the Française Large (a Sellita-based 1853 MC). If you want an automatic, the Tank is the only one of the two that offers it among the models we checked. If you want a hand-wound watch with a visible mechanical story, or a second time zone, the Reverso does it at far lower cost than the Tank's gold models: $14,100 for a Duoface against $17,500 for a Louis Cartier Large automatic.
Value and collectability
Neither family is an appreciation play, but they behave differently. WatchScanning, citing WatchCharts in August 2026, puts the Tank about 28 percent below retail on average. Loupe shows the Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0011 at $13,421 on October 14, 2026, up 3.7 percent over a year, and its Reverso family page shows an average one-year gain of 6.6 percent (page dated October 16, 2026). Both figures come from limited data.
At the nearly-new end the Reverso shows little discount in the listings we saw: Bob's listed a 2025 Tribute Duoface Small Seconds at $13,595 against a $13,700 launch price (listing undated). The Watchology says the Tribute Small Seconds retains 70 to 75 percent of retail after three to five years and that grey-market discounts run 10 to 15 percent, but that is a single guide. Classic Monoface references trade lower, about $3,000 to $6,000, according to TrueFacet.
Collectors of both watches care about condition. TrueFacet says over-polishing rounds off the Reverso's Art Deco edges and hurts value, original dials and blued hands matter, enamel casebacks command premiums, and custom engraving is neutral to negative at resale. A blank caseback is the safest. On the Tank side, Bob's puts vintage Normale, Cintrée and Chinoise models at $15,000 and up. The Reverso's 1972 Corvo run, built from about 200 leftover cases, is the historically significant one.
Buying new versus pre-owned
Buying new gets you the warranty and the 2026 releases. For the Reverso that means the 50-hour Classic Small models and the Tribute Duoface Small Seconds at $14,100. For the Tank it means the Must at $3,750 to $5,700 in steel. Many cartier.com pages showed Unavailable online on October 14, 2026, and the C.J. Charles Tribute Chronograph page showed out of stock on October 15, so expect to ask a boutique either way. We found no allocation or waitlist process for either brand.
Pre-owned is where the Tank's discontinued predecessor helps: a Tank Solo at about $2,500 to $4,000 undercuts a new Must. For the Reverso, a Grande Taille reference such as 270.8.62 had a Loupe market value of $6,871 on our observation date, below any current steel Classic. The trade-offs are real. Pre-1975 Reversos have no water resistance, according to TrueFacet, and the pivoting case of an older piece can need refurbishment, according to The Watchology, which also says the swivel should move freely and click at each end.
Check that gold on an older Tank is solid and not plated, and buy from a dealer with a return policy. Our guides to the best watches under $5,000 and best watches under $10,000 show where each model sits in the wider market.
Which should you buy?
| If you want | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into either brand | Tank Must (steel quartz) from $3,750 | Lowest new price we found; the cheapest Reverso is the quartz Classic Monoface Origin at $6,850 |
| A hand-wound dress watch | Reverso Classic Small Monoface ($8,000) | Calibre 846 with a 50-hour reserve, in 7.4 mm of steel |
| An automatic movement | Tank Must XL ($5,700) or Louis Cartier Large ($17,500) | Only the Tank offers an automatic among the models we checked |
| A second time zone | Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds ($14,100) | Home time on the front and a second time zone on the back; the Tank has no equivalent |
| A chronograph or calendar | Reverso Tribute Chronograph or Duoface Calendar | Calibre 860 (52 hours) or 853; the Tank has neither among the models we checked |
| Solid gold on a budget | Tank Louis Cartier mini from $9,300 | Always precious metal; Classic Small Monoface in pink gold is $17,900 |
| A steel bracelet | Tank Française or a Reverso Classic on the five-row bracelet | Française has a monobloc bracelet; Classic Small Monoface is $8,950 on the bracelet |
| A smaller wrist | Tank Must Large, Française Small, or Reverso Classic | Footprints from 25.7 x 21.2 mm (Française Small) to 35.78 x 21 mm (Classic Small Monoface) |
| An engravable back | Reverso Classic Monoface | Blank steel caseback offered for engraving, though it can hurt resale |
| The best pre-owned saving | Tank Solo or a Reverso Grande Taille | Solo about $2,500 to $4,000; Grande Taille 270.8.62 about $6,871 (Loupe) |
Myths and mix-ups, corrected
- “The Reverso was designed as a dress watch.” It was made for polo: in 1930 Jaeger-LeCoultre was asked for a watch that would survive the game, and the case was designed to flip over to protect the crystal (Wikipedia; The Watchology).
- “Every Reverso is hand-wound.” The Classic Monoface Origin uses quartz calibre 657, and TrueFacet lists quartz calibre 657 for the Reverso One (Luxury Bazaar; TrueFacet).
- “Every Tank is quartz.” The Louis Cartier Large (1899 MC), Louis Cartier Medium (1917 MC), Must XL (1847 MC) and Française Large are mechanical (Cartier pages, SJX).
- “The Tank Must is just a Tank Solo.” The Must replaced the Solo in 2021, with a thinner case, softer brancards and a pointier crown cabochon, according to Zadok.
- “The Reverso is as water resistant as a sports watch.” Modern Reversos are rated to 30 metres, which suits handwashing and rain but not swimming, and pre-1975 pieces have no water resistance (The Watchology; TrueFacet).
- “The Reverso Duoface is a 2000s idea.” Monochrome Watches and MyReversoStory date the Duoface to 1994 and the Grande Taille case to 1991.
Sources
Cartier US product and collection pages (cartier.com/en-us); Bob’s Watches Tank history and live Tank and Reverso listings; WatchScanning price guide; Loupe Tank and Reverso price data; Zadok, Watch Affinity and Grailr Tank guides; Watches by SJX on the 2023 Tank Française. For the Reverso: Luxury Bazaar’s 2026 Jaeger-LeCoultre release list, Oracle of Time, Barrington Watch Winders, Time and Watches, Time+Tide, C.J. Charles and Greenleaf Crosby dealer pages, 5DWatches, The Watchology, TrueFacet, MyReversoStory, Monochrome Watches, Gray & Sons and Wikipedia. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s own US site and history page, WatchCharts and several dealer pages could not be read, so no official Reverso price list was seen and several Tribute prices are launch or dealer figures. Cartier’s collection pages were only partly readable and the status of the Tank Anglaise could not be confirmed. Prices are indicative US-dollar figures retrieved on October 14 and 15, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cartier Tank or the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso better?
Neither wins outright. The Tank is cheaper to enter, from $3,750 for a steel Tank Must, and offers automatics. The Reverso is hand-wound, with a flip case, a Duoface second time zone and complications, from $8,000 for the Classic Small Monoface.
How much does a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso cost new in 2026?
Press reports of 2026 MSRPs list the Classic Monoface Origin (quartz) at $6,850, the Classic Small Monoface at $8,000 in steel, the Tribute Duoface Small Seconds at $14,100, and the Tribute Chronograph at about $28,900 at a dealer. Jaeger-LeCoultre's own site could not be read.
How much does a Cartier Tank cost new in 2026?
A steel Tank Must starts at $3,750, a Tank Française at $4,450, and a gold Tank Louis Cartier at $9,300 for the mini and $17,500 for the Large automatic.
What is the difference between a Reverso Monoface and a Duoface?
A Monoface has one dial and a blank or engravable back; a Duoface has a second dial on the reverse, typically showing a second time zone. The Duoface format dates to 1994.
Is the Reverso water resistant?
Modern Reversos are rated to 30 metres, which covers handwashing and rain but not swimming. Pre-1975 vintage models have no water resistance. Most Tank models are also rated to 30 metres.
Do Cartier Tank and Reverso watches hold their value?
Mostly not at retail. WatchScanning puts the Tank about 28 percent below retail on average. A 2025 Reverso Tribute Duoface was listed at $13,595 against a $13,700 launch price, but one guide cites 10 to 15 percent grey-market discounts.
Are Reverso watches automatic?
Nearly all are hand-wound, including calibres 846, 844, 854 and 860. The Classic Monoface Origin is quartz. If you want an automatic, look at the Tank Must XL or Louis Cartier Large.
What is a good pre-owned Tank or Reverso to buy?
A Tank Solo at about $2,500 to $4,000, or a Reverso Grande Taille such as 270.8.62 with a Loupe market value of $6,871 in October 2026, are the discontinued generations that cost less than a current model.
When was the Reverso first made?
The case patent was filed on March 4, 1931. Production halted in 1948, restarted in 1975 after the 1972 Corvo revival, and the Tank dates from 1917 with commercial production from 1919.
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