Tank Solo XL automatic problem

[arcticGT]

Watch is 3.5 years old (bought just before the introduction of the longer warranty) and has stopped winding.

Always kept in a wonder and only worn a handful of times.

If I shake it, it’ll run for a few seconds before stopping again - any suggestions?

[trickywoo]

Could be a broken mainspring.

[clockworks]

What happens when you try and hand wind it using the crown?

[arcticGT]

I can feel some resistance as if it’s winding but again after a few seconds it stops again

[Louis Balfour]

arcticGT said:

I can feel some resistance as if it’s winding but again after a few seconds it stops again

I had a Cartier some years ago and it could not be manually wound, or at least if it could I never managed it.

What I used to do was put my fingers through the bracelet so I was holding like a knuckle duster, then raise and lower my arm briskly like a fly fisherman maybe 40 times, so that the auto wind got a bit of a workout. It would then run.

[arcticGT]

I can feel some resistance as if it’s winding but again after a few seconds it stops again

[Louis Balfour]

arcticGT said:

I can feel some resistance as if it’s winding but again after a few seconds it stops again

Try what I said ^^^^

My Cartier was like that, but only auto winding made it work and it was necessary to really get it moving to wind it. Otherwise it would run for a few seconds and stop.

[Mezzanine]

I would speak to Cartier/the AD you purchased from.

Even though it’s out of warranty, they might be willing to do something for you.

[arcticGT]

Can anyone recommend someone who can get Cartier parts? I messaged watch guy with the model and serial number - work accepted but a long wait, on getting to it they’ve messaged to say they can’t do anything as it has a Cartier movement in it and they can’t get parts for these. What they were expecting to be in a Cartier watch, I have no idea but anyway 3 weeks wasted along with 2 lots of special delivery.

[Louis Balfour]

arcticGT said:

Can anyone recommend someone who can get Cartier parts? I messaged watch guy with the model and serial number - work accepted but a long wait, on getting to it they’ve messaged to say they can’t do anything as it has a Cartier movement in it and they can’t get parts for these. What they were expecting to be in a Cartier watch, I have no idea but anyway 3 weeks wasted along with 2 lots of special delivery.

Send it back to Cartier, via your local main dealer.

Your local "watch guy" won't do the same job as the manufacturer, and the manufacturer will likely do goodwill work, if required, to protect the brand.

I had the exact same experience a few years ago, after I wore a Tank Francaise in a spa and it filled with salty water.

Local guy kept my watch for a few weeks, thinking he could bodge some vanilla ETA components into it. He couldn't.

I sent it back to Cartier. For the price of a service they completely restored the watch to new condition. It was not a massive sum of money and took six weeks.