Cartier tank refresh

[w1bbles]

My wife has a 25 year old Cartier Tank that she bought new. It's gold plated Sterling (925) silver I think and she's interested in getting the case, case back and crown re-plated in silver and then changing out the leather deployant clasp strap for a bracelet. The aspiration is to take it from something that looks like this:





...to something that looks more like this (dial excepted):



The reason for doing so is that she bought it new but has lost the box and papers, so selling it is probably a worse option than spending a bit of money on making into something she would wear (as her tastes have changed since 1998!).

Are there any watchmakers who you would point me towards for doing the work? It's not straightforward servicing obviously, so it would be good to know if there are any recommendations.

Thanks.

[EX51GE R]

I genuinely think you'l be better off just buying that watch than trying to convert the existing tbh.

[gregs656]

EX51GE R said:

I genuinely think you'l be better off just buying that watch than trying to convert the existing tbh.

I agree.

It won’t be hard to sell with out the box and papers, a lot of watches from that period don’t have them. It looks like it’s in good condition too.

[Nemophilist]

w1bbles said:

My wife has a 25 year old Cartier Tank that she bought new. It's gold plated Sterling (925) silver I think and she's interested in getting the case, case back and crown re-plated in silver and then changing out the leather deployant clasp strap for a bracelet. The aspiration is to take it from something that looks like this:





...to something that looks more like this (dial excepted):



The reason for doing so is that she bought it new but has lost the box and papers, so selling it is probably a worse option than spending a bit of money on making into something she would wear (as her tastes have changed since 1998!).

Are there any watchmakers who you would point me towards for doing the work? It's not straightforward servicing obviously, so it would be good to know if there are any recommendations.

Thanks.

I’d absolutely love that watch.
I’m not bothered by box or papers as Id buy it to wear it.

If she does consider selling it please PM me

[rallye101]

gregs656 said:

I agree.

It won’t be hard to sell with out the box and papers, a lot of watches from that period don’t have them. It looks like it’s in good condition too.

Yep...

Would say the same....

[Guycord]

My feelings are this is going to be a "hot" watch style very soon. Not 5711 hot but hot in its own way.

I would keep the watch as is, possibly refreshing the strap.

I would also comment that a lot of jewellers and watchmakers can do iridium plating relatively cheaply. Quick and easy process while servicing

[simong800]

Agree with others, just keep it and buy the other in addition.

Difference in price between doing this vs getting the other one made over surely won't be huge, and they'd be 2 very different watches. One a stainless steel go anywhere/do anything and the other a nice dressier watch on leather for special occasions.

[w1bbles]

Thanks

That's probably cemented in her mind that she shouldn't put a bracelet on this but may well explore the re-plating option for the case and clasp. I'll update this post when we've got an outcome!

[Gunk]

I quite like it as it is.

[Nemophilist]

If it helps her decision, I have recently been following the Cartier Tanks that come up on the Fellows watch auctions. One very similar in gold plated sterling silver 22mm had a guide of £400 and hammer price was £840 which seemed a good price.
The silver ones without gold plating all seemed to fetch a higher price although the ones I am comparing with were 24mm. They went for over £1700 each which isn't all that far off price of a brand new one after paying fees.