The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The watch behind this headline is the Cartier Tank Must Air France Concorde, a vintage Tank Must variant with a Concorde logo on its dial. Auction catalog records and a 2015 Concorde specialist periodical describe it as an Air France collaboration offered aboard the supersonic airliner. That onboard-only account is consistent across those sources, but the sources available do not include a Cartier archive or original release that sets out the sales terms. The “60,000 feet” in the headline refers to Concorde’s altitude ceiling, not to any rule about where or at what altitude the watch could be bought.
What the watch is
The Cartier Tank Must Air France Concorde is a vintage Tank Must variant. Auction records identify it by that full name, and the descriptions share a consistent set of features. The table below lists what catalogs describe for the examples offered at auction. These are example specifications, not a catalog of every variant Cartier produced.
| Feature | What auction catalogs describe |
|---|---|
| Case | Vermeil or gold-plated |
| Dial | Black, with Roman numerals and the Concorde logo; the specialist periodical describes Air France colors on the dial |
| Crown | Sapphire cabochon |
| Movement | Hand-wound, signed Cartier, based on the ETA 2512 caliber |
| Dimensions | Vary by example: one catalog gives 23 x 31 mm, another about 24 x 31 mm |
| Production count | Not stated in any source located; auction descriptions calling the watch rare do not establish a number |
Where the “sold only on Concorde” claim comes from
The onboard-sale story rests on three independent kinds of record. Each one adds something, and each one has a limit.
Auction catalog records
Two auction catalog records describe the watch as sold exclusively on Concorde for Air France. One is the Gazette Drouot / Normandy Auction listing for lot 102, a CARTIER Tank Must Air France Concorde ladies’ wristwatch. The other is a Numismatica Ars Classica lot from 2019. Catalog text is written by the seller to sell a watch, so these records establish how the object has been presented to buyers, not independently how it was sold in the 1980s or 1990s.
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#1 Best Overall
- Automatic Mechanical Movement: Manufactured with self-winding feature
- Movement Caliber: 1847 MC
- Case Material: Steel, Crown with Synthetic Spinel
- Dial & Hands: Silvered Flinque Dial, Blued-Steel Sword-Shaped Hands
- Strap & Buckle: Interchangeable Black Calfskin Strap, Steel Deployant Buckle
The Schuler dating
A Schuler Auktionen listing dated 17 September 2024 gives the watch a date of circa 1988. That is an auction estimate of the period, not a documented production date, and it should be read as the house’s dating for that lot.
The specialist periodical
The April 2015 issue 49 of Mach 2, published by A.P.CO.S., the Concorde association’s periodical, says Air France and Cartier arranged a Must version of the Tank in vermeil with the Concorde signature and Air France colors on the dial. It supplies the historical context for the collaboration, and it is the only source here that describes the arrangement in its own voice rather than as a catalog description.
What is not established
- No Cartier archive, press release, or product record confirming the sales terms was located.
- No verified production run or number of pieces exists in the sources.
- No exact launch date is established.
- The sources describe onboard sales. They do not establish that every example was sold only on a flight.
Why “60,000 feet” describes the aircraft, not a sales rule
The headline’s altitude is taken from Concorde’s performance specifications, and it is accurate as a ceiling. The Museum of Flight states the aircraft’s altitude capability this way:
Rank #2
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- DESIGNED FOR LARGE SIZE 33.7 x 25.5 x 6.6 MM: Precision-cut for compatible Tank Must Large models, including Ref. WSTA0109. Please confirm your watch reference and case dimensions before installation.
“Capable of speeds over two times the speed of sound and at altitudes up to 60,000 feet (18,290 m), Concorde could fly from London to New York and return in the time it took a conventional aircraft to go one way.” — The Museum of Flight, “Concorde”
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The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum describes the typical cruise altitude as between 55,000 and 60,000 feet. Neither source connects that figure to where or when the watch was sold. The onboard-sale account describes the channel, not a purchase rule tied to a specific flight level, so the headline’s number is best read as a vivid setting rather than a literal condition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Concorde dates that frame the watch
These dates place the aircraft’s service, and the Air France association, in context. They are not dates for the watch itself.
Rank #3
- VINTAGE TANK CASE — Classic rectangular tank watch case with 14K gold plated finish delivers a timeless, sophisticated men's dress watch aesthetic
- ROMAN NUMERAL DIAL — Bold black Roman numerals on a crisp white dial for elegant, easy readability inspired by vintage luxury timepieces
- GENUINE LEATHER STRAP — Premium crocodile-embossed leather strap with secure buckle clasp for a comfortable, refined all-day fit
- RELIABLE QUARTZ MOVEMENT — Accurate Japanese quartz movement in a vintage-inspired gold tone case perfect for gifting or everyday luxury wear
- PERFECT GIFT & UNMATCHED SERVICE — Arrives in a beautiful gift box ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, backed by complimentary battery replacement and unmatched after-sale customer support
- 1969 to 1979: The Museum of Flight records that 20 Concorde aircraft were built during this period.
- 21 January 1976: Air France’s first commercial Concorde flight, according to Air France’s 20 January 2026 announcement marking the 50th anniversary.
- 2003: Air France’s Concorde service ended after 27 years of operation, as stated in the same Air France announcement.
The 2,200 French franc price
The specialist periodical records a historical price of 2,200 French francs for the Must Tank. That figure is the price stated in that account, in francs of its era. It has not been converted into a modern equivalent here, because no inflation source specific to this sale was consulted. Treat it as a period price, not a current valuation.
Checking a specific example
Auction descriptions warn that condition and movement accuracy are specific to each lot. A price or estimate for one watch does not establish a market value for another. When you assess an individual example, check these points:
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- Dial originality: Confirm the Concorde logo, Roman numerals, and Air France colors are original rather than refinished or replaced.
- Case condition: Vermeil and gold-plated cases wear through to the base metal, so check edges, lugs, and the caseback for loss of plating.
- Movement: Ask whether the hand-wound ETA 2512-based movement has been serviced, and whether it runs and keeps reasonable time on the seller’s test.
- Dimensions: Measure the case rather than relying on the listed figure, since catalogs give 23 x 31 mm for one example and about 24 x 31 mm for another.
- Provenance and papers: Note whether a box, warranty, or any document links the watch to Air France or Concorde. A listing’s description of the sales channel is not a document.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
