Cartier, founded in Paris in 1847, is unique among luxury watchmakers as a maison that bridges haute joaillerie and haute horlogerie. Cartier created some of the most iconic watch designs in history, including the Santos (1904, the first modern wristwatch), the Tank (1917, inspired by WWI Renault tanks), and the Ballon Bleu.
Available below retail on the secondary market at 18% discount, this model offers exceptional value for buyers willing to purchase pre-owned. This pricing makes it one of the better value propositions in the dress watch category.
Our WVS Value Score of 74/100 places this in the upper range of luxury watches. The score reflects a solid balance between value retention, brand recognition, specification quality, and market availability.
The annual cost of ownership comes to $328 per year — roughly the cost of a gym membership. This factors in depreciation, periodic servicing, and insurance, and represents good value for a watch of this caliber.
Understanding the true cost of owning a luxury watch requires looking beyond the purchase price. Our cost-of-ownership model calculates the annual net expense of keeping the Cartier Tank W5200027 on your wrist, factoring in three key components.
First, depreciation: based on historical pricing data for this reference and similar Cartier models, we estimate annual value change at 6%. This depreciation rate is typical for this price segment and brand positioning. Second, servicing: Cartier recommends periodic maintenance to ensure accuracy and water resistance. We amortize the estimated service cost across the recommended interval, arriving at $80 per year. Third, insurance: at approximately 1.5% of market value, annual insurance costs $50 to protect against theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Combining these factors yields a net annual cost of $328. That's roughly $0.9 per day — less than a daily cup of coffee.
Estimated market price trend based on aggregated public listing data. Prices reflect average asking prices for complete sets in excellent condition. Updated monthly.
Our proprietary score rates every luxury watch on a 0-100 scale across five dimensions. Scores above 85 indicate exceptional value retention and market positioning. The formula is transparent and weight-based.
When considering the Cartier Tank W5200027, it helps to understand how it compares to alternatives in the dress watch category. The highest-scoring alternative is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual with a Value Score of 91/100, slightly above the W5200027's 74/100. The comparison table below provides a detailed side-by-side analysis of all key metrics.
| Watch | Market Price | Size | WR | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartier Tank W5200027 | $2,800–$3,800 | — | 30m | $328/yr | 74 |
| Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126000 | $6,500–$10,000 | 41mm | 100m | $97/yr | 91 |
| Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 220.10.41.21.03.004 | $4,000–$5,400 | 41mm | 150m | $433/yr | 74 |
| Tudor Royal M28600-0001 | $2,500–$3,200 | 41mm | 100m | $294/yr | 73 |
| Omega De Ville 434.13.41.21.01.001 | $2,800–$3,800 | 41mm | 30m | $328/yr | 72 |
| Omega Constellation 131.10.41.21.01.001 | $3,800–$5,000 | 41mm | 50m | $410/yr | 73 |
Dress watches prioritize elegance and slim profiles over technical specifications. Designed to slip under a shirt cuff, they typically feature minimal dials, thin cases, and leather straps. For the collector, a dress watch represents the art of restraint — where value lies in finishing quality rather than feature count.
Key metrics for dress watches are case thickness (ideally under 10mm), movement finishing visible through a display caseback, dial quality, and strap/buckle craftsmanship. Water resistance is typically lower (30-50m) since these watches aren't designed for sport use.
Dress watches are ideal for business formal, black tie, and occasions where subtlety is valued. They may feel under-dressed with casual wear. Many collectors own a dress watch alongside a sport watch to cover all social contexts.
Cartier watches are generally available at authorized dealers and Cartier boutiques. Unlike Rolex or Patek, there are no significant waitlists for most models. The Santos and Tank lines offer strong value at retail and are particularly popular among collectors who value design heritage over raw horological specification.
Cartier uses a mix of in-house movements (1847 MC series) and modified Piaget/Jaeger-LeCoultre calibres depending on the collection. The in-house movements are developed at Cartier's La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture and offer good performance with typical accuracy of ±5 seconds per day.
Cartier recommends servicing every 5-7 years. Standard service costs range from $600-$1,200 depending on the movement complexity. Cartier's extensive boutique network provides convenient service access in most major cities worldwide.
Cartier watches historically depreciated 30-50% on the secondary market. However, the brand has experienced a significant renaissance in recent years, particularly the Santos and Tank lines, which now hold value much better than previous decades. Still, Cartier is best viewed as a wear-and-enjoy purchase rather than an investment piece.
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Value Score 74/100 · $328/year to own · 94% retention