Introduction
Yesterday while surfing the internet, I came across the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat, it is a solar watch and that got me excited. If you are a long time die hard follower, you will know that after I secured the new Rolex Pepsi GMT back in 2018, I was into Casio G-Shock Bluetooth Solar watches simply because (1) I don’t need to go to the shop to change battery every 2 to 3 years and (2) I can connect the watch to my smartphone to set the correct local time anywhere on earth plus alarm too.
I did get the Entry Level Cartier Tank Solo Quartz for my youngest daughter back in 2018 because I refused to buy her the Cartier Love Bracelet, hahaha.
As I mentioned earlier, the Cartier Tank Solarbeat got me excited because I do not need to waste time changing the battery every 2 to 3 years. I then thought maybe I should get it for my wife’s birthday as I guess she must be bored with her Rolex 31mm Datejust, haha.
My wife has been wearing her Rolex 31mm Datejust Fluted Bezel with Black Dial and Roman Numerals for the last few years, and I shared before somewhere in one of my posts that my SA at Rolex told me not to get the model with diamonds but only Stainless Steel with Fluted White Gold. True enough, post-covid it is damn hard to get a Rolex 31mm Datejust Fluted Bezel Stainless Steel and best of all the SS model can be worn for any occasion including while my wife is cooking or doing the dishes!
Having said the above, about 2 years ago I did managed to get a Rolex Datejust 31mm SS with Fluted Bezel in Pink Dial for my youngest daughter. How I got it? One fine day, while visiting my youngest daughter who that time was working in Sydney, I walked into a Rolex AD next to her rented apartment and asked if I can reserve the Rolex Datejust 31mm in Pink Dial and the guy said sure. I really did not expect to get the watch but after about 2 years, the guy at he Rolex AD actually called me to say the watch is ready to be collected!!! So I flew from Melbourne to Sydney to collect it.
FYI, I paid about RM38K for the Rolex Datejust 31mm Pink Dial versus my wife’s Black Dial about maybe 10 years ago for RM25K. Today a Rolex 31mm Datejust SS with Fluted Bezel with Jubilee Bracelet will cost RM41,500.
Coming back to Cartier Entry Level watch, the Tank Solo Quartz Metal Bracelet was priced at AUD3800 back in 2018 compared to AUD6,300 today for a Tank Must Quartz Small Metal Bracelet. That’s an increase of 66% in price in 8 years for an Entry Level Cartier watch.
I guess I should consider getting the Cartier Solarbeat today whereby Cartier claims that the battery can last 16 years. Well, if the watch can really last 16 years, I guess by then a new Entry Level Tank would cost more than RM40K or more since by that time I am sure GST will be imposed too. Also by then I guess my wife would have been bored with her Tank Solarbeat too, hahaha. And in 16 years time I may even be dead and not have to worry about the watch, hahaha.
the point is, experience whatever today, so in 16 years time, my wife can say Been There Done That and who cares if the Cartier Solarbeat V2 no longer works because Cartier should be selling newer versions of V8 in 16 years time hahahaha.
So I went to research more on the Cartier Solorbeat watch.
Cartier Solarbeat V1 versus V2
Cartier launched the Tank Solarbeat (it is now called V1) back in 2021 but many people reported that they had issues with their watches especially the Large model. Then in late 2024, Cartier launched Solarbeat V2.
From my limited research, below is an article you should read if you are interested to know more about Cartier Solarbeat V1 versus V2:
Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1 vs. V2: What’s the Difference?
I spoke to my watch SA in KL and she said they had many issues with the Cartier Solarbeat V1 and their clients had to change to different models. So much so today they don’t carry the Solarbeat in their store haha; and she has yet to sell a V2 to anyone.
But really, the V1 is history and today we can only purchase the V2 at Cartier. And the V2 is way better as far as I am concerned because it now comes with metal bracelet that last forever. Once again, with metal bracelet I do not need to waste my time to go change strap for my wife every few years; and more importantly, with a metal bracelet, the watch can be worn daily for any occasion including while my wife is washing the dishes, hahaha.
So far I have not come across any issue reported online with the Tank Solarbeat V2 except for one post at Reddit where a person reported that we can see a “diagonal line” across the watch at a certain angle and the lighting must be correct.
Click here to Reddit to read My experience with the new Tank Solarbeat, possible flaw
Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V2 Metal Bracelet
The Entry Level Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat Small with Metal Bracelet is selling for RM15,800 in Malaysia (as of July 2026).
As I mentioned in the earlier Tank Solo article, if you were to purchase a Cartier watch at Cartier Boutique, you will need to pay the retail price. However, if you were to purchase a Cartier watch from an Authorised Dealer, you may get a discount. I Whatsapp my SA who also sold me the Tank Solo and she confirmed that she can give me discount for the Entry Level Tank Must Solarbeat. So in other words, I will pay less than RM15K using one of my AMEX card and earn about 10K Air Miles too, hahaha.
From the above:
- the V2 charges twice as fast as the V1;
- when not worn, leave the watch in a space that is exposed to light – since it is an Entry Level watch for my wife to use daily, I guess there is no necessity to keep in the box and can leave it anywhere;
- recommended to have the watch exposed to direct sunlight for 2 hours in a month BUT then it also stated not to charge the watch at high temperature (>60 degree Celsius).
Conclusion
The Cartier Tank has more than 100 years of history and many watch brands have copied their design.
I also read somewhere at a comment that Solar Watches’ photo cells efficiency reduce with time and therefore it should be the same with the Cartier Solarbeat.
This Entry Level Cartier Tank Solarbeat is not for everyone. I guess if you want an Entry Level Cartier and do not mind a Quartz watch where you need to change the battery every 2 to 3 years, then a better option is to get the Quartz model which should last forever (may need to be serviced over time).
For me, if the Solarbeat watch can last for 16 years, I will be happy as I do not need to be bothered with the maintenance free Cartier Solarbeat for more than a decade. And I am not worried about any issues as Cartier watches come with 8 years warranty.
By the way, Rolex is the No.1 watch manufacturer in the world in terms of sales by a wide margin compared to other watch brands, but guess which brands rank No.2 and No.3? Click here to find out the ranking for 2025.
As I mentioned earlier, the watch is a gift to my wife so that she can experience wearing a Cartier watch (which does not make her life any better except maybe it may allow her to “Shiok Sendiri” for a short period and having another option to her Rolex watches, Casio Solar Baby-G, Tag watches and Apple watch).
Last but not least, the smart ones who are willing to get a Quartz watch, Casio has many models similar to Cartier Tank for less than RM200…. and Casio watch can really last forever 🙂 Below is my older daughter’s super light Casio which she bought for less than RM200!!!
Cartier Love Unlimited Bracelet…. next Cartier Handbag?
I managed to secure a Cartier Love Unlimited flexible bracelet while I was in Barcelona last year and then once again I was lucky enough to secure the Cartier Love Unlimited bracelet for my wife while transiting in Changi early this year.
Guess which is my hand in the photo below. hahaha.
Previously I published an article titled Must Have Handbags For Women And It Can Be Even Better Than Investing In A Rolex Watch and one of the handbags I mentioned was the Cartier Double C De Bags for less than RM12K. Seriously, Cartier bags are priced reasonably compared to Chanel or LV! You can even get a Chain wallet C de Cartier for less than RM6K. Hmm….. maybe, just maybe next time I will get my wife a Cartier handbag to go with her Cartier Love Unlimited braceletand Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat watch, hahaha.
As for me, I have too many watches already and most of the time I don’t even wear a watch when I go out because I have at least 2 smartphones with me. One of my cousins wears a Rolex Air King all the time and the joke is the time is always wrong, it is just an accessory, hahaha. Seriously, wristwatch is history unless you wear a Smartwatch that can tell you your health status.
Oh, on the question – Is the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat worth it? This I can only answer after I get the watch and my wife has worn it for a few months. I have ordered the watch and hopefully I can pick it up when I am back in KL soon.
GenX GenY GenZ 
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