Strap Guide: Cartier Tank Basculante 2390

Strap Guide written by @timebyraf. Thank you Raf!

Introduction

Hello there! My name is Raffael, but when it comes to watches everyone just calls me Raf. When Ken reached out to me and asked if I want to create a strap guide for Delugs, I immediately knew what watch I would choose for this opportunity. The infamous Cartier Tank Basculante, ref 2390. Because of its lug width of 20mm, this watch is a real strap queen. It took me some time to understand why this is the case, but I found out that the different finished metal parts and the wonderful white guilloche dial offer a minimalistic and clean base which only gets accented by the heat blued hands and the iconic blue cabochon at 12 o’ clock. Some might say that Cartier timepieces are always dressy and never casual, but with my Basculante I really do not care. Don’t ask me why, but I think that this piece goes just as well with a hoodie as it goes with a suit, as you will see in the following pictures.

Due to the screw pins, I am not able to quickly exchange the straps, but with the five straps that I have chosen from the Delugs portfolio the screwdriver became my best friend. I mean – look at the variety of straps I can choose from!

(Note from Delugs: Quick release spring bars can be used on the Basculante and other Cartier watches too too!)

Natural Shell Cordovan Slim

The first strap that I have chosen for the Basculante is the Natural Shell Cordovan Slim Strap. I always wanted to try a Shell Cordovan strap on the Basculante, and what can I say? It hugs the watch just perfectly and matches the white guilloche dial. As previously stated, the blue cabochon offers a bit of color which makes a beautiful accent to the monochromatic look and the warm brownish color is the contrast which makes the whole appearance look anything but boring! The strap shines in the light due to its soft surface which gives the whole watch an even more shiny look without being too ostentatious.

Dark Grey Chevre Slim

When it comes to dark straps on the Basculante, I only ever tried the OEM black strap that came with the watch when I got it. So, it was about time to bring this piece back on to a classical dark strap. To do so, I have chosen the Dark Grey Chevre Slim strap which features a fine grain in combination with a tone-in-tone saddle-stich which provides a clearly noticeable detail, yet it blends in perfectly with the dark grey color of the strap.

Taupe Epsom Slim

Next up is something that I have never tried before on the Basculante. I am talking about a color that just goes so well with bright dials, namely Taupe. When I looked to all the dozens of straps offered by Delugs I had to stop when I saw the Taupe Epsom Slim. I can’t really tell you what caught me about this strap, but somehow this matches so well, that you could even refer to it as an “integrated strap”, don’t you think?

Matte Grey Alligator Signature

When choosing straps out of the whole portfolio, I ended up with way more than five and I had to decide which one to take and which one to leave – or most likely buy later. I knew that I had to pick at least one alligator strap, as this is amongst the most classic choice for a watch in general. As previously mentioned, the OEM strap of the Basculante is a black alligator, so I wanted to choose something a little different. I went for the Matte Grey Storm Alligator Signature Strap. This strap has to ability to look super dressy, but due to the matte finish you can also wear it casually, if the suit is in the laundry for instance.

Cream Epsom Slim

The last strap that I have chosen for this strap guide is probably the most aesthetic strap I have ever seen. Super warm and soft color, bright contrast stitching and a texture which could not be more suitable to match the different finish on the watch. I am talking about the Cream Epsom Slim Strap and yes, I have already shown you an Epsom strap before, but by now you can probably tell, that this is my personal favorite when it comes to the Delugs straps.

Now, after I presented you 5 Delugs straps on the Basculante, you have probably noticed that this watch can sport them all. Sure, the Basculante is a strap queen – but with high-end straps like this it is definitely not only much of a challenge to look aesthetically pleasing.

Thanks so much for reading, and enjoy your watches, and enjoy your straps!

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