Watch Paparazzi

Actor Meghan Markle spotted wearing Cartier

Caught in the back of a New York City cab, Meghan Markle is wearing a Cartier Tank Française in the small ladies size, the two-tone steel and 18k yellow gold variant — a combination that arguably defines the model's aesthetic identity more than any other configuration. The image dates from her time filming Suits in Toronto, before her life changed entirely, and it captures the effortlessly put-together sensibility she was already known for.

The Cartier Tank Française Small reference W51007Q4 measures 20mm × 25mm in a stainless steel case with 18k yellow gold integrated bracelet links. The dial is cream-white with Roman numeral hour markers, blued-steel sword hands, and a characteristic sapphire cabochon crown. The case back houses a quartz movement — the calibre 157 — making this a dress piece first and a horological statement second. Water resistance is rated to 30 metres. The integrated bracelet, with its alternating steel and gold centre links, is the design's most distinctive engineering feature: it flows seamlessly from the lugs, a hallmark Cartier first introduced when the Française was launched in 1996 to distinguish it from the older Tank Must and Tank Louis lines.

Among collectors, the small quartz Tank Française occupies an interesting position. Purists favour the mechanical midsize references, but the two-tone ladies piece has built a loyal following as a wardrobe staple rather than a trophy watch. Pre-owned examples in excellent condition have appreciated steadily since 2018, partly driven by high-profile sightings like this one. The Tank family as a whole has benefited from renewed collector interest in rectangular watches over the past five years.

For Markle, the Tank Française was a recurring wrist companion throughout her acting career and early public life. She has spoken generally about preferring pieces with personal meaning, and the Tank — democratic enough to be worn with a silk blouse and jeans, yet formal enough for press events — suited that philosophy precisely.

At current grey-market levels, a two-tone small Tank Française in good condition trades between $3,200 and $4,000, a notable premium over its original retail positioning. Retail on the current equivalent configuration sits at approximately $5,350, reflecting Cartier's broader pricing recalibration across the Tank line in recent years.