Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Jackson Wang spotted wearing Cartier

At the Met Gala, where every detail on the red carpet is scrutinized with forensic intensity, Jackson Wang arrived with the Cartier Tank Cintrée Skeleton reference WHTA0009 on his wrist — a choice that rewarded close inspection and signaled a collector's eye rather than a stylist's shortcut.

The Tank Cintrée is among the most historically significant shapes in Cartier's catalogue. Introduced in the 1920s, its case curves longitudinally to follow the arc of the wrist, producing a silhouette that is simultaneously elongated and intimate. The WHTA0009 takes that vintage architecture and strips it to its structural essentials: the dial is removed entirely, leaving the hand-wound movement visible through the open framework of the platinum case. The caliber 9981 MC — developed in-house by Cartier — beats at 21,600 vph and delivers approximately 40 hours of power reserve. The bridges and plates are skeletonized and chamfered by hand, a finishing process that demands considerable bench time.

From a collector standpoint, the Tank Cintrée Skeleton occupies a specific and desirable niche. Platinum references in Cartier's high-watchmaking line are produced in small numbers and allocated conservatively, meaning secondary market availability is genuinely limited. Unlike the more ubiquitous Santos or Panthère, the Cintrée's narrow, curved case requires a wearer comfortable with an unconventional presence on the wrist — it is not universally flattering, which paradoxically raises its status among those who understand it.

Jackson Wang has demonstrated consistent engagement with serious horology rather than merely badge-wearing. His public appearances regularly feature pieces that sit at the intersection of art, craft, and fashion — a sensibility that maps directly onto Cartier's haute horlogerie ambitions. Wearing the WHTA0009 at the Met Gala, arguably the most photographed event in fashion, brings the reference to an audience that skews young and style-conscious, without cheapening the watch's positioning.

The Cartier Tank Cintrée Skeleton WHTA0009 carries a retail price in the region of $68,500. On the grey market, completed sales suggest the piece trades at or modestly above retail, reflecting its limited availability and the sustained global appetite for Cartier's serious watchmaking output.