The Crown Index · November 2026
Cartier makes some of the most recognizable watches in the world, but on the resale market they behave very differently from a steel Rolex. Every current Cartier watch in our data sells under its boutique price. The question is how far under, and it varies a lot by model.
| Model | Retail | Typical sale | vs retail | Sales, 12 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santos-Dumont Large WSSA0085 | $5,250 | $4,400 | −16% | 37 |
| Santos Medium WSSA0029 | $8,400 | $6,800 | −19% | 67 |
| Tank Must Small WSTA0135 | $3,750 | $3,000 | −20% | 22 |
| Tank Must Large WSTA0136 | $3,900 | $3,000 | −23% | 28 |
| Santos Large WSSA0018 | $9,200 | $6,800 | −26% | 63 |
| Ballon Bleu 40mm WSBB0039 | $8,200 | $5,200 | −37% | 14 |
| Ballon Bleu 36mm WSBB0048 | $7,500 | $3,900 | −48% | 32 |
| Ballon Bleu 42mm WSBB0049 | $8,500 | $4,000 | −53% | 43 |
The Santos-Dumont Large sells about 16% under retail and the Santos Medium about 19% under, the smallest gaps among current Cartier models in our data. The Tank Must sells 20% to 23% under. These are the classics, and the market treats them that way.
The Ballon Bleu sells 37% to 53% under retail depending on size. It is a popular watch to buy new, which is exactly why so many come back onto the market. If you like it, it is one of the best Cartier buys used.
Cartier has discontinued a number of steel models that still trade in big numbers. Because there is no current retail price to compare against, we just show the typical sale:
| Model | Typical sale | Sales, 12 mo |
|---|---|---|
| Tank Solo XL WSTA0029 | $3,200 | 95 |
| Tank Française Small W51008Q3 | $2,500 | 104 |
| Roadster Large W62025V3 | $3,100 | 102 |
| Tank Solo Small W5200013 | $2,600 | 71 |
| Santos Galbée Small W20056D6 | $3,000 | 30 |
The Tank Solo XL is also one of the most traded Cartier watches in our data, with 95 recorded sales. A steel Tank Française or Roadster for around $2,500 to $3,100 is a real Cartier for less than a new Tank Must.
Typical sale is the median of recorded eBay sales over the 12 months to October 29, 2026, buyer-paid prices before eBay seller fees, each listing counted once. Retail is the US list price as recorded in our Vault in October 2026. Discontinued models are shown without a retail comparison.
Less than a steel Rolex. Every current Cartier watch in our data sells under retail, from about 16% under (Santos-Dumont Large) to about 53% under (Ballon Bleu 42mm).
Among current models in our data, the Santos-Dumont Large (about 16% under retail) and the Santos Medium (about 19% under), then the Tank Must (20% to 23% under).
Not on resale alone: it sells about 37% to 53% under retail depending on size. That makes it one of the better Cartier watches to buy used.
Among commonly traded models in our data, the discontinued steel Tank Française Small typically sells for about $2,500 and the Tank Solo Small for about $2,600.