Anonymous Watch Tank Art Deco Chrome-Plated — Stepped Dial (1930s)
Only 1 available
Shipping from Europe — taxes and customs duties are the buyer's responsibility outside the EU
Lifetime authenticity guarantee
Movement checked & guaranteed for 1 year
International shipping
Photo taken on a 17.5 cm wrist
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Atelier Note
A silvered dial cut in steps like the façade of a 1930 building, numerals that grow larger at six o’clock and twelve o’clock, two blued hands, and not a name: a watch from the Art Deco era that never needed to sign itself.
An anonymous vintage Art Deco tank watch from the 1930s, with a stepped silvered dial
This vintage watch bears no signature, and that was a frequent case in the 1930s: Swiss and French assembly workshops, jewellers, and department stores would then case movements under their own name, or under no name at all. The dial is silent; the design, however, speaks. A chrome-plated tank, 22mm wide and elongated to 35.3mm, a silvered dial whose inner frame rises in steps like an Art Deco façade, a railway minute track, Arabic numerals that widen at 12 and 6, two blued hands and nothing else: hours and minutes. A nearly century-old mechanical watch with hand-wound movement.
Its silvered dial is an exercise in geometry: a railway minute track on the outside, a ring of black Arabic numerals, then a stepped frame that sets the centre apart with two raised levels, in the manner of the façades of the period. The 12 and the 6 are larger than the other numerals, and two blued pomme hands turn there alone. A light patina and a few signs of age, specific to this example.
The chrome-plated case, a tank 22mm wide, 35.3mm in Lug-to-lug and 9mm thick, has a steel caseback, a crown replaced during the watch’s lifetime and a mineral Crystal. The chrome plating has worn away at both ends of the case middle, revealing the metal in places, as our photographs show without retouching. The hand-wound mechanical movement was serviced in 2024 by our partner watchmakers; it runs well, but given its age, its accuracy is not guaranteed and its mechanical warranty is six months. The watch is fitted with a black lizard-pattern leather strap and its Buckle, both later additions.
Three points to note
01
1930s Art Deco — elongated tank, stepped dial, Arabic numerals, blued hands: the entire design language of the decade.
02
Unsigned — a watch of atelier from the interwar period, chosen for its design.
03
Serviced in 2024 — hand-wound; given its age, a six-month mechanical guarantee and accuracy not guaranteed.
Why choose a vintage Art Deco watch?
This vintage tank watch holds a precise place among men's and women's vintage watches: its 22mm width suits both, and it offers a complete Art Deco design, stepped dial, railway track, elongated tank shape, unsigned. A vintage mechanical watch nearly a century old, at an entry-level price for authentic vintage.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and inspected by our partner watchmakers: movement check, examination of the dial, hands and case. It comes with an Atelier Victor invoice serving as a certificate and lifetime-guaranteed authenticity; given its age, its mechanical guarantee is six months.
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Technical characteristics
- Brand: Anonymous (unsigned)
- Model: Tank Art Deco
- Estimated year: 1930s
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, serviced in 2024
- Functions: Hours, minutes
- Case: Chrome-plated, rectangular tank, steel caseback
- Width: 22mm (23mm with crown)
- Lug to lug: 35.3mm
- Thickness: 9mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Steel, not original
- Dial: Silvered with stepped frame, Arabic numerals, railway track, original
- Hands: Blued pear-shaped, original
- Crystal: Mineral (condition 9/10)
- Strap: Black lizard-style leather, not original
- Buckle: Steel, not original
Condition and guarantee
- Overall condition: Fair state of preservation for its age. The silvered dial remains clean in its lines, with a light patina and a few age marks specific to this example. The case plating is worn at both ends of the middle case, revealing the metal in places, as shown in our unretouched photographs. Crystal mineral in very good condition (9/10).
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanics: Movement serviced in 2024, guaranteed for 6 months; accuracy not guaranteed given its age
- Included: Atelier Victor invoice
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
Why does this watch have no brand?
Because in the 1930s, a large proportion of watches were sold unsigned: the assembly workshops supplied jewelers, local watchmakers, and department stores with watches that they signed with their own name or left anonymous. The dial of this one bears no name; its quality is judged by its design, its case, and its movement, which our watchmakers have opened and serviced.
Why is the warranty six months?
Because the watch is nearly a century old. Its movement was serviced in 2024 by our partner watchmakers, with complete disassembly, cleaning, oiling, and adjustment, and it is running well; but a caliber from the 1930s cannot be compared to a modern movement: its daily accuracy is not guaranteed, and its mechanical warranty is six months instead of one year. It is worn like a period watch, wound each day, kept away from water and shocks.
What is a stepped dial?
A dial whose inner frame rises in successive tiers, like the setback stories of an Art Deco building: the geometry that, in the 1930s, replaced pre-war decoration with lines and angles. Here, two steps separate the silvered center from the chapter ring of numerals.
What does a chrome-plated case mean?
A metal case covered with a layer of chrome, the standard construction for interwar watches outside of gold and steel. Chrome wears over time at points of friction, here at both ends of the case middle, where the metal shows through. It is the condition of a worn 1930 watch, which we present as it is.
Is this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist?
At 22mm wide, 35.3mm Lug-to-lug and 9mm thick, it suits wrists of approximately 14 to 18cm — a guide, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its narrow tank shape wears like a shaped watch, under a cuff. The Lug width measures 18mm, which makes changing the strap easy.
Mechanical warranty — 1 year
Each watch is inspected by our watchmakers before shipping. In case of a mechanism malfunction during the first year, we cover the repair.
Authenticity warranty — lifetime
If a watch turns out to be non-authentic, we will take it back and refund you in full. Without time limit.
What is not covered
- Exposure to water or humidity
- Shocks, impacts, or vibrations
- Consumable parts (strap, Crystal, crown, pushers)
- Battery replacement (quartz movements)
- Opening or disassembly of the watch by a third party
- Improper use
The accuracy of vintage watches varies according to the model, movement, and year of production. A request for accuracy improvement deemed within acceptable tolerances cannot be covered by the warranty.
Shipping fees
After-sales service is free. Shipping fees outside the United Arab Emirates remain the responsibility of the customer.
Authentication Process
Each watch is examined by our partner watchmakers before being offered for sale: verification of authenticity, checking the conformity of the components, identification of any modification or replacement of original parts.
If any element has been replaced during the life of the watch (dial, hands, crown, Crystal, strap), we systematically indicate it in the product sheet. You buy knowing the exact history of your piece.
Certificate of Authenticity
Your Atelier Victor invoice serves as a certificate of authenticity: it attests to the origin and conformity of the piece, and is covered by our lifetime authenticity guarantee — if a piece sold by Atelier Victor were found to be non-authentic, it would be fully refunded, with no time limit.
We accept several payment methods:
- Bank card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
- Bank transfer (AED, EUR, USD)
- Cryptocurrency (USDT, USDC)
- PayPal
Other currencies accepted upon request. Exchange fees of approximately 3% may apply.
A 3% discount is granted for any payment by bank transfer from €1,000.
Does the strap not suit you? Add the strap of your choice to your order: we will fit it to your watch before shipment, at no fitting charge.
International Shipping
Shipped within 48 to 72 business hours by DHL Express or an equivalent carrier depending on the destination. Delivery in 2 to 6 business days. Each shipment is insured and delivered against signature.
- Free delivery from €1,000 of purchase, as well as on the Jewelry Atelier Victor
- Tracking number sent as soon as the shipment is dispatched
- For certain destinations, delivery may be made to a secure collection point in order to guarantee the integrity of the shipment
Pickup in Dubai
Hand delivery by appointment in Downtown, Dubai. Make an appointment.
Taxes and Customs
The shipping origin is indicated on each product sheet. If the delivery country differs from the shipping country, customs duties and taxes may apply upon receipt, at the buyer's expense. In exceptional situations, customs checks may extend the delivery time, regardless of our wishes and those of the carrier.
For full details, please consult our shipping policy.
FINAL SALES
All sales are final: no return, exchange, or cancellation is accepted after order confirmation. Each piece is authenticated, inspected, and described in detail before being offered for sale.
BEFORE PURCHASE
Our advisors remain at your disposal for any questions and can send you additional photographs or videos upon simple request, by email or on WhatsApp.
NON-CONFORMING ITEM
In the exceptional case of an item that does not match its listing, please notify us within 72 hours: it will be eligible for a refund or an exchange. If the parcel shows damage upon delivery, it should be refused or its opening filmed continuously.
For full details, please consult our return policy.
A piece selected by Atelier Victor
Authenticated, checked, and photographed by us. As all sales are final, our team remains available 7 days a week on WhatsApp to answer your questions, share additional photos or a video of the piece in hand — so that your choice can be made with complete peace of mind.
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