The Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0011 is as close as a modern watch gets to the source. This is the Tank in its purest form — the rounded brancards Louis Cartier drew for his own wrist a century ago, rendered in 18K rose gold with a silvered beaded dial, blued sword hands, and a sapphire cabochon in the crown. It is hand-wound, 6.6 mm thin, and delivered on a semi-matte brown alligator strap.
That strap matters more here than on almost any other watch. On a gold dress piece, the strap is half of what you see — and alligator ages. It creases, darkens at the edges, and loses its shape long before the watch shows any wear at all. A boutique replacement costs a small fortune; a well-made aftermarket strap restores the watch for a fraction of it. This guide covers the correct size and the most popular Helvetus options for the WGTA0011.
Cartier Tank Louis WGTA0011 Strap Size and Fit
For the Cartier Tank Louis Cartier WGTA0011:
- Model: Tank Louis Cartier, large model
- Case size: 33.7 mm x 25.5 mm, rectangular
- Case material: 18K rose gold
- Attachment: standard spring bars
- Strap width at the case: 19 mm
This means the watch requires a 19mm strap. When ordering, simply select the 19mm option on the product page.
Proportion is everything on the Tank Louis. The case is slim and the brancards are rounded, so the strap needs clean, straight lines and a refined thickness to sit correctly — a chunky or generic strap ruins the silhouette instantly. Helvetus Tank straps are cut specifically for Cartier Tank cases and are compatible with your original Cartier buckle, so the gold hardware you already own stays on the wrist.
The Watch the Strap Was Invented For
Every Tank descends from the 1917 original, but the Tank Louis is the version Louis Cartier refined for himself in the early 1920s — softer corners, perfect proportions, and always, always on leather. There has never been a bracelet version of this idea; the strap is part of the design, the frame around the gold.
Which is exactly why owners of the WGTA0011 tend to keep more than one. Brown for the day it came with, black for evenings, something with color for the days the watch should feel personal instead of formal. With spring bars, the change takes two minutes and transforms the entire piece.
The Best Straps for the Cartier Tank Louis WGTA0011
Helvetus offers leather and crocodile straps cut for Cartier Tank models, including the Tank Louis. You can browse every compatible option here: Cartier Tank Strap Collection.
Below are the most popular choices among owners of this reference, matched to its rose gold case, silvered dial, and blued hands.
Brown Crocodile Strap
The like-for-like choice. Brown crocodile restores the exact character the WGTA0011 left the boutique with — warm against the rose gold, richly textured, unmistakably classic. If your original alligator is showing its age, this is the direct replacement. Brown Crocodile Strap for Cartier Tank
Black Crocodile Strap
Black crocodile takes the Tank Louis into full evening dress. The contrast sharpens the silvered dial and makes the rose gold case glow — the strap for dinners, black tie, and every occasion the watch was truly made for. Black Crocodile Strap for Cartier Tank
Green Leather Strap
Green against rose gold is one of the great modern pairings, and it suits the Tank Louis surprisingly well — elegant, current, and quietly confident. The pick for owners who want a century-old design to feel like this year's watch. Green Leather Strap for Cartier Tank
Brown Leather Strap
Smooth brown leather softens the formality a notch and makes the WGTA0011 an easier everyday companion. Same warm palette as the original, lighter in attitude — many owners rotate between this and crocodile depending on the day. Brown Leather Strap for Cartier Tank
Beyond these four, the collection includes further colors and finishes, all cut to the same Tank proportions.
Final Thoughts
The WGTA0011 will outlive every strap it ever wears — that is the nature of a gold Tank. Keep a fresh, correctly sized 19mm strap on it, and the watch looks the way Louis Cartier intended for another hundred years.
Helvetus is a leading name in aftermarket straps for luxury watches, trusted by more than 50,000 customers worldwide. Every Tank strap is cut for a precise fit on this case, and all orders ship free worldwide with no import costs.
Find the perfect strap for your Tank Louis WGTA0011 in the Cartier Tank Strap Collection.
