Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1 vs. V2: What’s the Difference?

In 2021, Cartier’s Tank Must Solarbeat got a lot of attention for its photovoltaic technology and supposed 16-year battery life. The micro-perforated Roman numerals on the dial allowed light to charge the photovoltaic cells underneath–in theory, anyway. The original (“V1”) Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat was notoriously hard to find at retail (much like popular Rolex models), partly because of high demand but also due to low supply. Cartier made some needed engineering improvements for the updated “V2” version that quietly debuted in November 2024, such as applying micro-perforations to the entire dial. Here’s a quick rundown of the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1 vs. V2 situation.

What Was Wrong with the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1?

Aside from the scarcity issue at launch, several owners of the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1 reported battery life problems and other issues. On top of that, many collectors were surprised to learn that the movements were completely unserviceable. Even though these are relatively affordable watches by Cartier standards (the Must line is meant to be accessible), a disposable movement in a watch costing over $2,000 rubs some people the wrong way.

I should note that there are many very happy owners of the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1 whose watches seem to work just fine. But its issues ultimately led many collectors to other models, often Cartier’s simpler quartz options. And the V2 has put the Solarbeat back on the map.

What’s New with the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V2?

Arguably the defining change on the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V2 is the fully micro-perforated dial. The V1 only had perforated Roman numerals, but the V2 dial lets more light in:

The photovoltaic cells have also been upgraded and integrated into the movement on the V2 Solarbeat. On the V1, they were attached to the dial. Charging and battery life stats are better across the board–the V2 charges quicker and lasts longer. The Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1 and V2 can both be fully charged with 9 hours of sunlight, but a full charge lasts 2 years for the V2 and “only” 5 months for the V1.

If the watch runs out of charge, just put it under a lamp (or even better, outside in the sun) and it will start back up again before long. The battery hopefully won’t need to be replaced for 16 years.

The sizes didn’t change; there are still the same two options: small (22mm wide) or large (25mm wide) with a svelte 6.6mm case height. The strap has changed, though–the vegan leather (meaning, made from apple scraps) from the V1 Solarbeat is gone in favor of traditional calfskin. Plus a steel bracelet is now an option on the V2 in both sizes.

Also, the serifs of the Roman numerals are touching on the V2. On the Solarbeat V1, for example, there would be a tiny space in between the V and I in VI, but now they’re connected. Cartier fans seem to prefer that aesthetic. Aside from that, it’s really the same watch. Let’s take a look at all the specs and pricing.

Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V1 vs. V2 Specs

Reference	Tank Must SolarBeat V1 Small	Tank Must SolarBeat V2 Small	Tank Must SolarBeat V1 Large	Tank Must SolarBeat V2 Large
Model Name	Tank Must SolarBeat V1 Small	Tank Must SolarBeat V2 Small	Tank Must SolarBeat V1 Large	Tank Must SolarBeat V2 Large
Years Produced	2021-2024	2024+	2021-2024	2024+
Reference Number(s)	WSTA0060 (Black strap) WSTA0061 (Green strap) WSTA0062 (Blue strap)	WSTA0089/WSTA0119 (Strap) WSTA0091/WSTA0121 (Bracelet)	WSTA0059	WSTA0090/WSTA0120 (Strap) WSTA0092/WSTA0122 (Bracelet)
Case Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Case Width	29.5 mm x 22 mm	29.5 mm x 22 mm	33.7 mm x 25.5 mm	33.7 mm x 25.5 mm
Case Thickness	6.6 mm	6.6 mm	6.6 mm	6.6 mm
Movement Caliber	Photovoltaic SolarBeat Quartz	Photovoltaic SolarBeat Quartz	Photovoltaic SolarBeat Quartz	Photovoltaic SolarBeat Quartz
Power Reserve (When Fully Charged)	5 months	2 years	5 months	2 years
Maintenance Schedule	Full service at 16 years	Replace battery at 16 years	Full service at 16 years	Replace battery at 16 years
Water Resistance	30 meters	30 meters	30 meters	30 meters
Bracelet/Strap	Strap made from apple scraps	Black calfskin strap or stainless steel bracelet	Black strap made from apple scraps	Black calfskin strap or stainless steel bracelet
MSRP when Launched	$2,480	$3,300 (Strap) $3,650 (Bracelet)	$2,610	$3,450 (Strap) $3,850 (Bracelet)

Thoughts

The original Solarbeat was looking like a big win for Cartier at first, but over time the sparse availability combined with some reports of subpar charging caused plenty of online complaints among watch nerds. And just as enthusiasts were starting to write it off, the Cartier Tank Must Solarbeat V2 seems to have put the Solarbeat hype train back on track. 16 years of maintenance-free timekeeping is a pretty cool thing if you can pull it off.