I think the 1000 price difference is definitely worth it --- you can't get anymore classic than a gold Cartier tank. It is truly a watch to last you a lifetime. The Ballon Bleu may suffer the same fate as some of the other popular watch designs released by cartier in recent decades (ie. the panthere, the roadster, and the pasha) and may eventually become discontinued (roadster and panthere already have!) and "dated"...but the Tank Americaine is certainly here to stay.
