Cartier introduces more choices for those who can’t get enough of its iconic Santos.
When it was created in 1904, the Santos de Cartier was one of the earliest watches designed specially for men and the first ever pilot’s watch. Aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont was lamenting to his friend Louis Cartier how difficult it was to check his pocket watch mid-flight, and so the “Santos-Dumont Wristwatch” was born. This year’s new collection honours that heritage but updates it for the 21st century.
At a glance, the new Santos collection retains much of its signature design — rounded square case and exposed screws on the bezel and bracelet. The watches are powered by the anti-magnetic automatic Calibre 1847 MC, but only the large models feature a date display. The latter also comes in skeletonised versions (using a manually winding movement), and it’s the first time Cartier has offered a skeletonised movement in a steel case.
The options don’t end there. The 2018 collection comes in a bracelet and strap. With its patent pending Quick Switch technology, it allows users to switch between both with tremendous ease.
