CARTIER SANTOS : A PIONEER WATCH

By Watchtime | History about Watch | 15 Aug 2023

HISTORY OF SANTOS CARTIER

At the beginning of the 20th century, aviation is only at the embryonic stage that airmen are ready to do anything to make these flying birds fly higher and further.

Alberto Santos Dumont, born in 1873, is one of these pioneers. He is even the original pioneer. Indeed, many experts agree to give it the first flight of the history on board its 14-BIS. The first flights of planes took place in Europe more precisely in Paris. Alberto Santos Dumont then made a name for himself. A name that made him meet a certain Louis Cartier. Santos quickly became friends with Louis Cartier.

ALBERTO SANTOS DUMONT

Cartier is at the beginning of the 20th century a small jeweler recognized in France for his know-how especially with the work of metals. Alberto Santos during his flights is forced to leave the hands of the aircraft handle to check the time. He then looks for someone who could allow him to meet his needs. An urgent needbecause aviation at this time is only experience and often rhymes with death. He then spoke to Louis Cartier. The latter took up the challenge. Louis Cartier presents shortly before 1906, the cartier Santos. Unlike watches of the time, this watch is worn on the wrist; it is then the first wristwatch in the world. In 1906, Santos Dumont completed the first flight over European soil. A short flight but a flight that marked the history of aviation. Obviously, the new creation of Louis Cartier moistened on board. It responds perfectly to the need of the pilot. As soon as the plane landed on the ground, the cartier Santos caused a sensation. A craze such as Louis Cartier launched its production in 1911. Cartier SANTOS DUMONT was born.

SANTOS 1910

SANTOS CARTIER TODAY

The emblematic design of the Santos has undergone little change over the years: the inimitable rectangular dial, the large Roman numerals and the railway of the timer remain intact. Even the bezel, more than a century later, still features the eight screws characteristic of the original model.

The Santos cartier comes in several models:

There is the santos Dumont which is the model that comes closest to the 1904 model.

However, there is today the santos sport which is the most sold model but also the most seen. Is model finds its roots in the sports santos of the 70s but also the santos 100 of 2004

The Santos-Dumont collection has the greatest number of similarities with the 1904 historical model. In contrast, Cartier’s Santos series has its roots in the late 1970s Santos Sport and 2004 Santos 100.

For a short time Cartier also completely revisited the case of the santos. Indeed, it exists in a declination where the glasses and the case are not square but hexagonal. More discreet, it adapts to all wrists and out of the ordinary. I think it’s a way for Cartier to compete with Audemart Piguet’s Royal Oak.

If the design of the collection has changed little, Cartier has opted for new materials and gauges. The range has expanded with new materials such as gold, steel, titanium. It now adapts to both men’s and women’s wrists with the creation of the santos Lady.In terms of movements, the range goes from the quartz made by Jaeger to the last automatic movement Manufacture Cartier. But it is also available for a very rare model with a tourbillon. Complications are numerous with Santos available with the moon phase.

SANTOS 100 XL TOURBILLON

HOW MUTCH DOES A SANTOS CARTIER COST

The cartier santos costs new between 4500 and 200 000 Dollars. But on occasion the prices are softer and there are for all prices. Indeed, after market a santos costs around 1500 dollars. However, a beautiful model with box and original paper is between 4700 and 7000 dollars depending on the condition of the watch and the model.