Recently, we have been asking writers and editors of the watch magazine Chronos Japan to write about their "One Watch That Memorizes Me." This time, we will be looking at the Cartier Santos de Cartier, a watch that freelance editor Yuzo Takeishi acquired at a turning point in his life and that he continues to wear today.
The photo shows the Ref. WSSA0010, released in 2018. The current model is the Ref. WSSA0029, and while the watch's specifications remain the same, the buckle on the included leather strap appears to have been changed. Automatic (Cal. 1847 MC). 23 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 40 hours. Stainless steel case (42mm x 35.1mm, 8.83mm thick). Water resistant to 10 bar.
Photographs & Text by Yuzo Takeishi
[Article published on January 23, 2024]
This is the watch I bought after deciding to cover Geneva for the first time.
I've decided to buy a watch once every five years. When I was assigned to the watch department of a certain product information magazine, I accidentally bought a watch two years in a row and was pretty short on money, so I thought that once every five years was realistic. Also, there's a turning point in my life, so I thought I'd get a new watch to motivate myself - but maybe that's a bit too cool.
However, it was exactly five years after I bought my second watch that I actually decided to go independent. Therefore, it's true that my third watch became a monumental piece, representing my determination to work like a horse as a freelancer. However, I slowly became a freelancer without even taking my paid vacation days properly, and thankfully, my days continued to be busy, so I put off buying my third watch.
It was in the fall of 2018, a year and a half after I went independent, that I seriously considered purchasing one. The following year, I was able to cover SIHH (Salon international de la haute horlogerie) for the first time, and while I was there, I wanted to wear a watch from one of the brands exhibiting, so the Santos de Cartier by Cartier, which was released in 2018, came to mind.
The killer phrase is, "How about we make it a shared watch?"
There were several reasons why I chose this watch, but one was that I had purchased two chronographs in quick succession and wanted a simple three-hand model. The other was that its appearance has remained almost unchanged since its creation in 1904. What really caught my eye at first glance was the exquisite design balance that is characteristic of Cartier, exuding an elegant yet industrial atmosphere.
Incidentally, when I was thinking about purchasing this model, I also consulted with our magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Hirota. When I asked him vaguely, "What do you think?", he immediately replied, "I think it's great!" He also succinctly explained the improvements, including the fact that the movement is antimagnetic, which finally helped me to decide to buy it.
However, even though I had decided to buy it, I didn't rush out and buy it. The most difficult part still remained: presenting it to my family. That said, this watch was actually easier to present than the others. There were three key points. First, it's one of Cartier's signature collections. Second, its small case size makes it suitable for women with slim wrists. Third, it features a system called a Quick Switch, which makes it easy to change to the included calfskin strap. Taking all of these points into consideration, I concluded by saying, "How about using it as a shareable watch?" It's unclear whether this comment was effective, but a month later, I had the Santos de Cartier in my hands. To this day, my family has never held the watch in their hands.
The watch has been used the most times due to its comfortable fit and refined design.
In 2018, Cartier released a diverse lineup of Santos de Cartier watches, including different case sizes and materials. The one I purchased was the most basic stainless steel MM model. The case is small, measuring 42mm long, 35.1mm wide, and 8.83mm thick. Compared to the watches I had purchased up until then (all of which were 42mm in diameter), it naturally fits better on the wrist and is more comfortable to wear.
And once I got it, I was once again impressed by the design. Despite the fact that over 100 years have passed since the first model was created, it doesn't feel dated at all, and it still feels cutting-edge even now - in fact, it seems likely to continue to give off a cutting-edge impression for a long time to come. To reiterate, it retains the elegance that is characteristic of Cartier, while exuding an industrial atmosphere, making its appearance truly modern. This makes it easy to match with suits and jackets, as well as loose styles like T-shirts and jeans, and it has become by far the model I wear most frequently out of all the watches I own.
This is the watch I got at the biggest turning point in my life (for now), so I have a particularly strong attachment to it, but even so, the fact that I've been able to wear it for about six years since I bought it without getting bored of it probably just goes to show how well-crafted the design is.
