Cartier's Santos de Cartier, a descendant of the Santos, considered the world's first mass-produced wristwatch, has added a small model reminiscent of the 1904 original. Available are 18K yellow gold, stainless steel, and a combination of 18K gold and stainless steel. At 27mm wide and 34.5mm long, the watch is likely to be welcomed as a unisex model by modern standards.
The lineage of the Santos, the world's first mass-produced wristwatch
The Santos de Cartier is a descendant of the Santos, the world's first mass-produced wristwatch. The Santos prototype was created in 1904 when aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, a friend of Louis Cartier, requested a watch that would allow him to keep both hands free and make it easy to check the time while flying.
Reflecting Santos-Dumont's pioneering spirit of taking on the skies, the watch featured a silhouette that was avant-garde for its time and modern by today's standards, with the case and lugs integrated into one. Another innovative feature was the incorporation of screws, which had previously been hidden in watchmaking, into the design, placing them on the bezel, a detail that is still found in many modern watches.
A small size reminiscent of the original model is now available
The newly announced Santos de Cartier is a small model reminiscent of the prototype created for the Santos-Dumont. At 27mm wide and 34.5mm long, it is smaller than the previous model and will likely be welcomed as a unisex model by modern standards.
Quartz movement. Stainless steel x 18K yellow gold case (34.5mm x 27mm, 7.08mm thick). Water resistant for everyday use. Price: 1,584,000 yen (tax included).
Quartz movement. Stainless steel case (34.5mm x 27mm, 7.08mm thick). Water resistant for everyday use. Price: 731,500 yen (tax included).
Quartz movement. 18K yellow gold case (34.5mm x 27mm, 7.08mm thick). Water resistant for everyday use. Price: 12,012,000 yen (tax included).
The watches are available in 18K yellow gold, stainless steel, and a combination of 18K yellow gold and stainless steel, all of which are equipped with quartz movements.
The bracelets are interchangeable, just like the previous models, and each model comes with a leather strap: the 18K yellow gold model comes with an alligator strap, while the other two models come with smooth calf leather straps, both of which are fitted with Ardiron buckles.
