Cartier Santos de Cartier

Why We Love It

Cartier has a reputation for greatness in luxury for good reason. Their iconic watches and jewelry collections can be recognized from miles away. The Santos collection is one of those Icons. 

You all already know this, we obviously love vintage, but there's also a place on our wrist and hearts for modern. This particular Cartier Santos came out in 2018 and it pays a perfect tribute to the Santos models originally designed in 1904, all with a touch of modernity. 

This particular Santos has a lot going for it: the quintessential Cartier design with the roman numerals over the white dial, The blue cabochon sapphire crown that adds a whole lot to the "dress" vibe, . the rugged shape of the case that allows this piece to be worn with sporty attire as well. Last but definitely not least, the watch is mounted on a bracelet that can be quickly removed or adjusted. No need to take it to a watchmaker or being worried to scratch the watch.  

The watch is being sold as a full set. This includes the inner and outer box, warranty card, unworn leather strap and deployment buckle, instruction manual, strap tool, and all of the additional links for the adjustable steel bracelet.

The Story 

Watch collectors remember Alberto Santos-Dumont for the watch that bears his name--the Cartier Santos, which has the distinction of being one of the first watches designed especially to be worn on the wrist. 

But history will remember Santos-Dumont as being a pioneer in the world of aviation, a man who flew both lighter-than-air craft, like balloons and dirigibles, as well as airplanes, distinguishing himself in both. In 1900, Santos piloted the Santos-Dumont 5 from the Parc de Saint-Cloud (located 6 miles from Paris) to the Eiffel Tower in less than six minutes, winning the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize. Santos later donated the 100,000 franc prize to the poor of Paris.

To us, he's the namesake of Cartier's flagship line of wristwatches. As the legend goes, after winning the Deutsch prize, Santos-Dumont and his friends celebrated at Maxim's restaurant in Paris. While there, he complained to his friend Louis Cartier of the difficulty he faced when trying to check the time while operating the controls of his aircraft, the 14 bis. 

Cartier's response was to devise something entirely new--a watch with a slim case in a distinctive shape, affixed to a leather strap with a small buckle, meant to be worn on the wrist. Voilà, the Cartier Santos was born. It would become the first commercially-available wristwatch for men in 1911. 

With its slim profile, for many watch enthusiasts the Cartier Santos represented the epitome of a dress watch. However, a redesign in the late 1970s ushered in a new era for the model. Perhaps inspired by the popularity of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Cartier released a larger, sportier version of the Santos in steel.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.