The Santos de Cartier

Instantly recognisable, the Santos de Cartier watch has been part of Cartier’s repertoire of shaped watches since its creation in 1904. This icon of watch design defies time, both in terms of performance and innovation.

It was the first modern watch specifically designed to be worn on the wrist and was created in 1904 by Louis Cartier for his friend, the aviator Santos-Dumont so that he could tell the time mid-flight. He designed a square shape with eight visible screws that would become emblematic of Cartier watchmaking.

So, what does this mean? At Cartier, watchmaking technique is always at the service of style and beauty. It all begins with a drawing and the purity of the line. Design takes the lead and pushes the limits of savoir-faire. An illustration of Cartier’s pioneering spirit, the Santos watch represents the perfect mix of creativity and technique.

A quest for performance and innovation
The Santos de Cartier watch is equipped with the 1847 MC automatic calibre, whose design defies the quest for performance and innovation thanks to its:

Water resistance to 100 metres.

Chronometric precision of the highest order.

Protection from the effects of everyday magnetism up to 1,500 Gauss.

100 or so tests and checks at the Manufacture, which guarantee the quality, integrity and durability of the watch, for the equivalent of 10 years of daily wear.

Resistance to shocks, acceleration, variations in pressure, humidity and temperature.

A multi-purpose strap for versatile looks
In keeping with the times, the Santos de Cartier watch also responds to new lifestyles, supports change and adapts to all situations.

Available in steel, gold, calf or alligator skin, all versions of the strap are interchangeable thanks to the Cartier QuickSwitch system (patent pending), whose invisible mechanism blends into the structure of the case. Located underneath the strap, it is activated by a single push. The sizing adjustment of the metal bracelet to the nearest link has been added to this cutting-edge technology. The SmartLink system, which has also been registered for a patent, allows the bracelet length to be adjusted by the owner without the use of a tool. Each SmartLink link is equipped with a push button that releases the fixing bar allowing removal or addition of the brushed metal links adorned with the screws of the Santos de Cartier watch.

An ambassador who looks to the future
As an ambassador for Cartier watchmaking, Jake Gyllenhaal shares Cartier’s vision of time and its quality. These are values that he promotes in his various artistic projects, such as the Santos de Cartier film directed by Seb Edwards, as well as Sølve Sundsbø’s Time Project, which explores Cartier's relationship with time in twelve chapters.

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