Cartier Santos

The Cartier Santos was designed by Louis Cartier in 1904 for the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont and is regarded as one of the first modern wristwatches. With its square case, exposed screws and clean lines, it is a timeless icon offering both a sporty and an elegant presence.

Santos prices vary by case material (steel, two-tone, gold), size, the presence of diamonds and condition. Steel models offer an accessible entry point, while gold and diamond-set versions sit at the higher end.

The Santos collection has two main lines: the Santos de Cartier with its integrated bracelet and the slimmer, strap-mounted Santos-Dumont. Relaunched in 2018, the Santos de Cartier comes in medium (35.1 mm) and large (39.8 mm) sizes with the tool-free QuickSwitch bracelet-strap change and the SmartLink bracelet sizing system. Steel, two-tone and gold options are available.

What is the difference between the Santos de Cartier and the Santos-Dumont? The Santos de Cartier is the sportier line with an integrated metal bracelet; the Santos-Dumont is the classic interpretation with a slimmer case and a leather strap. What sizes does the Cartier Santos come in? The Santos de Cartier is made in medium (35.1 mm) and large (39.8 mm); the large has more presence and the medium is more compact. What determines the price of a Cartier Santos? Line, case size and material, dial, diamond details, production year and box and papers set the price. What does the QuickSwitch system do? QuickSwitch lets you change between the metal bracelet and a leather strap without tools.