Cartier: Style pioneer
In 1904, Cartier broke with convention to create the first watch designed to be worn on the wrist for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. Today, two new editions – in lightweight titanium and luminous black – uphold that pioneering spirit.
Flight
Santos de Cartier
An icon since 1904
Santos de Cartier began as a practical solution, conceived so that aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont could read the time while holding his plane’s controls. Its design language and square shape were revolutionary at the time – the first truly modern wristwatch, which established Cartier’s reputation for innovation.
Form
Timeless style
From cockpit to classic
From cockpit essential to cultural touchstone, the Santos has travelled far over the decades. Its bold case with integrated lugs and eight exposed screws, once radical gestures, are now design signatures. Pragmatic yet elegant, the Santos shows how form and function can define an era – and inspire generations of style.
Future
Looking forward
Creativity and innovation
Cartier’s latest Santos editions carry this legacy forward: a titanium model that is lighter and stronger than steel and a black-dial edition with SuperLuminova® hands that glow green. Both models are 9.38mm thick with 39.8mm cases that house the Maison’s 1847 MC automatic movement. These evolutions reaffirm that the Santos still sets the pace.
