Next to the Tank, the Santos is the other iconic model from Cartier. It is not an exaggeration to say that this watch, created at the beginning of the 20th century, has made its mark on the history of watchmaking. Regularly reinvented and released in new colors and materials, it still has the ability to surprise observers: at the last Watches & Wonders trade show, the Santos-Dumont Rewind caused a sensation with its reverse rotation movement!
The Santos, a legendary watch in more ways than one
Designed at the dawn of the 20th century, the Santos de Cartier watch embodies a technical and aesthetic revolution in the world of watchmaking. Born from the friendship between the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont and Louis Cartier, the Santos was designed in 1904 to allow the aviator to check the time while piloting. Today, it is considered one of the first wristwatches in the world, a major innovation at a time when the pocket watch still largely dominated.
But as if that wasn’t enough, another “detail” makes this watch unique. The Santos indeed inherits a recognizable design at first glance, with visible screws and a case shape never seen before: a square! Over the decades, the Santos evolves with its time, coming in different versions, larger or smaller, more or less colorful, but all of which have managed to maintain a connection with the pioneering spirit of its origins.
120 years after its birth, the Cartier watch has lost none of its precision, reliability, or even its elegance, whether it is powered by a quartz or automatic movement. Again this year, in Geneva, the brand offered several iterations, in platinum, steel, yellow or pink gold, in green, gray or blue. But the one that particularly caught attention is the Santos-Dumont Rewind and you will soon understand why…
Cartier reinvents its icon with the Santos-Dumont Rewind
This limited edition follows the traditional aesthetic codes of the Santos, while introducing a major innovation: a manual mechanical movement with reverse winding. This technical prowess allows the hands to be moved backward rather than forward, a mischievous nod to the concept of turning back time.
The watch dial is made of carnelian, a stone with deep shades, placed on a platinum case, giving it both an antique and valuable aspect. The Roman numerals, traditional with Cartier, are arranged in reverse order this time, topped by two pretty “apple” hands. The crown is adorned with a cabochon ruby, for an extra touch of color and luxury.
Beyond its iconic square shape, the case of this Santos-Dumont Rewind measures 31.5 x 43.5 mm with a thickness of 7.3 mm, offering a discreet yet elegant presence on the wrist. On the back, the aviator’s inverted signature pays a beautiful tribute to the origins of this timepiece. Waterproof up to 30 meters, it is designed to withstand daily demands while remaining a piece of high-end watchmaking.
The brown alligator leather bracelet with its platinum pin buckle complements the refined aesthetic of the watch. Every detail of this limited and numbered edition has been thoughtfully developed to celebrate the innovative spirit and timeless elegance that characterize both Alberto Santos-Dumont and the house of Cartier.
Delivered in a lacquered wooden box, with palladium finishes and a gray Alcantara interior, the Santos-Dumont Rewind is a superb collector’s item that finds its essence in the history of aviation and luxury. You will have to fork out no less than 41,600 euros to hope to be one of the 200 lucky owners.
