Cartier Santos

Louis Cartier designed the Santos wristwatch in 1904 specifically for his friend, the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. Santos-Dumont needed a reliable timepiece he could easily read while keeping both hands on the controls during his early airplane flights.

While originally designed in 1904 as a custom piece for Santos-Dumont, Cartier commercialized the watch for the public in 1911. The release was officially named the Santos-Dumont, marking it as one of the very first men's wristwatches ever produced.

The Cartier Santos is famous for its distinct square case with rounded corners, a major departure from the round pocket watches of the era. The design also features exposed screws on the bezel, which have become a signature aesthetic of the collection.

The classic Santos dial is defined by its elegant white color and Cartier's signature blued-steel sword hands. The dial also features Roman numeral hour markers and a hidden folding deployment clasp on the bracelet, which was introduced later.