Santos-Dumont – recognized as the first watch for pilots – debuts in a variant with a slightly larger case than before and a manual, thin caliber enclosed in it. Cartier will offer it in three versions.
Alberto Santos-Dumont – a great fan of balloon flights – became popular when the No 6 airship he created in 1901 during the flight managed, among others circle the Eiffel Tower. In addition to his passion for aviation, Santos-Dumont was also known for his impeccable style. Therefore, when he asked his friend replica watches uk Louis Cartier to design the watch, he also had to fit the owner in addition to readability. In 1904, Cartier showed a model that to this day is often referred to as the world’s first pilot watch. A few years later, in 1911, the timepiece went on sale and, waiting for years for different versions, is produced to this day. In 2019, Cartier refreshed the Santos-Dumont line showing a palette of quartz models in size M and L (see HERE).
In 2020, three references (steel, steel and gold bezel and rose gold) will join the Santos-Dumont family in size XL. And although the name suggests huge dimensions, it won’t be that bad. The envelopes are 46.6 mm by 33.9 mm, and the thickness of the entire watch is just 7.5 mm. This dimension was achieved thanks to the hand-wound 430 MC caliber. In fact, it is a Piaget 430P mechanism (both companies belong to the same owner – the Richemont group), i.e. a thin (2.1 mm) werk clocked at 3 Hz and guaranteeing walking autonomy at 38 hours. The mechanism was closed behind a full lid, tightened with 4 screws (unfortunately we did not receive photos), which, in addition to standard information, was also engraved, like handwritten, the inscription, “S = D”. It turns out that Santos-Dumont often instead of a dash, between the two members of his name put an equal sign.
Cartier Santos-Dumont enjoys a lot of detail – the envelope surfaces are brushed in many places, but the polished, beveled edges and high-gloss polished, tightened with bezel screws are retained. Under the sapphire glass he was holding a silver dial was closed, decorated with a sun cut, on which the minute scale was printed (rail track) and large Roman numerals, acting as hourly indexes and also being Cartier’s hallmark. Two blue dagger-shaped hands (so-called sword) are responsible for indicating the time. It is a pity that the ones described as Breguet’s were not used. Firstly, it would be an interesting reference to vintage models, and secondly – it would fake Cartier make it easier to distinguish a watch from quartz models. Time settings are made with the help of lace – of course, decorated and lined with cabochon. In the gold version it is a real sapphire, and in other cases a synthetic sapphire.
Santos-Dumont XL will go on sale on an alligator leather strap with an easy change system. The steel version will receive a navy blue belt, the steel with gold black, and the gold one in gray. Watch prices replica watches are respectively 4,700 EUR (~ 21,600 PLN), 6,500 EUR (~ 29,900 PLN) and 12,500 EUR (~ 57,500 PLN).
