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Cartier santos Dumont 1575/1Cartier santos Dumont 1575/1

Cartier Santos Dumont Ref. 1575/1 Platinum

One of the first real wristwatches in history, designed with a functional approach and a great story, and still relevant today… The Cartier Santos is a true icon in the history of wristwatches. It was introduced in 1904 when Louis Cartier designed this watch for his Brazilian friend and aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont. Alberto complained to Louis about the action of getting his pocket watch out of his pocket while flying.. in 1904.. and so the Cartier Santos Dumont was born.

Luckily Louis Cartier had a talent for design, and the Santos is still a very pretty and timeless watch today. The shape of the case, the black lacquered Roman numerals, and blued hands are still appreciated very much. The Cartier Santos Dumont is not uncommon, but this one is quite special, this watch case is made out of platinum, the rarest of metals used by Cartier. Furthermore, this piece is equipped with a blue crocodile strap on an 18k. white gold Cartier clasp. This Santos Dumont just returned from the Cartier service centre and is in mint condition. Box and service papers included.

 

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Details
Brand Cartier
Diameter 27 mm x 36 mm
Model Santos Dumont
Bracelet/strap: Leather
Reference 1575/1
Buckle/clasp Original platinum folding clasp
Year of production (circa) 1990
Lug Width 17 mm
Material Platinum
Set Content Cartier service papers 2021
Crystal Mineral
Warranty 2 year (AWCo)
Dial color Silver
Movement Hand-wound
Backstory

Amsterdam Pocket Watch Company. Or Amsterdam Women’s-only Watch Company. Two alternate realities that could have been, if it weren’t for Louis Cartier. Many of our brands can lay claim on important horological innovations, but Cartier is the one that started the wristwatch game for men with the Santos.

The Brazilian dandy Alberto Santos Dumont inquired with his friend Louis Cartier about a better solution for telling time while flying. His pocket watch was rather cumbersome in flight. Louis Cartier designed a flat, square watch for him in 1904: the Cartier Santos.

While, for a long time, watches were used for navigation, this was not yet the case for dear old Santos. His flight, the first to ever be caught on film, lasted for only 21 seconds. Not a lot of navigation required there! He was wearing the world’s first men’s wristwatch though.

The Santos went into large-scale production in 1911, fitted with a Jaeger caliber inside. The cases came in platinum or gold and the Santos came on the very first ever folding clasp, fitted to brown or black leather straps.

The 1970’s Quartz crisis and Audemars Piguet’s brilliant answer in the Royal Oak, triggered Cartier to morph the Santos into a modern sports watch. A steel version on an integrated steel bracelet was introduced in 1978, the Santos de Cartier. A more rounded, quartz powered Santos Galbée was launched in 1987. Multiple variations on the theme were launched since. If it is the classical look you are after, the Santos Dumont remains most faithful to the very first Santos from 1904.

While the Santos debuted as the tool-watch for men. It has aged into a classical, more dressy watch for men and women alike. As we are slowly but surely moving away from gender-specific watches, the Santos is a prime example of a watch for everyone. A design classic with a story that will surely captivate your audience, next time you have drinks with friends.

Shipping

At AWCo we put the safety of our shipments upfront at all times. Therefore, we ship all our packages insured.

We strive to promptly handle packages to minimize delays. Delivery times begin from the day of dispatch. While we make every effort to ensure smooth delivery, we cannot be held responsible for delays caused by destination customs, local duties, taxes, or lost items during transit.

Certainly, we understand that overloaded mail-order companies can also contribute to potential delays in the delivery process. Despite our best efforts, external factors beyond our control may affect shipping times. Rest assured, we remain committed to providing timely service and will work diligently to ensure your order reaches you as promptly as possible. For any inquiries or updates, feel free to reach out to us at info@awco.nl. Your satisfaction is our priority.

Brand

Cartier

Model

Reference

1575/1

Year of production (circa)

1990

Material

Platinum

Crystal

Mineral

Dial color

Silver

Movement

Hand-wound

Diameter

27 mm x 36 mm

Bracelet/strap:

Leather

Buckle/clasp

Original platinum folding clasp

Lug Width

17 mm

Set Content

Cartier service papers 2021