Cartier Santos Carree Burgundy 2960

US$0.00

SOLD

Description

This is the Cartier Santos Carree reference 2960. The origins of the Santos began in 1904, when Louis Cartier’s good friend, Alberto Santos-Dumont, wanted a wristwatch to accompany him while he was flying due to the impracticalities of the pocket watch. In 1906, Alberto Santos Dumont was the first ever person filmed in a flight sporting the iconic Cartier watch that was designed by Louis Cartier and the rest, as they say, is history. Among the many Cartier timepieces, the Santos is arguably their most recognizable model alongside the Tank.

The Cartier Santos Carree was an evolution of the original model that was first introduced in the late 1970s until it was succeeded by the Cartier Santos Galbee in 1987. Known exclusively as the Santos de Cartier, the reference was armed with a new look of an integrated bracelet with matching exposed screws. In order to blend the industrial aesthetic of a sports watch with a touch of luxury, the redesigned Santos came in a steel case with an 18k gold bezel as well as gold bracelet screws. This came to define the reference during the emergence of luxury sports watches with integrated bracelet from other prestigious watch brands.

Following the success of the relaunched Santos, Cartier began to manufacture all-steel models denoted by the reference 2960. With the 75th anniversary of Cartier in 1979, the aforementioned 2960 with a burgundy dial was released as a special edition to commemorate the occasion. As with special releases, the reference is marked by a Ruby cabochon that matches the burgundy dial perfectly.

A watch that perfectly encapsulates the period, the design of the original Carree has served as the foundation of the Santos de Cartier that is being produced by the brand till this very day. Despite going through several design overhauls from the Carree to the Galbee to today’s modern Santos de Cartier, the features of the original introduced during the neo-vintage period remain prevalent and the timeless design of the model is a key reason why the Santos has remained as a mainstay of the brand’s core offering.

Condition

This Cartier Santos Carree is in good vintage condition. The Swiss Made burgundy dial has no signs of aging or spidering. The case has some hairlines from prior wear and the bezel has previously been polished. The bracelet will fit a wrist of up to 7” and it comes with no box or papers. The watch is in full working order.