Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 2013 Reference No: 3202 Movement No: 1117 Case No: 395 Model Name: Santos 100 Material: Palladium Calibre: Manual, cal. 9611 MC, 20 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Cartier deployant clasp Dimensions: 41mm width x 40mm length Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Further accompanied by instruction manual, loupe, cloth, Cartier outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Regarded as one of the most iconic models launched by the famed Parisian house of luxury, the Cartier Santos was initially introduced in 1904. Created for a friend of Louis Cartier by the name of Santos Dumont, it was an effort to solve the issue of handling a pocket watch whilst in flight. To address this problem, the Santos wristwatch was born and it is believed that Mr. Dumont never wore another timepiece during flight ever again.
Fast forward a century, the Cartier Santos remains as an icon with another yet successful reception when a contemporary iteration Santos 100 was launched in 2004 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the famed model. The present example, encased in an oversized palladium case and featuring a skeletonized dial is presented in excellent overall condition.
With the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.