Cartier Santos Galbée 187901 'Caramel Dial'

The Cartier Santos is derived from the Cartier Santos-Dumont, designed for aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. This watch was originally envisioned by a legend in the watch industry, Alain-Dominique Perrin, who served as Cartier’s CEO from 1975 to 1998. Under his leadership, Cartier launched the gold-steel Santos in 1978. The watch was equipped with an integrated bracelet instead of the traditional leather strap. Additionally, 18K gold was added to the case and bracelet, giving the watch an extra touch of luxury. This model became incredibly popular during the 1980s.

In 1987, the Santos was completely redesigned, renamed, and reintroduced as the Santos Galbée. The case received a more refined design with smoother lines and rounder lugs, allowing the watch to sit more comfortably on the wrist than its predecessor.

This vintage Cartier Santos Galbée 187901 is in stunning condition, featuring a sharp case where all the clean lines and elegant curves remain perfectly visible. What makes this watch even more special is its warm caramel-colored dial, which has developed beautifully over the years, a perfect match with the gold accents! Additionally, this vintage Cartier Santos is equipped with the signature blue hands and the iconic blue cabochon crown.

The two-tone steel and gold bracelet, which shows minimal to no stretch for its age, features the renowned Cartier logo on the clasp. This makes the Santos not only a stylish everyday classic but also a refined piece of jewelry. This stunning vintage Cartier Santos Galbée 187901 has undergone a full service/overhaul in 2024, ensuring it will last for many more years. Thanks to the practical quick-set date function, this watch is also highly user friendly. This Cartier Santos Galbée 187901 comes with a 1-year mechanical warranty from 10 over 10.

What you need to know:
- Reference 187901
- Warm, even caramel-colored dial
- Blue hands and cabochon crown
- Steel/gold Cartier bracelet in excellent condition, with logo on the clasp
- Sharp 29mm case, perfect for both men and women
- Fully serviced/overhauled in 2024
- 1-year warranty
- Free insured shipping within the EU

Cartier

In 1847, Louis-François Cartier took over the jewelry workshop from his master. Over the years, his sons and grandsons inherited the family business, opening stores in London and New York. In 1904, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom even named Cartier "the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers." Cartier became so popular that royal warrants were received from all over the world.

Cartier is primarily known for its jewelry but also has a very rich history in watchmaking. In 1888, Cartier began making women's wristwatches. At that time, it was more common for men to wear traditional pocket watches. In 1904, Louis Cartier gave a wristwatch to his good Brazilian friend, aviation pioneer Santos-Dumont, who complained about the impracticality of using a pocket watch while flying. The Cartier Santos-Dumont was not only the first men's wristwatch but also the first true pilot's watch.

The case of the Santos was seemingly inspired by a square pocket watch that Cartier had made. The design of the dial heralded a shift towards the Art Deco style that would define the 1920s and 1930s. To this day, Cartier's design is influenced by this. The case was designed to be robust, and the screws holding the glass were meant to resemble the legs of the new Eiffel Tower. The black Roman numerals also suggest the radial design of the streets and broad boulevards of Paris.