Cartier

In the year 1847, Louis-François Cartier took over the jewellery workshop from his master. Over the years, his sons and grandsons inherited the family business. They started to open shops in London and New York. In 1904 the Cartier brand was even named "the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers" by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Cartier became so popular that royal proxies came in from all over the world.

Cartier is mostly known for its jewellery, but it also has a very rich history when it comes to watchmaking. In the year 1888, Cartier started making ladies wristwatches. At the time, it was more common for men to choose the traditional pocket watch. In 1904, Louis Cartier gave a good Brazilian friend, named Santos Dumont, who was an aviation pioneer, a watch to wear during flights because he complained about the impracticality of using a pocket watch during a flight. The Cartier Santos-Dumont was not only the first wristwatch for men, but also the first real pilot's watch.

The case of the Santos was apparently inspired by a square pocket watch that Cartier had made. The design of the dial announced a shift towards the Art Deco style that would define the 1920s and 1930s. Until today, Cartier's design is defined by this style. The case was designed to be particularly robust, and the screws securing the glass were meant to recall the feet of the new Eiffel Tower. The black Roman numerals also suggest the radial design of the streets and wide boulevards of Paris.

Cartier Santos

The Cartier Santos is derived from the Cartier Santos-Dumont, designed for Alberto Santos Dumont, was actually conceived by a legend in the watch industry named Alain-Dominique Perrin, Cartier's CEO from 1975 to 1998. In 1978, Cartier launched the gold-steel Santos under the leadership of Alain-Dominique Perrin. The watch received an integrated strap instead of the traditional leather strap. Cartier also added 18K gold to the case and strap to give the watch an extra touch of luxury. The model was extremely popular in the 1980s.

In 1987 the Santos was completely overhauled, renamed and relaunched as the Santos Galbée. The case lost its rougher look and was given more curved and rounded lugs, making it fit the wrist better than the previous Santos. The watch is in a beautiful condition with its sharp case that still shows all the sharp lines and curves perfectly. The creamy white dial in combination with the blue hands and the blue diamond in the crown are a wonderful match. The gold bezel combined with the gold steel strap that shows no signs of stretch for its age makes this watch an everyday classic with a lot of charm. The watch comes with a 12-month 10 over 10 guarantee.