The Watch: The Santos is the watch that helped invent the wristwatch as a category. In 1904, the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier that he could not check a pocket watch while flying his early aircraft, and Cartier responded with a flat, square-cased watch meant to be worn on the wrist and read at a glance. The exposed screws and geometric case became one of the most enduring designs in watchmaking, and the Santos-Dumont line is the purest expression of that original 1904 spirit, stripped of the integrated bracelet and bezel screws of the sportier Santos de Cartier.
This reference is the large model in steel with black lacquer. The case and bezel are finished with black lacquer over steel, and the dial carries Cartier's black square decoration with a translucent lacquer surface that gives the Roman numerals depth. The beaded crown is set with the traditional blue synthetic spinel cabochon.
This version runs the hand-wound caliber 430 MC, a modified Piaget 430P, one of the thinnest manual movements available.
This example is in like new condition with box and papers. The papers have an open date.
Condition: Like new with minimal to no signs of wear.
