Cartier Santos Carrée 2961

At the beginning of the 20th century, Louis Cartier, the grandson of the founder of Cartier, introduced a geometric style hitherto little used in the world of watchmaking. The emblematic Cartier Santos, designed in 1904 by Louis Cartier for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont, the Brazilian aviation pioneer, contrasted with the round, flowing shapes of the pocket watches of the time and the many wristwatches that followed. The Santos had an original, utilitarian aesthetic with a square case and visible screws on the bezel, elements reintroduced almost 70 years later by Gerald Genta in the Royal Oak. This Cartier Santos Carrée 2961 is the two-tone version, made in steel and 18-carat yellow gold. The square case measures 29x41 mm, but wears larger thanks to its integrated bracelet, making it suitable for both men and women. The characteristic Santos ‘screwed’ bracelet with rectangular links is worn like a piece of jewellery. The Cartier ‘C’ logo engraved on the clasp of the bracelet is a particularly aesthetic detail. The watch is in excellent overall condition, with the case and bracelet having been well preserved. The dial is impeccable and shows no spidering, often seen on Cartier watches of this period. This watch is entirely original, and, icing on the cake, it is sold with its original box and papers, which is particularly rare for this type of watch.