SIHH 2018: Cartier - The new Santos Collection

Cartier updates the Santos, one of its most iconic watches, focusing on comfort and proportions while respecting the aesthetic of the model.

The square shape - which represented a break with traditional rounded watches when it was introduced in 1904 - remains unchanged. Just like the eight screws on the bezel: a tribute to the proliferation of mechanical steel structures associated with a golden age of urban architecture which Cartier dared to display instead of concealing it.

The design of the bezel has been updated for a smoother integration with the lines of the case and the strap as well as a more dynamic look.

The strap is the defining element in the history of the Santos de Cartier, the first modern wristwatch. The original strap was in leather, a totally new material in watchmaking, and left the wearer free of the restrictions of the pocket watch.

In the new Santos, all bracelets/straps - in steel, gold, calfskin or alligator skin - are interchangeable thanks to the Cartier QuickSwitch system (patent pending) hidden under the strap. This invisible mechanism blends into the structure of the case and, to activate the system, the wearer simply presses the mechanism.

Another cutting-edge feature is the SmartLink self-fitting technology (another patent pending) which adjusts the length of the metal bracelet to the nearest link without the use of a tool. At the touch of a button located on each SmartLink, the attachment bar is unlatched and one of the brushed metal links with screws can be added or removed from the Santos de Cartier watch.

The automatic calibre 1847 MC features anti-magnetic nickel phosphorus components in the escapement and movement mechanisms, as well as a shield made from a paramagnetic alloy, rendering the calibre effectively resistant to the powerful magnetic fields a watch may be exposed to in everyday life. Beating 28,800 vibrations per hour, the movement offers a power reserve of 42 hours.

The new Santos de Cartier is available in two sizes, Large (39.8 mm x 47.5 mm) and Medium (35.1 mm x 41.9 mm), and in various stainless steel, pink gold, yellow gold and steel/gold versions.

The large version is also available in a skeletonized version in either pink gold or stainless steel.

Thanks to the screw-down assembly design, all models are water resistant up to 10 bar (~100 metres / 330 feet) with minimal case thickness.

The new Santos de Cartier will be on sale from April with prices starting at Euro 6,000 / US$ 6,250 for the Medium model in stainless steel. cartier.com