About the Santos de Cartier
The Santos de Cartier traces its origins to 1904, when Louis Cartier created a wristwatch for Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont so he could read the time during flight without reaching for a pocket watch, making it a genuine piece of horological history. The defining design language of the Santos includes a square cushion case, visible Roman numeral dial, blued sword-shaped hands, and the brand's hallmark exposed screws on the bezel and bracelet that give it an unmistakably architectural, sporty character. Today's Santos de Cartier line is produced in Small and Medium references, each available in quartz or automatic movements depending on configuration, catering to a wide range of wrist sizes and wearing preferences. The collection sits at the intersection of Cartier's fine jewelry heritage and functional sports watchmaking, making it one of the most recognizable and consistently in-demand references on the secondary market.
What to Look For
When shopping the Santos de Cartier, the key variables that drive value and wearability are case size, metal, bezel type, and dial color: the Medium steel references such as the green-dial WSSA0094 and blue-dial WSSA0063 are among the most versatile everyday options, while yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold references command significant premiums and appeal to collectors seeking precious-metal versions. Diamond-set bezel configurations like the WJSA0014 in white gold and skeleton-dial pieces like the WHSA0010 in rose gold occupy the upper tier of the range in both rarity and price, and condition, box, and papers status meaningfully affect value, particularly for pre-owned examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Santos de Cartier Small and Medium?
The Small Santos de Cartier features a more compact case dimensions suited to a narrower wrist and is frequently offered in quartz configurations, while the Medium case is larger and is available in both automatic and quartz variants depending on the reference. Both sizes share the same signature square cushion design, exposed screw bezel, and interchangeable strap system introduced in the modern generation of the Santos.
Are the Santos de Cartier watches sold at Bizak and Co. authentic?
Yes, every Santos de Cartier offered at Bizak and Co. is fully authenticated before listing, and pre-owned pieces are clearly labeled as such while brand-new inventory is noted as factory fresh. Buyers can shop with confidence knowing that references like the WGSA0031 in rose gold or the WSSA0082 in steel have been verified for authenticity and condition prior to sale.
Which Santos de Cartier dial color is the most popular?
Silver dials remain the classic and most broadly appealing choice across the Santos de Cartier range, appearing in both steel and precious-metal references, but the steel models with colored dials such as the green WSSA0094 and blue WSSA0063 have seen strong collector demand in recent years. Ultimately the best dial color depends on personal style and intended pairing with attire, and Bizak and Co. carries multiple options so buyers can compare directly.
Browse also: Cartier collection.
Buy, trade, or sell. Contact Bizak & Co. for pricing and availability on any reference in this collection.
