Cartier Santos Ladies

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Among Cartier's watches, the Santos is a popular model, but I think that many women prefer the Panthere, which has the same shape but is more feminine and softer.

However, there are many different models that have been derived from this Santos model.

Here we will introduce some cute ladies' watches derived from the Santos.

By reading this article to the end, you will find out that there are not only famous models that are well known to the public, but also cute models like this.

We believe you will make new discoveries and broaden your selection of Cartier watches, so be sure to read through to the end.

The table of contents is included in the description, so please take a look there if there is anything you are interested in.

So let's get started right away.

The secret story behind the birth of the Cartier watch, the Santos

Cartier originally started out as a jewelry brand, and its watches began to be made using that jewelry technology.

Cartier is famous for its Tank watch, and since it was created during the Art Deco period, it is often assumed that the Tank incorporates Art Deco design elements. Although the design elements are the same, the prototype of Cartier's designs was influenced by the Louis XVI style.

So even before the Art Deco style became popular in the 1920s, Cartier was capturing the beauty of straight lines in its jewelry.

Cartier then received a request from a man named Alberto Santos-Dumont, who had become a friend of Louis Cartier, the third generation of the company, at a social gathering.

As a side note, Alberto Santos-Dumont was a Brazilian aristocrat who was also an aviator, similar to what we would call a celebrity today.

Returning to the main topic, the request was for a watch that would allow the pilot to check the time without having to take his hands off the control stick while the plane was in motion.

At the time, pocket watches were the norm and there were no watches worn on the wrist.

Before that, there were things that resembled wristwatches (particularly decorative watches targeted at wealthy women), but they were just ad hoc pocket watches with straps attached, and they would easily come off.

So Cartier responded to this request with a watch called the Santos-Dumont in 1904.

In short, it was a model named after a person.

This is said to be the world's first genuine wristwatch.

The reason for this is that the Santos-Dumont watch has lugs for connecting the belt and strap, which is why it is generally recognized as the world's first official wristwatch.

The design is square in shape and has straight lines.

The Art Deco boom culminated in the 1925 Art Deco International Exposition, but a look at the Santos watch, made in 1904, shows that the company Cartier had long ago understood that straight lines could become art.

This watch, which was given to Santos in 1904, is called the "Santos-Dumont" and was made for Santos personally.

Then, in 1978, the Santos, a sports luxury car based on the Santos-Dumont , was released to the general public.

Now, let's take a look at the various watches that have been derived from the original Santos watch.

Santos-Dumont

As mentioned above, the Santos-Dumont was a watch made for a man named Alberto Santos-Dumont .

Because the Santos, which was released on the market afterwards, became famous, the Santos-Dumont remained in the shadows for quite a long time, but in 2019 it was revived using the same design as the Santos-Dumont.

There are three major differences between the currently available Santos de Cartier. The first is that the Santos has a crown guard, but the Dumont does not.

The second is the crown; while the Santos has a flat-cut sapphire to make it closer to a square, the Dumont has a standard triangular cabochon.

The third point is that if you look at the bezel, the Dumont has a slope, but the Santos has no slope and has sharp edges.

The sizes available are SM for ladies (length 38mm x width 27.5mm x thickness 7.3mm) and LM for men (length 43.5mm x width 31.4mm x thickness 7.3mm).

When you look at the watch from the front, it has a cohesiveness to it that you wouldn't expect from a 27.5mm case.

I think this is because the lugs are cut at an angle, giving the whole piece a stylish look.

Viewed from the side, the curves from the case to the lugs give the watch a smooth, feminine softness.

On the other hand, the square and sturdy bezel gives it an air of elegance, which is another attractive point.

The lineup includes three types: stainless steel, stainless steel and pink gold combination, and pink gold.

The models are available in case colors with pink gold or diamonds, creating a feminine and cute look for your wrist.

Santos Garbe

Santos-Dumont was founded in 1904, followed in 1978 by the men's line Santos, and a further evolution of the Santos was the Santos Galbe, which was born in 1987.

The name "Galve" means "curved" in French.

As the model name suggests, the entire case, starting from the lugs, is curved and fits smoothly to the wrist.

Galbe also has a ladies' line, but I think that Galbe and the next one, Santos de Cartier, are more geared towards ladies' wear.

This is because the main models produced are quartz models, and the dials include pink dials that are designed with ladies in mind, and are very cute.

By the way, the pink dial is a limited edition that was only sold in Asia.

The Santos Galbee and the Santos de Cartier, which are currently in the lineup, are so similar that it's probably almost impossible to tell the difference at a glance.

However, there are some places where you can easily tell the difference, so let's take a look at them together.

Please see the image below.

On the left is the current model "Santos de Cartier" and on the right is the older model "Santos Galbee".

If you look closely at the shape of the bezel, you can see that the Santos bezel protrudes slightly toward the strap side.

However, the Santos Galve does not have that protrusion and is perfectly square in shape.

I think it's easiest to see here.

Looking at the design, this watch is also square and has a neat appearance.

Compared to the Dumont introduced earlier, this model is basically one with a bracelet, so the continuous horizontal bracelet with screws gives it a classic and calm impression that was popular during the Art Deco period.

Although this model is no longer in production, it remains secretly popular among long-time Cartier fans.

Santos de Cartier

You've probably heard the term "Deux Moiselle" before; it means "Young Lady" in French.

By the way, "Du Moiselle" is the name of the plane flown by Alberto Santos-Dumont, who inspired the development of the Santos.

The Santos de Cartier is Santos' main ladies' model, released in 2005, and is characterized by its small, elegant dial.

The difference with the Santos is quite easy to see, as it does not have the screw-fastened bezel that is found on the Santos, so you can tell right away by looking at it.

Unfortunately, it was discontinued in 2017, but it continues to remain popular with Cartier enthusiasts seeking out second-hand pieces.

There was a wide lineup of beautiful models, from simple stainless steel models to models that combine yellow gold to add a touch of glamour to the wrist, and models with diamonds on the bezel.

This watch also comes with a standard white and pink shell dial.

By the way, Ken Watanabe's daughter Anne, who has now moved to France, is also famous for wearing this Santos de Cartier on her wrist.

Santos 100

Cartier watches are generally available in SM, MM, and LM sizes, with SM being ladies', MM being unisex, and LM and above being men's.

While it may seem like SM is only for women, women who prefer men's fashion can choose MM or LM and enjoy fashion.

I'd like to introduce you to the slightly larger model called the Santos 100.

This model has a stronger men's line and is designed with a men's style in mind, but it is also available in MM sizes so it will fit comfortably on a woman's wrist as well.

What kind of watch is the Santos 100? It was released in 2004, exactly 100 years after the birth of the Santos.

This model is also no longer in production, but is a favorite among Cartier enthusiasts.

The difference with the Santos is that from the front, the bezel is also completely square, just like the Galbe, so if you use that as a judging point, you'll immediately notice it.

On the left is the current model, "Santos de Cartier," and on the right is the older model, "Santos 100."

Another difference when viewed from the side is that the cases of the Santos series are thin and dressy, while the Santos 100 has a thicker, sturdier case with a more three-dimensional feel.

The reason for this design is that in the early 2000s, there was a boom in large, thick watches from brands like Hublot and Panerai, and Cartier jumped on the bandwagon with their design.

It's a departure from the delicate style of its predecessors, being large and impressive, but with a case size of 33mm, it's not overly large.

It creates a large presence on your wrist, so if you're just going out in casual clothes, I think just wearing this watch will give your overall impression a more refined look.

summary

As a final summary, the standard model Santos has a blocky shape and gives off a very solid impression.

However, when you look at each model derived from the Santos, you will find that they have subtly different designs, which makes choosing one fun.

At first glance, the Santos appears to be a model targeted at men, but when you dig deeper, you find that there are models designed to be popular with women as well.

I would be happy if through this article you can find your favorite Santos and incorporate it into your fashion.