The name "Santos" originates from the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. In 1904, he asked Louis Cartier to create a "watch that could tell time while flying." The result was a timepiece considered the world's first modern wristwatch, designed to be worn on the wrist. For over 120 years since then, the "Santos" has been passed down through the ages as the very DNA of Cartier. Named after Santos-Dumont, who possessed an unyielding pursuit of speed and set a speed record in 1906 by flying 220 meters in 21 seconds, the new chronograph is a timepiece that carries that pioneering spirit into the 21st century.

 

 

 

This is a new model that reinterprets the chronograph introduced in 2020 and achieves further evolution. The movement is the "Caliber 1904-CH MC," named after the birth year of the first "Santos." It features two push-buttons to operate the chronograph's start/stop and reset functions, pursuing accuracy and reliability suitable for daily use. The power reserve is 47 hours, and it is resistant to magnetism, shocks, and temperature variations. The bracelet is equipped with the "SmartLink" system, which allows for size adjustments in seconds, and the "QuickSwitch" system, which facilitates strap changes.

 

 

 

Cartier's roots lie in a jewelry Maison founded in Paris in 1847 by jeweler Louis-François Cartier. Later, when his grandson, Louis Cartier, joined the management in 1898, he also demonstrated talent in watchmaking. A turning point came in 1904 when his friend, the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, commissioned him to create a watch that could be read while flying with hands on the controls. Louis responded to this request and created the "Santos," considered the world's first modern wristwatch designed to be worn on the wrist. At a time when round pocket watches were mainstream, the square case and the deliberately exposed screws were a groundbreaking design that would greatly influence subsequent watch designs.

 

Louis Cartier continued to create innovative watches, and in 1917, he unveiled the "Tank," inspired by the tanks that appeared during World War I. More than 120 years after the birth of the Santos in 1904, the "Santos" and "Tank" continue to be iconic Cartier collections. As a Maison that upholds innovative design philosophy, it is an indispensable presence in the history of watchmaking.