When faced with a large number of novelties, it is common for magazines to opt for the more expensive models. Cartier’s Prive collection is the most popular. The brand releases so many new watches every year, it would be easy to miss some of the more notable ones like the Rewind. This year, we think the Santos de Cartier Dual Time should get its due first, though not because we could ever gloss over it; the simple reasoning here is that the Santos watch is often cited as the first aviator’s watch (literally true) but it has not had anything approaching a GMT function in its storied history. Until now.
Pictures, whether here or wherever you read about watches, tell only part of the story. You can decide what you think by using your own eyes. This Santos Dual Time, with its 40.2mm diameter, is not only hefty, but also quite comfortable. This makes me wonder why the watch is not a Santos-Dumont instead. That would also be fitting, since Louis Cartier designed that watch for his aviator buddy Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1904.
Santos de Cartier, and the Santos-Dumont included, do not represent the exact watches that debuted in the year 1904. This gives the brand some room to maneuver. Santos Dual Time does not need an aviation theme, but we do think it is important to consider the size of the watch. In its current form, the watch is the perfect size. It does not require a larger case. Since we don’t list the size in full below, please note that the watch is 10.1mm wide and 47.5mm long. All of these factors contribute to the comfort that we found so appealing.
Movement: Power reserve not listed; second time zone unlisted
Case: Water-resistant up to 100m in 40.2mm steel
Strap: Steel bracelet
Price: USD 9,000
This story was first seen on WOW’s Summer 2024 Issue.
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