Shop Pre-Owned Cartier Santos Watches With Bezel
Discover an extensive selection of pre-owned Cartier Santos watches on the Bezel online marketplace. This watch, known for its distinctive square case and timeless appeal, is one of Cartier’s most sought-after models. In all its impressive forms, the Santos has managed to captivate horological enthusiasts for over a century, retaining a top spot on the list of most iconic luxury watches in the world. From classic to contemporary designs, you’ll find all Cartier Santos models on our site to satisfy your luxury watch desires.
The Legacy of Cartier Santos Watches
The Santos is the oldest Cartier timepiece that is still in production today. It is also one of the oldest wristwatches ever created by any watchmaker and the first ever true pilot’s watch. The collection’s story began in 1904.
The prototype of this collection was created at the request of Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. The renowned aviator remarked to his friend, watchmaker Louis Cartier, about the difficulty of retrieving a pocket watch from this pocket each time he needed to check the time while flying.
To resolve this predicament, Louis Cartier created a watch that could be worn on the wrist. His solution was a timepiece with a flat, square case and a slim profile that could fit conveniently on a pilot’s wrist. In 1906, when Santos-Dumont completed the first-ever flight with a motorized plane, he wore this unique square wristwatch.
This invention was significant for a number of reasons. First, the Santos was the first watch designed from scratch to be worn on the wrist. While there were other wristwatches in the market at the time, they were mostly adaptations of existing pocket watches.
The Santos was also the first wristwatch designed and marketed specifically for men. Before this timepiece was created, watches worn on the wrist were considered a feminine accessory called a “wristlet”. The Cartier kick-started the trend of men wearing wristwatches, laying the foundation for the modern wristwatch industry as we know it.
Throughout the 20th century, the Cartier Santos underwent a major transformation while maintaining its unique features. The watchmaker pushed the boundaries of watchmaking innovation with this timepiece by introducing new materials, movements, and other features for later iterations of the Santos.
What Does a Cartier Santos Watch Cost
Cartier Santos watches are available at various price points, from a few thousand dollars for the cheapest models to tens of thousands for the more expensive ones. This isn’t surprising for a watch that has been in production for over a century. Enthusiasts and collectors considering adding a Santos watch to their collection will find the perfect timepiece to suit their taste at any budget level.
Retail Cost
The Cartier Santos cost for new entry-level models (like the stainless steel Cartier Santos De Cartier or Santos-Dumont) is about $5,000 to $7,000 on average. The gold version of these standard models can cost anywhere between $9,000 and $20,000 on average. You can also find more elaborate models within the collection, with some examples exceeding $60,000 from Cartier boutiques.
How Much Does a Pre-Owned Cartier Santos Cost
Collectors looking for a more accessible way to own a Cartier Santos can consider shopping in the pre-owned market. Pre-owned Cartier Santos watches can cost as low as $3,000. This budget should get you avintage example, especially models within the Santos Galbée series, which debuted in 1987. There are also plenty of simple, quartz-powered Santos watches within this range.
Current or more recent models cost between $5,000 and $10,000 on average in the secondary market, depending on the model, size, material, and movement. On the upper end of the spectrum, you will find watches that cost between $27,000 and $50,000 on average.
Key Features of Cartier Santos Watches
Square Case
The Cartier Santos' round case makes this timepiece instantly recognizable. This design was revolutionary for a watch created in an era dominated by round pocket watches. The square shape gives the watch a slim profile, allowing it to sit neatly on the wrist. It is worth noting that Cartier has toned down the angular shape of the Santos watches in modern iterations by adding some extra curvature to the watch. The case and bezel now have rounded edges with accentuated lugs that transition seamlessly into the bracelet.
Visible Screws
This is one of the distinctive features of the Cartier Santos that has stayed the same since the collection was launched. The bezel of this watch was held down by eight exposed screws. This served a decorative purpose as it emphasized the industrial aesthetic that was quite popular in early 20th-century France when this watch made its debut. This industrial touch also gives the watch a masculine aesthetic, which was important to selling it in the 20th century.
Art Deco Dial
The Cartier Santos is characterized by its Art Deco aesthetic. One of the major features that emphasize this is the traditional Roman numeral hour markers and classic lettering, which is still preserved in modern versions of this watch. The Cartier Santos also has sword-shaped hands and railroad minute tracks, both of which are classic art-deco inspired elements. The simplicity of this dial layout exemplifies Cartier’s refined and highly elegant design language.
Sapphire Cabochon
Like many other Cartier watches, the crown of the Santos timepiece is decorated with a deep blue sapphire cabochon. This is primarily a decorative feature that adds a touch of luxury to the watch. This feature also gives the Santos a distinctive appearance that distinguishes it as a Cartier timepiece.
Popular Cartier Crash Watches
The Cartier Santos collection includes many impressive models with unique attributes that cater to buyers with different tastes and preferences. From the timeless elegance of the Santos-Dumont to the modern cutting-edge appeal of contemporary models like the Santos Skeleton, there’s a Santos timepiece for everyone. The long history of this watch also means a lot of notable models have emerged over the years. Some of the most popular Cartier Santos watches include:
Selling Your Cartier Santos is Easy with Bezel
Do you have a Cartier Santos watch for sale? You can get the true value for your watch by selling it conveniently on Bezel. We offer an online marketplace for luxury watches where collectors and watch lovers can easily shop for quality timepieces like yours.
When the time comes to part with your Santos watch, we will help you navigate the sales process from appraising its value to marketing and negotiating with buyers, all for an affordable transaction fee. Contact Bezel to sell your Cartier Santos watch with ease and confidence.
Turn to Bezel for All of Your Luxury Wristwatch Needs
The Bezel Marketplace is your one-stop shop for pre-owned luxury watch needs. Our catalog includes different models and variants of the Cartier Santos timepiece, including modern vintage and contemporary models. We also have other rare and collectible timepieces from other top brands in the industry.
You can access the Bezel marketplace directly from your browser or download the Bezel app to start shopping. Our platform is an intuitive way to shop for watches, with a powerful search feature that allows you to filter for watches based on the brand, material, case size, and price. We also offer an exceptional concierge service with expert advisors who can help you find watches that are not listed on the site through a network of trusted sellers. You can trust our expertise and recommendations to find just the perfect watch for you.
All watches listed on the Bezel platform have gone through a rigorous in-house authentication process to confirm their condition and authenticity. Our watches are also covered by a buyer protection policy, so you can always shop with confidence and peace of mind.
