135Σ︎
Cartier
Ref. WGSA0050
Santos Dumont “Precious Set”
A like-new, very rare, and sought-after platinum rectangular wristwatch with ice blue guilloché dial, numbered 17 of a limited edition of 100 pieces, with cufflinks, and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
• Numbered 17 out of 100
• Complete collectors set, with matching cufflinks in falcon-eye
• Consigned by the original owner
• Like-new state of preservation
Few wristwatches have a history as closely intertwined with the origins of modern horology as the Cartier Santos-Dumont. Conceived in 1904 for Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont at the request of his friend Louis Cartier, the model was born from a practical need: Santos-Dumont required a timepiece that could be read easily while operating his aircraft, rather than relying on a cumbersome pocket watch. The resulting wristwatch would become one of Cartier’s most enduring designs.
More than a century later, the Santos-Dumont remains remarkably faithful to its origins. Its distinctive square case, exposed bezel screws and elegant proportions have provided Cartier with an ideal canvas for some of the maison’s most imaginative contemporary creations.
The present example is particularly striking for its unusual ice-blue dial with guilloché center. Rather than Cartier’s more familiar Roman numerals, the dial is fitted with applied Arabic numerals, lending the watch an altogether different character. At its center, a recessed square panel is decorated with an intricate radiating guilloché pattern, creating a mesmerizing sense of depth and movement. The various shades of blue—from the dial and minute track to the blued hands and matching strap—contrast beautifully against the cool tone of the case.
Consigned by the original owner and accompanied by a set of falcon-eye cufflinks, the present lot’s combination of an ice-blue dial, Arabic numerals and elaborate central guilloché makes it an especially distinctive expression of the celebrated Santos-Dumont.
Cartier
FrenchWith the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.