Cartier Turns Up The Dandy Vibes With Three Santos-Dumont Models On Bracelets

It is no secret that we are big fans of the Cartier Santos at Fratello. Within the Santos collection, a special place is reserved for the Santos-Dumont series. Over the past few years, Cartier has shown us some amazing versions of the Santos-Dumont, featuring a wide variety of materials, colors, and finishes. The one thing we haven’t seen, though, is a Santos-Dumont on a bracelet. That is, until now! The brand has unveiled three new models featuring a beautifully refined bracelet.

If you have been keeping track of Cartier’s releases, you’ll know that we’ve seen several remarkable takes on the Santos-Dumont over the past few years. Some that immediately come to mind are the lacquer-bezel versions that Daan reviewed, the intriguing platinum Rewind that Lex wrote about, and the stunning XL series with mineral Roman numerals. Those are just three examples of the many striking versions that Cartier released in the past five years. However, all of them come on leather straps. The three latest Santos-Dumont watches break the “strap curse.” Today, Cartier unveils one platinum and one yellow gold model, both with silvered dials on beautiful bracelets. The third and perhaps most intriguing new Santos-Dumont is also yellow gold, but this one includes a lovely obsidian dial.

The details of the new Cartier Santos-Dumonts on a bracelet

Let’s talk specs first. All three models feature the same 31.4mm “LM” case, which has a 43.5mm lug-to-lug, a 7.3mm profile, and a 30m water resistance rating. They also all have a vertically brushed top surface, polished bevels, and a polished bezel. It creates a striking visual contrast that beautifully emphasizes the case’s sculpture.

The centerpiece of the trio is the version with the black obsidian dial. This volcanic stone from Mexico displays iridescent reflections due to tiny air bubbles trapped within the material. Cutting the stone to create the 0.3mm-thick dials is no easy task. As the material is very delicate, it’s quite a challenge for the craftspeople at the Cartier manufacture. After the cutting process, the stone is polished to reveal its remarkable radiance. The final dial features a railroad minute track, numerals, and logo, all executed in yellow gold. Additionally, the hour and minute hands are made of yellow gold to complete the stylish look.

Familiar dials and an exciting new bracelet

The second yellow gold version and the platinum one both feature a silvered sunray dial with a satin finish and black Roman numerals. Hovering over it are thermally blued hour and minute hands, providing a nice contrast. As we’d expect from Cartier, the platinum model features a crown with a red cabochon, whereas the yellow gold variants have a crown with a blue cabochon. The latter two present a slightly more traditional but rather lovely aesthetic.

But the big news, of course, is the new bracelet. Its design was inspired by the flexible, made-to-measure bracelet Cartier created in the 1920s. Both the yellow gold and platinum bracelets feature refined 1.15mm-thick links that provide a smooth feel on the wrist. The bracelet consists of 15 rows, totaling 394 links, and features a quick-release system. Sizing it should also be easy thanks to a series of screw-fastened links near the clasp. Cartier machines, polishes, and assembles all the components of this bracelet in-house before attaching it to the case.

Beneath the yellow gold or platinum case back lies caliber 430 MC, Cartier’s version of the Piaget 430P. This manual-winding movement operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers a 38-hour power reserve. The same caliber also powers several other mechanical Santos-Dumont references.

Final thoughts on the new Cartier Santos-Dumont models

Cartier offered us a sneak peek at these three watches, and they look amazing. The refined bracelets add even more elegance and presence to this famous design. Out of the three, the gold version with the obsidian dial stands out the most. The combination of the black dial and the gold details makes for another striking Santos-Dumont that will have people talking.

Now, it’s time to talk about the prices. The yellow gold Santos-Dumont with the silvered dial retails for €39,300, and the platinum model with the same dial costs €50,500. Finally, the yellow gold model with the gilded obsidian dial comes in at €41,300. All three watches are also regular, unlimed additions to the Santos-Dumont collection. For me, these three pieces are among Cartier’s best releases for Watches and Wonders, along with the three platinum Privé watches that Thomas covered here. It seems like 2026 will be another great year for Cartier.