Singingbee shares his enthusiasm for the new Cartier Santos, marking it as his first square watch and a true icon. He details his preference for the medium model, praising its comfortable wearability, accurate 1847MC movement, and versatility, even drawing comparisons to the Rolex Explorer 1 as an all-purpose daily watch.
I have always admired the Cartier Santos on other folks’ wrists since I got into watches three years ago but somehow the Santos 100 and 100 XL don’t click for me. Maybe it’s their bigger/thicker cases plus their more aggressive and sporty look. So when the new Cartier Santos collection was announced at SIHH, I was especially intrigued by the medium model which has a clean dial without date and its quick strap change feature. The smart link feature although cool, is not a big selling point for me as I don’t see myself resizing the bracelet often.
I had a chance to try the large and medium models at my local boutique one day before the official launch date. The large model is too large and chunky as a dressier piece IMO and I really didn’t like the date window. The medium model was love at first sight. The following day I went down to the boutique again and left a poorer but happier man.
After three weeks of ownership, the love for this iconic piece continues to grow. It is an extremely versatile and comfortable piece on the wrist on both bracelet or the calf strap. It sort of just disappear when you wear it and only when you check the time, do you realise you are wearing a watch. Very slim and unobtrusive on the wrist but when you look at the case and dial, you know what you are getting.
Another pleasant surprise is the 1847MC movement which I understand is the entry-level in-house movement from Cartier. It is extremely accurate, and from my three weeks of wearing, the deviation is around 2 seconds a day. I never thought I will say this but it’s as accurate as my ND Sub which is the most accurate piece in my small collection. It is surprising to me because I used to own a Cartier Drive which houses the higher end 1904MC and that piece is nowhere as accurate. If I remember correctly, that piece deviation rate is more than 10 secs a day.
The new Santos is truely a masterpiece from Cartier.
I would liken it to another iconic time piece which is the Rolex Explorer 1. I personally feel that the new Santos competes in the same space as the Explorer 1. Both are around the same price range, wears extremely well on most wrists, both have small and bigger size models (36 and 39mm for the Explorer 1), versatile for most if not all occasions (looks good on leather and bracelet), both are 100m water resistant and to me they are both tough and durable pieces which can accompany you through life adventures. Personally I feel that the Santos look is more interesting than the Explorer 1. I used to own the 2015 Explorer 1 and I personally find its look boring after awhile. Therefore for folks who are considering getting a general all purpose daily watch , do take a look at the new Cartier Santos. You might be pleasantly surprised!
Sharing some shots of this lovely piece below.
About the Cartier Santos Ref. Santos100
The Cartier Santos 100 was introduced in 2004 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original Santos-Dumont watch. It represents a contemporary interpretation of the historic pilot's watch, featuring a larger and more robust case design compared to its predecessors. This model positioned itself as a sportier, more modern offering within the Santos collection, appealing to collectors seeking a bolder presence on the wrist while retaining the iconic square aesthetic.
The Santos 100 typically features a stainless steel or precious metal case, often with a brushed finish and polished bezel screws. Case dimensions vary, but common sizes include a large model around 51mm x 41mm. It is powered by an automatic mechanical movement, often a modified ETA caliber, providing reliable timekeeping. The crystal is usually sapphire, and water resistance is generally rated for daily wear.
For collectors, the Santos 100 is notable for its blend of heritage design with modern proportions and construction. It marked a significant update to the Santos line, moving towards a more substantial and contemporary aesthetic. Its robust build and versatile design made it a popular choice, bridging the gap between Cartier's dressier offerings and more overtly sporty watches.
Specifications
- Caliber
- ETA 2892-A2 (modified)
- Case
- Stainless steel
- Diameter
- 51.1mm x 41.3mm
- Dial
- Silver
- Water Resist.
- 100 meters
- Crystal
- Sapphire
