Cartier Santos Dumont WSSA0046 - black lacquer

Maker: Cartier
Model: Santos Dumont in steel with black lacquer decoration
Reference: WSSA0046
Year: 2023 June
Dial: Black lacquer
Case Material: Steel with black lacquer painting on case
Dimensions: 43.5 x 31.4 mm diameter; thickness 7.3mm
Caliber: Manual caliber 430
Bracelet/Strap: original black alligator Cartier strap and Cartier signed steel pin buckle. Comes with green calf leather strap from Jones in Tokyo as well (pictured)
Lug Width: 17mm
Box/Papers: Full set with box, guarantee card, and papers. Comes with 7 year Cartier care warranty

The Cartier Santos Dumont is an iconic and historical important watch dating back to the early 20th century. It was named after Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian aviation pioneer who was a close friend of Louis Cartier, the founder of Cartier. In the early 1900s, Santos-Dumont had become frustrated with the inconvenient and impractical nature of pocket watches, which he found cumbersome to use while flying. He approached Louis Cartier and asked him to design a watch that he could easily read while flying. Louis Cartier rose to the challenge and in 1904, created the first wristwatch specifically designed for aviation. The watch featured a square face with large Roman numerals and a leather strap, making it easy to read and wear while flying. In 1911, Cartier released a redesigned version of the Santos, the Santos Dumont, which featured a smaller, more streamlined design and a metal bracelet. This version of the watch became even more popular and cemented its place as a classic and iconic timepiece.

This particular example is the sought after black lacquer Santos Dumont in steel, ref WSSA0046 which was introduced during Watches & Wonders in 2022. Although the steel was not strictly limited (the gold and platinum versions were limited) due to the difficulty producing the black lacquered coating on the case, Cartier was not able to deliver these watches until 2023. This particular example was bought new in June 2023 and is in virtually unworn condition. Encased in steel, the watch retains its roots as a tool watch with the inset screws on the surface of the case, while the black dial and crisp Roman numerals have become a hallmark of Cartier’s style. The case is definitely the star of the show with its beautiful black lacquer painted by hand. The dial of the WSSA0046 also bears an intricate pattern across the entire face, which provides an attractive visual depth to the surface of the watch.

Overall, this WSSA0046 Santos Dumont is in like new condition. The watch comes with its original black alligator strap by Cartier as well as its steel pin buckle. It was purchased in June 2023 from the Cartier Boutique in Tokyo, Japan. It comes as a full set with its box, guarantee card, and papers. It also comes with a Cartier Care warranty that is valid until June of 2031.

Ships from Japan.