The Watch
As the story goes, in 1904, Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont complained to friend Louis Cartier about the unreliability and impracticality of using a pocket watch while flying. Cartier designed a flat wristwatch with a square bezel and the watch eventually caught on with other customers. When the Santos-Dumont watch hit shelves in 1911, it was offered in a variety of platinum and yellow gold models with a movement from Jaeger inside.
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In 1987, the Santos was completely revised, renamed, and relaunched as the Santos Galbée. The case lost its boxy looks and became more curved around the lugs, fitting better on the wrist than the original Santos.
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This particular Galbée is the reference 987901. It boasts a wonderful cream matte dial with silver applied Roman numerals. The Dial has aged beautifully with a lovely warm patina. The Watch did have a trip back to the Cartier Service centre at some stage in its life as the Cartier sticker is still on the back.
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Accompanied by the Original Box.
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The Specs
Age: c.1990s.
Reference: 987901.
Movement: Quartz. With Date at 6.
Timekeeping: Keeping Excellent time.
Service History: Cartier Service, Date Unknown.
Dial: Original Cream Matte Dial with Silver Applied Roman Numerals.
Case: Stainless Steel.
Case Size: 29mm. 41mm End of Lug to Lug.
Timekeeping: Keeping Excellent time.
Service History: Cartier Service, Date Unknown.
Dial: Original Cream Matte Dial with Silver Applied Roman Numerals.
Case: Stainless Steel.
Case Size: 29mm. 41mm End of Lug to Lug.
Bezel: Solid.
Water Resistant?: No. Not Tested.
Hands: Cartier Blued-Steel Handset.
Crystal: Original Sapphire Crystal.
Crown: Cartier Crown Set with a Cabochon.
Strap/Bracelet: On its Original Cartier Steel Bracelet. Fits approx 7.1in Wrist, with no spare links.
Hands: Cartier Blued-Steel Handset.
Crystal: Original Sapphire Crystal.
Crown: Cartier Crown Set with a Cabochon.
Strap/Bracelet: On its Original Cartier Steel Bracelet. Fits approx 7.1in Wrist, with no spare links.
Box and Papers: Box Only.
Getting Acquainted
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Bits that stand out:
- Beautifully Aged Cream Matte Dial.
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Bits that stand out:
- Beautifully Aged Cream Matte Dial.
- Superb Quality.
- Previous Cartier Service.
-Hacking Centre Seconds.
- Cabochon Crown.
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Nitty Gritty:
- Some minor age related markings to the Case.
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Nitty Gritty:
- Some minor age related markings to the Case.
-Markings throughout the Bezel.
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Overall the Santos is in very good pre-owned condition.
The Case has probably been expertly refinished by Cartier.
The Bezel has markings throughout. We can give this a light polish at your request, however as some like them left alone we will leave it up to you.
The Crown is very good.
Crystal is in very good shape.
The Dial is an absolute winner, beautifully aged.
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Photographed on a 7in Wrist.
Photographed on a 7in Wrist.