Cartier – The Engraved Santos-Dumont Limited Edition Watches

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This limited engraved series offers three special Santos-Dumont timepieces equipped with the Calibre 430 MC manual winding movement. The special attraction of each model from these limited edition collections is its unique case back, which is engraved with the original plans of Alberto Santos-Dumont, the inventor of flying machines that connected dreams and technology, man and sky.

The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch

The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch features platinum case, silvered dial decorated with 12 polished metallic Roman numerals, sword-shaped hands and a ruby on the winding crown. The sophistication of the polished or brushed finishes on the surfaces and bevel underlines its precious character. This model is available in a numbered limited edition of 100 pieces.

The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch: Large model, 43.5 x 31.4 mm, thickness: 7.3 mm; Platinum; Crown set with a ruby cabochon; Grey alligator leather strap; Limited and numbered edition of 100 pieces
The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch: Large model, 43.5 x 31.4 mm, thickness: 7.3 mm; Platinum; Crown set with a ruby cabochon; Grey alligator leather strap; Limited and numbered edition of 100 pieces

On the reverse is engraved the design of Santos-Dumont’s very first machine, “Le Brésil”, created in 1898 – “the smallest” and “the most beautiful”, according to the aviator.

The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch caseback

Its unveiling took place on 4 July 1898, after which a series of airships numbered 1 to 22 would emerge between 1898 and 1909, representing his many attempts to defy the laws of weightlessness.

The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch

The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch features yellow gold case, champagne dial, sapphire winding crown, blued sword-shaped hands and patinated green alligator-skin strap. This model is available in a numbered limited edition of 300 pieces.

The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch: Large model, 43.5 x 31.4 mm, thickness: 7.3 mm; 18K yellow gold; Crown set with a sapphire cabochon; Green alligator leather strap; Limited and numbered edition of 300 pieces
The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch: Large model, 43.5 x 31.4 mm, thickness: 7.3 mm; 18K yellow gold; Crown set with a sapphire cabochon; Green alligator leather strap; Limited and numbered edition of 300 pieces

On the back is engraved the profile of “La Baladeuse” or “n°9”, an experimental-looking motorised airship in which Santos-Dumont crossed the French capital’s sky in 1903.

The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch caseback

A small, bulging single-seater, “La Baladeuse” was intended for the personal use of its creator, who wished to demonstrate its usefulness in urban spaces.

The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch

The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch features yellow gold bezel on a steel case, anthracite grey dial, blue spinel winding crown and gilded steel sword-shaped hands. This model is available in a limited edition of 500 pieces.

The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch: Large model, 43.5 x 31.4 mm, thickness: 7.3 mm; 18K yellow gold and steel; Crown set with a blue synthetic spinel cabochon; Grey alligator leather strap; Limited edition of 500 pieces
The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch: Large model, 43.5 x 31.4 mm, thickness: 7.3 mm; 18K yellow gold and steel; Crown set with a blue synthetic spinel cabochon; Grey alligator leather strap; Limited edition of 500 pieces

On the case back, you can discover an engraving of “n°14 bis”. In this flying machine, often described as a ‘kite of compartments’, the pilot, standing in the fuselage, was connected to the rudder and fins by cables.

The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch caseback

On 23 October 1906, after a day full of pitfalls, the “n°14 bis” won the Archdeacon Cup. Then, on 12 November, it took the Aéro-Club award. Alberto thus became the first aviator to complete a flight of 220 metres verified by an official organisation.

Technical details

Case
– The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch: Platinum
– The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch: Yellow gold
– The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch: Steel case with yellow gold bezel
Dimensions: 43.5 x 31.4 mm
Thickness: 7.3 mm

Dial
– The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch: silvered dial
– The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch: champagne dial
– The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch: anthracite grey dial

Crown
– The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch: Crown set with a ruby cabochon
– The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch: Crown set with a sapphire cabochon
– The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch: Crown set with a blue synthetic spinel cabochon

Movement
Manual Winding 430 MC
Encasing diameter: 9 lines
Total dimensions: 20.5 mm
Thickness: 2.15 mm
Number of jewels: 18
Frequency: 21’600 vibrations/hour
Power reserve: 38 hours

Strap
Alligator leather strap

Limited edition
– The “Le Brésil” Santos-Dumont watch: 100 pieces
– The “La Baladeuse” Santos-Dumont watch: 300 pieces
– The “n°14 bis” Santos-Dumont watch: 500 pieces