Why look for an alternative to the Cartier Santos?

Developed in 1904 especially for the "father of aviation" Alberto Santos-Dumont, the Cartier Santos wristwatch is a real icon among pilot's watches. There is hardly a watch collector who does not wish to be able to call one of these special luxury watches their own. All Santos de Cartier models are in high demand, which often leads to poor availability and sometimes makes it difficult to get hold of the watch in the preferred version. This - and the high price of the Cartier Santos pilot's watch - explains why many watch lovers go in search of alternative models. This article first profiles the Cartier Santos watches and then focuses on alternative models that can hold their own against the Cartier timepiece.

The most important things in brief

This article covers the following topics in detail:

• Design features of the Cartier Santos : The design of the Cartier Santos, which is sometimes made of stainless steel and gold, is characterized by a square case, Roman numerals and visible screws on the bezel.

• Selection criteria for alternatives : When purchasing alternative models, design similarities are particularly interesting, but also the quality of the movement and the price-performance ratio.

• Popular alternative models : Several brands produce watches that are reminiscent of the Cartier Santos in terms of design and functions. Examples include the TAG Heuer Monaco , the Tetra model from Nomos Glashütte and the DolceVita ladies' watch from Longines .

The History of the Santos de Cartier

The Cartier Santos was designed at the beginning of the 20th century by none other than the jeweler and Cartier heir Louis Cartier. His mission was to create a pilot's watch that was easy to read without the pilot having to take his hand off the controls. At that time, almost exclusively pocket watches were produced, which, in the eyes of aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, did not fully meet the demands of aviation. So Louis Cartier thought of something new: he made a case with corners, to which two curved lugs were attached at the top and bottom. These provided attachment points for a leather strap so that the watch could be worn comfortably on the wrist. This is how the Cartier Santos was created as one of the first wristwatches in the world, which Alberto Santos-Dumont accompanied into the cockpit when he set his flight record in 1907 and was mass-produced from 1911.

Over the course of the more than 100-year history of the Santos Cartier, its appearance has changed slightly from time to time. Since 1978, the Cartier de Santos, which was named after Alberto Santos-Dumont by Louis Cartier, has been a permanent fixture in the Cartier range. The last reissue of the icon of the watch industry took place in 2018 and brings with it the unmistakable charm and touch of history that has always been characteristic of the Cartier Santos models. Regardless of the exact reference, every Santos de Cartier pilot's watch functions as an authentic, historic homage to great pilots and the achievements of aviation.

Key features of the Cartier Santos

The history behind every Cartier Santos model alone makes the watches something very special. But their design is also quite unique and therefore definitely worth a closer look. When you see the Cartier Santos for the first time, one design feature immediately stands out: the shape of the case. The case is not round, as was usual for pocket watches of the time, but has a precisely cut, rectangular shape. Also not to be overlooked are the visible screws placed around the dial, which make the watch for pilots stand out from the crowd to this day. The design is rounded off by classic-looking Roman numerals that stand out in strong contrast to the dial.

As part of the Santos collection, Cartier offers models made of stainless steel, white gold and yellow gold, as well as some bicolor versions for men and women . In some references, the case is adorned with exquisite diamonds, other models combine stainless steel or gold with a leather strap in an extravagant color or play with the color design of the dials. In any case, Cartier always succeeds in giving the luxury watches an undeniable elegance that makes both the vintage models and the more modern versions into thoroughly chic pieces of jewelry.

On a technical level, a lot has happened over the decades-long history of the Cartier de Santos. While the watches used to be powered by a Jaeger movement, newer references house a quartz caliber or a mechanical movement with automatic winding. Overall, the Cartier Santos collection is now divided into five product lines, which we would like to introduce briefly:

Santos de Cartier Galbée

The Santos de Cartier Galbée has the square case that is typically associated with Cartier Santos watches and is delicately shaped with diameters of 24 or 29 millimeters. Available in stainless steel, gold and with diamonds, the charming Santos de Cartier Galbée impresses with neatly placed decorative screws, the characteristic Roman numerals and a comparatively low price.

Cartier Santos 100

Cartier celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Santos luxury watches in style with the release of the Cartier Santos 100 series. Its expansive size makes it a model that is more likely to be chosen by men than women, while the other design features - from the screws to the case shape to the Roman numerals - are retained. The product range includes some highlights, such as the Santos 100 XL Tourbillon with a powerful in-house caliber, and also works with modern materials such as carbon and titanium.

Cartier Santos-Dumont

Anyone who wants a reference with an unmistakable resemblance to the "original Cartier Santos" by Alberto Santos-Dumont is well advised to choose a watch from the Cartier Santos-Dumont line. The traditionally designed timepieces are similar to the first Cartier Santos pilot's watch in many respects, only the placement of the railway minute track is different.

Cartier Santos Skeleton

With the Cartier Santos Skeleton, all eyes are on the hand-wound caliber 9612 MC, which can be admired barrier-free thanks to the skeletonization. Watch enthusiasts who love technical sophistication will get their money's worth with such a model, which is sometimes available in an iced-out version.

Cartier Santos Demoiselle

The Demoiselle airplane, built by Alberto Santos-Dumont, gives this product range for women its melodious name. The Demoiselle watches measure 24 or 28.5 millimeters in diameter, so they are very comfortable to wear even on narrow wrists. Delicate lines, a finely crafted case and the classic characteristics of the Santos collection make the Cartier Santos Demoiselle the ideal watch for women with sophisticated style.

Anyone who thinks that the Cartier Santos is only available with a square case shape is seriously mistaken. The two versions, Santos Rondo and Santos Octagon, demonstrate the versatility of the iconic pilot's watch in terms of design and offer alternatives for all those who don't like the models with four corners.

Selection criteria for a Cartier Santos alternative

If you want to look at various watch manufacturers for alternatives to the Cartier Santos by Louis Cartier, it is a good idea to think about some useful selection criteria beforehand. First and foremost, a wristwatch that you choose as an alternative to the Santos de Cartier should, of course, be similar in design to the original model. To do this, you should ask yourself which design features you particularly like about the Cartier Santos. Is it the shape of the case, the visible screws or perhaps the Roman numerals? The watch you are considering should definitely have the features that are particularly important to you personally.

The quality of the inner workings also plays a role. Watches from Cartier are characterized by high-quality, reliable calibers, which contribute a great deal to the high quality of the timepieces. It is therefore essential to be clear about your personal expectations in this regard and to take a close look at the (automatic) calibers of the alternative watches. It is also advisable to consider which materials you prefer. Do you specifically want a gold watch, would you prefer a stainless steel model or does the timepiece perhaps have to be equipped with a leather strap? All of these previously defined criteria make it easier to find the perfect Cartier Santos wristwatch alternative.

Popular models and manufacturers as alternatives

Below we will look at some popular alternative models to the Santos de Cartier or Cartier Santos and discuss their key features and characteristics:

Alternatives from Cartier: Panthère and Tank

Loyal fans of the Cartier brand may find it difficult to get used to an alternative model from another manufacturer. Fortunately, Cartier itself offers a number of products that could be considered as a replacement for the Cartier Santos. Firstly, there is the Panthère model, which is available from €3,950 and has a square bezel, decorative screws and Roman numerals on the plain white dial. Secondly, the Tank shape watch is worth a closer look. It has an Art Deco design reminiscent of the Cartier Santos, with the dial set in a rectangular case and prices starting at €3,550 according to the list.

Bauhaus meets elegant discretion: The Nomos Tetra

If you are looking for a straightforward, modern design, the Nomos Tetra will suit your personal taste. The watch with its square stainless steel case and comfortable leather strap comes with either a white dial or a dial in trendy pastel shades. The splash-proof model, which can be personalized with an engraving, costs €1,900.

Square Modernity: The TAG Heuer Monaco

The TAG Heuer Monaco presents itself as a highly functional alternative to the Cartier Santos. The square case frames a sporty dial that displays the chronograph function and a date. The automatic wristwatch, which could be described as a sports version of the Santos de Cartier, is made of either stainless steel or titanium and costs at least €7,600 depending on the reference.

Affordable and stylish: The Casio Vintage

A Casio vintage watch makes the hearts of price-conscious retro fans beat faster. The square case shape immediately brings back memories of the Cartier Santos, but the style of the watches is much more restrained and straightforward. The simple models, which are available with both analogue and digital time displays, are available from just under €40 and are therefore an interesting Cartier Santos watch alternative for people who can forego luxury and the quality that goes with it in favour of a real bargain.

Aviator flair for women: The Longines DolceVita

With their rectangular case shape, Roman numerals and combination of stainless steel and leather strap, the DolceVita watches from Longines are in no way dissimilar to the Cartier Santos. The watches, some of which attract attention with colorful dials and straps, are equipped with quartz movements and are available for a price of €1,550.

performance and investment potential

In the past, Cartier Santos watches have shown themselves to be extremely stable in value across almost all references. This makes them interesting objects for investors who primarily want to use the watches as an investment. The enduring value of the Cartier icon certainly sets them apart from some alternatives. If you want to use a watch as an investment, you would logically go for the Cartier original rather than the cheap retro Casio. The name Cartier alone is a promising feature for investors, because Cartier watches are known all over the world for their quality. With the Cartier Santos or Santos de Cartier models, there is of course the exciting story surrounding Louis Cartier and Alberto Santos-Dumont, which makes the watches even more attractive for pilots and any aviation enthusiast.

Care and maintenance of a high-quality wristwatch

A high-quality wristwatch like the Santos de Cartier needs to be looked after. Ultimately, it is the way it is maintained, stored and cared for that determines whether the watch remains in good condition for years and decades, which of course affects its value. To avoid scratches and other damage during storage, watches should always be stored on a soft surface. For watches with a mechanical automatic caliber, a watch winder is a good option, as it ensures that the timepiece does not stop even if it is not worn for a long time. Manually wound models, on the other hand, must be wound manually on a regular basis according to their power reserve.

Any dust deposits can be easily removed from the case and glass with a soft cloth. When caring for the strap, the material is particularly important. A leather strap benefits from being rubbed with a suitable leather care product from time to time, while metal straps can be wiped with a cloth and cleaned between the links with fine brushes or cotton swabs.

In addition to care at home, it is advisable to take expensive watches to a specialist at regular intervals. The specialist can professionally check the condition of the watch and repair any minor damage before it can cause major problems. This way, your favorite watch - whether it is a dress watch, diving watch or pilot's watch - will remain functional in the long term and can bring joy to its proud owner for as long as possible.

Where to buy Cartier Santos and its alternatives?

An expensive wristwatch like the Santos should only be purchased from reputable, reputable dealers and specialist shops. Suppliers who charge extremely low prices for supposedly original and perfectly preserved or even new luxury watches should be viewed with particular skepticism. After all, the world of watches is not free of fraudsters who want to make a lot of money by selling the odd fake watch from a major brand. It is therefore very important to choose a trustworthy supplier and to check the object of desire for its genuineness and authenticity. Ideally, you should choose to buy from a proven, reputable dealer who will carry out the authenticity check for the customer in a professional manner, provide guarantees and sell the watch including all important documents.

At HORANDO, all of this is a given. We make sure that every single watch is 100% authentic before we offer it for sale. So when our customers buy a Santos pilot's watch or an alternative variant from us, they can be completely confident that they are getting an original icon. This makes buying a watch a risk-free pleasure!

Conclusion and purchase recommendations

The Cartier Santos went down in history as one of the first wristwatches and the watch that was made for Alberto Santos-Dumont himself. The pilot's watch with its square case shape, characteristic decorative screws and railway minute track has long since achieved iconic status in the world of watches and is now worn in various men's and women's versions, including the Santos 100, Santos Rondo and Santos de Cartier Galbée. The search for a chic and dignified alternative leads through the ranges of various brands such as TAG Heuer, Longines and Nomos, but Cartier itself also has interesting alternative models in store with the Tank and Panthère models. In conclusion, however, it remains to be said: even the best alternative can only come close to the real Cartier Santos, but can never fully achieve its iconic uniqueness.