Famed for a litany of iconic timepieces like the Tank, Santos, Pasha and others, French jeweler and watchmaker Cartier are time and time again at the forefront of horological design in some way, shape or form. With key tenets of their design, such as their use of Roman numerals forming the lynchpin of their timeless aesthetic, it is only fitting that Cartier decided to incorporate Roman numerals into the skeletonized variant of their contemporary Santos de Cartier ref. WHSA0028. Launched in 2018, the Santos de Cartier Skeleton provides a wonderfully unencumbered view of its manual-wind cal. 9611MC movement, with its bridges being formed out of the Roman numerals that double as the hour markers in its dial. Additionally, on the ref. WHSA0028, these Roman numerals are filled with green enamel to give the watch a bright burst of color, and to match its green jasper winding crown cabochon. An incredibly creative and wonderfully executed synthesis between a technique that isn't often associated with the brand and a key visual characteristic of the brand, the Santos de Cartier Skeleton is one of the finest skeletonized watches on the market today, all the while perfectly representing Cartier and their incredible climb up the horological ladder as they continue to challenge brands that were previously considered to be beyond their level with regards to raw horological skill.

An intelligent piece of watch design, the Santos de Cartier is an expertly executed timepiece that deserves the plaudits it has received in recent times.