Arguably one of the most iconic timepieces ever, the Cartier Santos is the watch we must thank for the modern horology industry that we all know and love. Designed in 1904 as the first-ever pilot’s watch and thus the first-ever tool watch, the Cartier Santos has continued to push boundaries ever since it was strapped to the wrist of famous aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. As the story goes, Alberto asked Louis Cartier for a wristwatch that he could wear while flying as it would be so much more practical than his using his pocket watch while simultaneously trying to control his plane. Released as an homage to the early years of the Santos, the Cartier Santos Dumont 1913 ref. 2697 that we have here belongs to Cartier’s famed ‘Collection Privee Cartier Paris’. The CPCP, as it was known, began in 1998 as a coordinated effort from Cartier to move beyond the quartz-powered watches they had begun to be known for and expand their high-end mechanical offerings with a focus on fine-finishing, larger masculine designs and the brand’s heritage. As such, this ref. 2697 was released as a limited edition variant of the Santos Dumont with just 100 pieces and conforms to the strict standards the CPCP set for themselves in terms of its finely finished mechanical movement, beautifully constructed case and heritage-inspired design.

Watch is in near mint condition. Caseback has some light surface wear, however the case is otherwise beautiful and the French hallmarks are strong. Strap is not Cartier, but the watch retains its original deployant buckle.

A stunning exploration of the Cartier's designs of old, this Santos Dumont 1913 is a celebration of what came before it while also enabling Cartier to push their name further up the totem pole of horology thanks to the CPCP and its focus on watchmaking excellence.