Arguably one of the most iconic timepieces ever, the Cartier Santos Dumont 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 Dumont 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 using his pocket watch while simultaneously trying to control his plane. Following on from that first timepiece, the Santos Dumont has grown to become a signature piece within Cartier’s iconic catalog, with it serving as the perfect canvas for Cartier to create limited edition variants that pay respect to a particular source of inspiration, with this example, the ref. WGSA0086 paying homage to the Middle East. A limited edition of just 200 pieces, the ref. WGSA0086 features an XL version of the Santos Dumont’s case that is made entirely of platinum – in keeping with the Islamic teachings that restrict Muslim men from wearing gold. Furthermore, it also features a silver sunburst dial with blue Hindu-Arabic numerals that feature prominently against their backdrop and match the timepiece’s blued steel handset. Finally, an amethyst cabochon in its winding crown serves as a delightful pop of contrast against the silver and blue colors throughout its design thanks to its purple color – a noticeable change from the red ruby cabochons that Cartier typically uses in their platinum models.

Imbued with Cartier's iconic design and its own heritage as the world's first tool watch, the Santos Dumont is important as the timepiece that set the entire industry as we know it today into motion. A limited-edition example of just 200 pieces, this variant tastefully pays homage to the Middle East through its platinum construction and tasteful use of Eastern-Arabic numerals.