Cartier Santos Carrée 2960 - Spider Dial 

Cartier is best known for its jewelry, but it also has a very rich history in watchmaking. Cartier began making wristwatches for women in 1888. At the time, men were more likely to choose the traditional pocket watch. In 1904, Louis Cartier gave a watch to his good Brazilian friend Santos Dumont, an aviation pioneer, to wear during flights, after he complained about how impractical it was to use a pocket watch while flying. The Cartier Santos-Dumont was not only the first watch for men, but also the first true pilot's watch.

The Cartier Santos Carrée 2960 we have here is in good condition, exactly as we like to see it. The steel case, together with the steel screw-down bezel, is still razor-sharp and appears unpolished, so all the original angles and curves are still perfectly visible. The watch measures 29 x 41 mm, the perfect mid-size for both men and women.

The watch has a classic, white, period-correct "Swiss Only" dial. A characteristic of these dials is that a particular lacquer coating was applied during production, causing some examples to develop craquelé and a spiderweb effect. Watch collectors also call this a Spider Dial . The spiderweb effect is certainly not distracting and can be seen from different angles, depending on how the light hits it. There is a small chip in the lacquer to the left of the date window. It is barely noticeable to the naked eye and certainly not distracting, but appears more visible in the photos due to their high resolution. We have consciously chosen to keep the original dial.

This vintage Cartier Santos Carrée 2960 also features the famous blue hands. And, of course, we mustn't forget the iconic blue cabochon crown.

The integrated steel Cartier bracelet is also still in good condition and shows no stretch for its age! With the Cartier logo on the folding clasp, this Santos Carrée 2960 also wears like a beautiful piece of jewelry.

The reliable automatic Cartier movement was recently serviced by our supplier. Ready to wear for many years to come! This Santos Carrée 2960 also comes with a 2-year warranty on the movement.

Would you like to view this watch in person, while enjoying a good cup of coffee? Click here to explore the options for booking an appointment.

What you need to know:
- Cartier Santos Carrée 2960
- Razor-sharp 29 x 41 mm steel case and bezel
- White ‘Swiss Only’ dial with craquelure
- Integrated steel Cartier bracelet with no stretch
- Movement recently serviced
- 2-year warranty on the movement
- Free insured shipping within the EU

Cartier

In 1847, Louis-François Cartier took over his master’s jewelry workshop. Over the years, his sons and grandsons inherited the family business. They opened stores in London and New York. In 1904, the Cartier brand was even named by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom as “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.” Cartier became so popular that royal warrants came in from all over the world. 

Cartier is best known for its jewelry, but it also has a very rich history in watchmaking. In 1888, Cartier began making women’s wristwatches. At the time, men were more accustomed to choosing the traditional pocket watch. In 1904, Louis Cartier gave a watch to a good Brazilian friend, aviation pioneer Santos Dumont, to wear during flights because he had complained about how impractical it was to use a pocket watch while flying. The Cartier Santos-Dumont was not only the first watch for men, but also the first true pilot’s watch.

The Santos case was apparently inspired by a square pocket watch that Cartier had made. The dial design heralds a shift toward the Art Deco style that would define the 1920s and 1930s. To this day, Cartier’s design is shaped by it. The case was designed to be robust, and the screws securing the glass were intended to evoke the legs of the new Eiffel Tower. The black Roman numerals also suggest the radial design of Paris’s streets and wide boulevards.