Cartier Santos Galbée 1566 / Full Set / 1998

The Cartier Santos is derived from the Cartier Santos-Dumont, designed for Alberto Santos-Dumont. This watch was originally conceived by a legend in the watch industry, Alain-Dominique Perrin, Cartier’s CEO from 1975 to 1998. In 1978, under the leadership of Alain-Dominique Perrin, Cartier launched the gold-and-steel Santos. This watch featured an integrated bracelet instead of the traditional leather strap. Cartier also added 18K gold to the case and bracelet to give the watch an extra touch of luxury. The model was hugely popular in the 1980s. In 1987, the Santos was completely revised, renamed, and relaunched as the Santos Galbée. The case lost its robust appearance and gained more curved and rounded lugs, allowing it to fit the wrist better than the previous Santos.

We are known for sourcing Santos models only in perfect condition! This Cartier Santos Galbée 1566 makes us exceptionally happy, and we have never had one like it before! The case is razor-sharp and almost like new again, making all the original angles and lines perfectly visible. The case was completely refurbished and refinished/polished in 2024 by the professionals at Watches-Spa. And it shows! As if the watch has just come out of the boutique. Apart from a few light hairlines, the 18K gold bezel is also in perfect condition. The watch has a classic white/cream-colored dial, contributing to its timeless appeal. In addition, this stunning vintage Cartier Santos Galbée 1566 features the characteristic blue hands and a blue cabochon on the crown. The gold-and-steel bracelet, which remains in perfect condition for its age, features the Cartier logo on the clasp. This makes the watch not only a timeless classic, but also a beautiful piece of jewelry.

The reliable quartz movement with quick-set date function was inspected on 14 May 2026 at Watch Deluxe (WDL) in Budapest, an official Cartier service center. During the inspection, the battery was replaced, all gaskets were replaced, the bracelet and case were cleaned, the movement was checked, and the watch was tested again for water resistance up to 30 meters.

This vintage Cartier Santos Galbée 1566 comes as a full set, together with its original outer box bearing the watch’s correct serial number, the red Cartier box, instruction booklet, original papers confirming that the watch was delivered in Germany, a Cartier holder for the booklets and papers, a Watches-Spa card mentioning the polishing work, a printout, and payment receipts from the inspection at Watch Deluxe (WDL). Naturally, we will deliver this watch 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:
- Vintage Cartier Santos Galbée 1566 / W20011C4
- Razor-sharp case
- Polished by Watches-Spa
- Classic cream-colored dial
- Blue hands and cabochon
- Integrated Cartier bracelet in good condition
- Movement checked
- Supplied as a complete set
- 2-year warranty on the movement
- Free insured shipping

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 “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.” Cartier became so popular that royal warrants began arriving 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, it was more common for men to choose the traditional pocket watch. In 1904, Louis Cartier gave his good Brazilian friend Santos Dumont, an aviation pioneer, a watch to wear during his flights because 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 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 watch industry in the 1920s and 1930s. To this day, Cartier's design is shaped by it. The case was designed to be particularly 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 the streets and broad boulevards of Paris.