Cartier Santos Octagon 2966 'Spider Dial'

The Cartier Santos was designed in 1904 by Louis Cartier for his good friend, Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian aviation pioneer. At that time, most watches, especially pocket watches, were round in shape. However, the Cartier Santos broke with this tradition through a bold design: a square case with visible screws in the bezel. About 70 years later, these two design features would be combined by Gérald Genta in the iconic Royal Oak.

For watch enthusiasts, the name Gérald Genta is undoubtedly familiar. Genta, a legendary Swiss watchmaker from the 20th century, was not only a jeweler but also an art lover. He is associated with some of the most successful watches of all time, such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. The most recognizable feature of his designs is the octagonal bezel with visible screws.

In the late 1980s, Cartier revised the Santos model and introduced a new version with an octagonal case and a matching bezel with screws. This was presumably a nod to the Royal Oak. The Cartier Santos Octagon was released in three variants: all steel, all gold, and, like this beautiful example, in gold/steel. The Cartier Santos Octagon 2966 is the second variant of the Santos Carrée 2961, which we know as the square model. 

The vintage Cartier Santos Octagon 2966 we have here is in stunning condition! The 29 mm case is sharp, making all curves and angles perfectly visible. The watch features the well-known white dial with Roman hour markers. Characteristically, the dial of this Cartier Santos Octagon is coated with a special lacquer, causing some examples to show craquelé and create a spider web effect, also known as a spider dial among watch collectors. The spider web effect is certainly not distracting and subtly stands out from different angles. A cool appearance! 

Of course, this vintage Octagon features its blue hands and the famous blue cabochon on the winding crown. The integrated steel bracelet with gold screws, which shows no stretch, is in great condition. The clasp is adorned with the Cartier logo, making this watch also wearable as a beautiful piece of jewelry. 

The automatic Cartier 2671 movement has recently undergone a full service by our watchmaker. This vintage Cartier Santos Octagon 2966 with spider dial comes with a 24-month warranty on the movement.

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What you need to know:
- Cartier Santos Octagon 2966
- Swiss Only dial, spider dial
- 29 mm case in perfect condition
- Integrated Cartier bracelet without stretch, with logo on the clasp
- Automatic movement, recently serviced
- 24 months warranty on the movement
- Free insured shipping within the EU

Cartier

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

Cartier is primarily known for its jewelry, but it also has a very rich history in watchmaking. In 1888, Cartier began making ladies' wristwatches. At that time, it was more common for men to choose the traditional pocket watch. Louis Cartier gave a good Brazilian friend, Santos Dumont, an aviation pioneer, a watch to wear during flights because he complained about the impracticality of using 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 case of the Santos was apparently inspired by a square pocket watch that Cartier had made. The design of the dial signals a shift towards the Art Deco style that would define the 1920s and 30s. To this day, Cartier's design is influenced by this. The case was designed to be robust, and the screws that held the glass in place were meant to resemble the legs of the new Eiffel Tower. The black Roman numerals also suggest the radial design of the streets and wide boulevards of Paris.