Santos de Cartier Appreciation Thread

[thewolfofmiddlesex]

IMG_20230703_081908.jpg

[Benzsiam]

After I wear this smoky green for a week, I really love it. I think it looks better and classier than the bright green. It will shows more green when pair it with green strap.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

After I wear this smoky green for a week, I really love it. I think it looks better and classier than the bright green. It will shows more green when pair it with green strap.

Post some more with it!

[Benzsiam]

I have one picture when pair with green strap, sorry for the dirty watch (a lot of finger print).

[CNY]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

I have the Carree and its my favorite watch ever

Originally Posted by Shmoopy

I recently had Cartier restore this. I actually am wearing it far more than I thought I would. It was my dad’s daily, so it means the world to me.

Funny enough, this watch gets by far the most comments/compliments of my entire collection. I believe most in this shape were quartz, but this one is automatic. I know my dad purchased it through a friends AD in Hong Kong in the 80s.

Cheers - those are absolutely fantastic. I almost snagged a 2319 grey dial SIHH limited, but it sold while I started down the rabbit hole

Maybe it's time to beg Cartier to do a NSO...

[Spartan2009]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

I have one picture when pair with green strap, sorry for the dirty watch (a lot of finger print).

Congratulations. Got to see this beauty at the Cartier boutique this past weekend. I was originally leaning towards the two tone large Santos. Now I think this will be the Cartier that I will add to my collection.

[Benzsiam]

Originally Posted by Spartan2009

Congratulations. Got to see this beauty at the Cartier boutique this past weekend. I was originally leaning towards the two tone large Santos. Now I think this will be the Cartier that I will add to my collection.

Thanks and hope you get one soon.

[Shmoopy]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Love it! How long did Carter take to restore? What did they charge to restore and lastly what exactly did they restore?

Thanks! I originally wanted to just add a couple links to it. I went to numerous Cartier stores trying to find them. This was before I joined TRF. I sweet-talked Cartier Beverly Hills into giving me one with my sob story about it being my father’s watch.

I installed it and it was still too tight. Cartier BH didn’t have a second one, and warned me that it would be very difficult to find another one.

For the next several years, I would pop into Cartier stores around the world trying to find a link. It got to a point where I asked one location (I think it was Cannes, but can’t remember) for it, and they told me to give me a day they would ask corporate. Corporate apparently told them to tell me that they don’t have any for sale, and they are aware of my efforts to try to obtain one by visiting shops around the globe. Lol.

Fast forward to me establishing a relationship with a Rolex AD who sold Cartier. I decided to have the watch restored. They sent it to Geneva, and I got the first estimate, which mentioned servicing as the only requirement, with lots of optional stuff like refinishing dial, new bezel, new bracelet and new crystal.

There was a note that they were offering me a substantial discount on a new bracelet, as my rep had told them that I was the guy going around the world asking for links lol. (With this “geste commercial” the bracelet was around $1,400.)

I approved all the work except for the new bezel, as the bezel alone was around $1,900.

I got the watch back and it looked spectacular, except for this scratched, janky and polished-down bezel. I looked at my SA (who was the manager as well) and she just shook her head at me, knowing that I was about to send it back to have the bezel changed.

I’m glad I did, even if Cartier corp wants to smother me in my sleep. All in, it was around $3,800

Sorry for making y’all read this novel!

Here’s a pic of mine with my mom’s. Hers is also automatic, purchased at the Cartier store in the lobby of the Intercontinental in Paris in the early 80’s.

Funny enough, both of my uncles on different sides of the family also wore Santos, but the square one. My brother inherited one of them, but he is not into watches. I’m going to work on that one next.



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[Dino944]

Originally Posted by Shmoopy

Thanks! I originally wanted to just add a couple links to it. I went to numerous Cartier stores trying to find them. This was before I joined TRF. I sweet-talked Cartier Beverly Hills into giving me one with my sob story about it being my father’s watch.

I installed it and it was still too tight. Cartier BH didn’t have a second one, and warned me that it would be very difficult to find another one.

For the next several years, I would pop into Cartier stores around the world trying to find a link. It got to a point where I asked one location (I think it was Cannes, but can’t remember) for it, and they told me to give me a day they would ask corporate. Corporate apparently told them to tell me that they don’t have any for sale, and they are aware of my efforts to try to obtain one by visiting shops around the globe. Lol.

Fast forward to me establishing a relationship with a Rolex AD who sold Cartier. I decided to have the watch restored. They sent it to Geneva, and I got the first estimate, which mentioned servicing as the only requirement, with lots of optional stuff like refinishing dial, new bezel, new bracelet and new crystal.

There was a note that they were offering me a substantial discount on a new bracelet, as my rep had told them that I was the guy going around the world asking for links lol. (With this “geste commercial” the bracelet was around $1,400.)

I approved all the work except for the new bezel, as the bezel alone was around $1,900.

I got the watch back and it looked spectacular, except for this scratched, janky and polished-down bezel. I looked at my SA (who was the manager as well) and she just shook her head at me, knowing that I was about to send it back to have the bezel changed.

I’m glad I did, even if Cartier corp wants to smother me in my sleep. All in, it was around $3,800

Sorry for making y’all read this novel!

Here’s a pic of mine with my mom’s. Hers is also automatic, purchased at the Cartier store in the lobby of the Intercontinental in Paris in the early 80’s.

Funny enough, both of my uncles on different sides of the family also wore Santos, but the square one. My brother inherited one of them, but he is not into watches. I’m going to work on that one next.



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Great story! I love that Cartier was aware that you are going around the world looking for extra bracelet links!

So glad to see that you saved both a piece of your family's watch history.

[buddenfan]

Just got this in yesterday. Limited to 2,000 pcs made in 2000 for SIHH

[buddenfan]

His and Her’s from my dealer

[Shmoopy]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Just got this in yesterday. Limited to 2,000 pcs made in 2000 for SIHH

Looks great. Congratulations!


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[CNY]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Just got this in yesterday. Limited to 2,000 pcs made in 2000 for SIHH

So you're the one that beat me to that listing! I was wondering if it would pop up here...

Looks absolutely fantastic - mind sharing a wrist / lume shot?

[CNY]

Originally Posted by Shmoopy

Thanks! I originally wanted to just add a couple links to it. I went to numerous Cartier stores trying to find them. This was before I joined TRF. I sweet-talked Cartier Beverly Hills into giving me one with my sob story about it being my father’s watch.

I installed it and it was still too tight. Cartier BH didn’t have a second one, and warned me that it would be very difficult to find another one.

For the next several years, I would pop into Cartier stores around the world trying to find a link. It got to a point where I asked one location (I think it was Cannes, but can’t remember) for it, and they told me to give me a day they would ask corporate. Corporate apparently told them to tell me that they don’t have any for sale, and they are aware of my efforts to try to obtain one by visiting shops around the globe. Lol.

Fast forward to me establishing a relationship with a Rolex AD who sold Cartier. I decided to have the watch restored. They sent it to Geneva, and I got the first estimate, which mentioned servicing as the only requirement, with lots of optional stuff like refinishing dial, new bezel, new bracelet and new crystal.

There was a note that they were offering me a substantial discount on a new bracelet, as my rep had told them that I was the guy going around the world asking for links lol. (With this “geste commercial” the bracelet was around $1,400.)

I approved all the work except for the new bezel, as the bezel alone was around $1,900.

I got the watch back and it looked spectacular, except for this scratched, janky and polished-down bezel. I looked at my SA (who was the manager as well) and she just shook her head at me, knowing that I was about to send it back to have the bezel changed.

I’m glad I did, even if Cartier corp wants to smother me in my sleep. All in, it was around $3,800

Sorry for making y’all read this novel!

Here’s a pic of mine with my mom’s. Hers is also automatic, purchased at the Cartier store in the lobby of the Intercontinental in Paris in the early 80’s.

Funny enough, both of my uncles on different sides of the family also wore Santos, but the square one. My brother inherited one of them, but he is not into watches. I’m going to work on that one next.

Stories like that are what make the hobby fun :thumbsup. I went through a similar journey for my father's IWC, except we never ended up finding a bracelet replacement.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by CNY

So you're the one that beat me to that listing! I was wondering if it would pop up here...

Looks absolutely fantastic - mind sharing a wrist / lume shot?

The one from Chrono24 in Taiwan? Ended up getting it from the guy for 7k and not paying Chrono fees haha. Finessed the situation

[huncho]

Originally Posted by Shmoopy

Thanks! I originally wanted to just add a couple links to it. I went to numerous Cartier stores trying to find them. This was before I joined TRF. I sweet-talked Cartier Beverly Hills into giving me one with my sob story about it being my father’s watch.

I installed it and it was still too tight. Cartier BH didn’t have a second one, and warned me that it would be very difficult to find another one.

For the next several years, I would pop into Cartier stores around the world trying to find a link. It got to a point where I asked one location (I think it was Cannes, but can’t remember) for it, and they told me to give me a day they would ask corporate. Corporate apparently told them to tell me that they don’t have any for sale, and they are aware of my efforts to try to obtain one by visiting shops around the globe. Lol.

Fast forward to me establishing a relationship with a Rolex AD who sold Cartier. I decided to have the watch restored. They sent it to Geneva, and I got the first estimate, which mentioned servicing as the only requirement, with lots of optional stuff like refinishing dial, new bezel, new bracelet and new crystal.

There was a note that they were offering me a substantial discount on a new bracelet, as my rep had told them that I was the guy going around the world asking for links lol. (With this “geste commercial” the bracelet was around $1,400.)

I approved all the work except for the new bezel, as the bezel alone was around $1,900.

I got the watch back and it looked spectacular, except for this scratched, janky and polished-down bezel. I looked at my SA (who was the manager as well) and she just shook her head at me, knowing that I was about to send it back to have the bezel changed.

I’m glad I did, even if Cartier corp wants to smother me in my sleep. All in, it was around $3,800

Sorry for making y’all read this novel!

Here’s a pic of mine with my mom’s. Hers is also automatic, purchased at the Cartier store in the lobby of the Intercontinental in Paris in the early 80’s.

Funny enough, both of my uncles on different sides of the family also wore Santos, but the square one. My brother inherited one of them, but he is not into watches. I’m going to work on that one next.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

this is really cool. so cartier is still able to provide new bracelets for vintage models?

[huncho]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

The one from Chrono24 in Taiwan? Ended up getting it from the guy for 7k and not paying Chrono fees haha. Finessed the situation

the proportions on these are so perfect. i also picked up a 2961 recently to see how it wears and if i like it, although it's not as mint as yours as you can tell the bracelets been polished at some point. the fit is perfect though and i reached out to the dealer telling them to let me know if they find a mint one and i'll gladly upgrade

they also had a near mint full gold one which was sold and waiting for the customer to pick it up. amazing watch in person and heavy as hell, definitely wanna get one eventually but i would like prices to come down a bit first. i believe it was sold for low 20s

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by huncho

the proportions on these are so perfect. i also picked up a 2961 recently to see how it wears and if i like it, although it's not as mint as yours as you can tell the bracelets been polished at some point. the fit is perfect though and i reached out to the dealer telling them to let me know if they find a mint one and i'll gladly upgrade

they also had a near mint full gold one which was sold and waiting for the customer to pick it up. amazing watch in person and heavy as hell, definitely wanna get one eventually but i would like prices to come down a bit first. i believe it was sold for low 20s

Agreed on proportions! My favorite iterations of the Santos. That gold carree is my grail. Im waiting to find it in near mint condition. I am also contemplating getting the super rare ice blue dial

[CNY]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

The one from Chrono24 in Taiwan? Ended up getting it from the guy for 7k and not paying Chrono fees haha. Finessed the situation

Ha- yeah that guy. That’s 29mm wide, right? Fits great.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by CNY

Ha- yeah that guy. That’s 29mm wide, right? Fits great.

Yep 29mm old school size but my preferred Santos size.

I sent him a photo on chrono24 with my email and IG handle so that we can negotiate outside of Chrono and not pay their crazy fees

[CNY]

Smart move. I’m now debating that exact piece and a 36mm Royal Oak.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by CNY

Smart move. I’m now debating that exact piece and a 36mm Royal Oak.

Honestly I was never a fan of the Royal Oaks. I’d take this rare Galbee, a gold Carree and two tone Carree anyday

[buddenfan]

Anyone know why the middle Eastern santos green dial with arabic numerals is fetching for double what the US version is going for?

[Dino944]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Anyone know why the middle Eastern santos green dial with arabic numerals is fetching for double what the US version is going for?

I thought that was a limited edition. While what is being sold in the US is a standard production model.

[dajark]

[IMG][/IMG]

I love this thread. Picked this up a few weeks ago and paired it with the blue rubber strap.

[7sins]

Put the new green santos on the cartier black rubber strap, absolutely love it and incredibly comfortable. Highly recommend for anyone looking to make their Santos a bit sportier.

[Dino944]

Originally Posted by 7sins

Put the new green santos on the cartier black rubber strap, absolutely love it and incredibly comfortable. Highly recommend for anyone looking to make their Santos a bit sportier.

It's a great option, especially in the summer. I bought the same rubber strap for my blue dial Santos and it's fantastic. It looks great and is very comfortable.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by 7sins

Put the new green santos on the cartier black rubber strap, absolutely love it and incredibly comfortable. Highly recommend for anyone looking to make their Santos a bit sportier.

Was that black rubber band an option instead of a green alligator?

[wisemenofgotham]

Picked up the Santos Large to go along with my 18k rose gold Tank Americaine Large, waiting on a few straps:

[rjd1]

Originally Posted by 7sins

Put the new green santos on the cartier black rubber strap, absolutely love it and incredibly comfortable. Highly recommend for anyone looking to make their Santos a bit sportier.

I just did the exact same thing - loving it!