Vintage Cartier Santos restoration

[Shmoopy]

Hi all,

Just wanted to share my vintage Cartier Santos that I recently had restored.

This was my father’s daily, and by far the watch in my collection that evokes the most emotion from me, as my father passed away several years ago.

I have always wanted to wear it, but I was having a very difficult time finding an additional two links for the bracelet. I was always popping into various Cartier boutiques around the world, trying to find links for it. Finally found one, but the watch was still too tight.

I then decided to restore the watch, but I passed on replacing the gold bezel. The watch came back looking so good with the new bracelet and crystal that I took one look at the dingy gold lunette and decided to send it back to be replaced.

Unfortunately I do not have any photos before I sent it in. It’s tiny given todays popular trends, but I am really enjoying it. I believe most of these were quartz movement, but this one is not. (Any Cartier historians/aficionados please feel free to chime in with additional info, I can’t find too much info on these octagonal Santos.)







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[AEC]

Wow, cool watch, and it turned out really great

[RW16610]

Wow, indeed! This was totally worth it and threads like these always make me happy. It's so nice to see a watch with a great history and story behind it brought back to exceptional condition.

You'll now enjoy this for many years to come.

[Shmoopy]

Thank you both!

[joli160]

That’s a good looking watch with a great story. Enjoy wearing it like your dad did

[MichelleP]

It looks great. Too bad you don't have before pics

[janice&fred]

Nice you got it properly fixed up and enjoy!

"You're a shmoopy!"

"No, you're a shmoopy!"

[Dino944]

Great watch and a cool story. I've only ever seen those octagonal Santos models with a quartz movement, so you have a very unusual version. Although, a little small by today's standards, with the case shape and lugs it still wears quite nicely on your wrist. Congrats and enjoy it.

[Shmoopy]

Originally Posted by janice&fred

Nice you got it properly fixed up and enjoy!

"You're a shmoopy!"

"No, you're a shmoopy!"

lol. I embrace the cringe of that moment.

Originally Posted by Dino944

Great watch and a cool story. I've only ever seen those octagonal Santos models with a quartz movement, so you have a very unusual version. Although, a little small by today's standards, with the case shape and lugs it still wears quite nicely on your wrist. Congrats and enjoy it.

Thank you. Interestingly enough, on the workorder , they referred to it as quartz, since that specific model is generally associated with the quartz movement.

I am really enjoying it.

Originally Posted by joli160

That’s a good looking watch with a great story. Enjoy wearing it like your dad did

Thanks so much, I certainly will.

Originally Posted by MichelleP

It looks great. Too bad you don't have before pics

Thank you. I may have some on a different hard drive. If I ever find them, I will post.

[SpoonyBard]

Just picked one up myself and thinking of getting it restored. May I ask the cost?

[Shmoopy]

Originally Posted by SpoonyBard

Just picked one up myself and thinking of getting it restored. May I ask the cost?

Congrats! I was all in for around $3,700-ish. This included a new bracelet, new gold bezel, movement overhaul, new crystal and dial refreshing.

The bezel was the most expensive part of it, at around 1,700 euros.

(I had it done through my Rolex AD in Europe, as the exchange rate was in my favor at the time.)

How about a pic or two of that badboy?

[enjoythemusic]

Looks great, dad is smiling...

[break]

Phenomenal, especially that dial. Wear it in good health.

[Benzsiam]

Wow, it's such a gorgeous Cartier!

What is the case size? 29mm?

[Slimpee]

Awesome! Your dad would be proud that you’re enjoying his watch!

Wear in good health and with great memories!

Is the dial enamel?

[Shmoopy]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Looks great, dad is smiling...

Thank you, Steven!

Originally Posted by break

Phenomenal, especially that dial. Wear it in good health.

Thanks so much. The dial is so nice. I'm not sure if it is enamel, but it sure looks like it, based on my experience with Breguet. I don't even know how to describe it. It has this sort of translucence, but still very rich, with a hint of blue sometimes.

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

Wow, it's such a gorgeous Cartier!

What is the case size? 29mm?

Thank you, Benzsiam. I am not sure on size, maybe 30mm? I will take a photo of it with another small watch I have later, for reference.

Originally Posted by Slimpee

Awesome! Your dad would be proud that you’re enjoying his watch!

Wear in good health and with great memories!

Is the dial enamel?

Thank you, Slimpee. I am not sure about the dial, but it does have the same sort of look that I have noticed on other enamel dials.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge on vintage Cartiers will chime in.

[Rolex tom]

Looks great, powered by the Cartier 076 (eta 2671). It's a robust little movement

[vdeara]

I just want to say I bought this watch with the intention of giving it to my wife (I already have a Carree Or Massif) but I was having trouble sizing it, since it was sized for a man. Long story short, I haven't been able to take it off my wrist. It's catapulted a bunch of watches in my collection, and quickly became one of my favorites. Ended up getting my wife a panthere, which is more her style anyway.
Enjoy yours, man. There's something so fucking classy about rocking a small watch, that I can't explain.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by vdeara

I just want to say I bought this watch with the intention of giving it to my wife (I already have a Carree Or Massif) but I was having trouble sizing it, since it was sized for a man. Long story short, I haven't been able to take it off my wrist. It's catapulted a bunch of watches in my collection, and quickly became one of my favorites. Ended up getting my wife a panthere, which is more her style anyway.
Enjoy yours, man. There's something so fucking classy about rocking a small watch, that I can't explain.

O man you also got an Or Masif!!! Its my favorite in my collection. Post a wristshot

[Shmoopy]

Originally Posted by vdeara

I just want to say I bought this watch with the intention of giving it to my wife (I already have a Carree Or Massif) but I was having trouble sizing it, since it was sized for a man. Long story short, I haven't been able to take it off my wrist. It's catapulted a bunch of watches in my collection, and quickly became one of my favorites. Ended up getting my wife a panthere, which is more her style anyway.
Enjoy yours, man. There's something so fucking classy about rocking a small watch, that I can't explain.

Right on! I get more comments and people stopping me to talk about that Santos than any other watch I own. (I don’t wear watches for comments from people, just making an observation.)

Post some pics of the Or Massif, they are amazing! I am considering one, I may need to reach out to buddenfan for advice…

Some more info I found out on mine. Cartier was apparently having tons of issues with those Santos bracelets and links, so they converted the problematic bracelets to a non-tapered replacement, as they did in my case.

My brother recently gave me our uncle’s Santos, as he is not really into watches and would rather I spend the money to fix it up versus him lol. Now I just need to find the right AD to have them send it in to Cartier.

(Unfortunately, my (store manager) SA left her job at a Rolex AD who sells Cartier, and I appear to be PNG’d there, so I am looking for somewhere new to start afresh. Ideally would
be a Rolex AD that sells Cartier…)




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[John Doyle]

That's a woman's watch... Looks amazing but not on a man's wrist...

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by Shmoopy

Right on! I get more comments and people stopping me to talk about that Santos than any other watch I own. (I don’t wear watches for comments from people, just making an observation.)

Post some pics of the Or Massif, they are amazing! I am considering one, I may need to reach out to buddenfan for advice…

Some more info I found out on mine. Cartier was apparently having tons of issues with those Santos bracelets and links, so they converted the problematic bracelets to a non-tapered replacement, as they did in my case.

My brother recently gave me our uncle’s Santos, as he is not really into watches and would rather I spend the money to fix it up versus him lol. Now I just need to find the right AD to have them send it in to Cartier.

(Unfortunately, my (store manager) SA left her job at a Rolex AD who sells Cartier, and I appear to be PNG’d there, so I am looking for somewhere new to start afresh. Ideally would
be a Rolex AD that sells Cartier…)




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My vintage Cartier dealer actually has a gold octogonal and Or Masif in stock right now. Took a screenshot for you

[LoanLOL]

I'm thinking of replacing the bracelet (first generation) on my Carrée.
What is your experience with the newer version ? I loved the thinness and the taper of the old one ... on other hand it definitely feels fragile.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by LoanLOL

I'm thinking of replacing the bracelet (first generation) on my Carrée.
What is your experience with the newer version ? I loved the thinness and the taper of the old one ... on other hand it definitely feels fragile.

Theres only one generation of Carree. The one after is the Galbee. Different look and feel

[BNA/LION]

Looks Great!

[LoanLOL]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Theres only one generation of Carree. The one after is the Galbee. Different look and feel

Yep but I'm referring to the bracelet here.
I believe there was 3 different bracelets depending on production date.

[thesultan57]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

My vintage Cartier dealer actually has a gold octogonal and Or Masif in stock right now. Took a screenshot for you

We’ve recently opened an old safe for the first time in over 20 years and found this Or Masif which belongs to my father which he thought he’d lost!

It needs a service as I can only set the date but the crown doesn’t go out all the way for the time.

The blue sapphire is also chipped, however I don’t mind this too much as I want to keep it as original as possible.

Could anyone please share their opinion on if we should polish the watch or not?

Will probably send to Cartier directly.

Would love it to be a little more ‘clean’ however I don’t want to reduce a tonne of value ( if that’s a thing ) or change the shape at all as I know gold is soft.

I also have no idea on its value ….

Appreciate any advice




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