Cartier Santos Dumont XL Hand-winding Ref. WSSA0032

Dress watches, especially smaller ones in gold, stand out on a bare forearm in summer, akin to stilettos on a vicar. They become a preferred choice for those who can wear them unconventionally. Cartier’s renowned watches, worn by figures like Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol, and Keith Richards, have a surprising history on less formal wrists.

The Santos, originally created in 1904 for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, had a square shape inspired by the Eiffel Tower. This innovative design allowed Santos-Dumont to check the time while flying. The Santos, considered one of the first men’s wristwatches, retained its original details but was recently enlarged to a modern XL size in steel, rose gold, or a combination of both.