Value Prop: 2960 Cartier Santos Automatique

Very recently, you will have seen here a quite rare empty grey dial Santos Carrée. That is something of an attainable grail to many. However, it is worth remembering that even Cartier’s ‘standard’ neo-vintage integrated steel offering deserves respect. More than respect. In fact, it is the very platform which saw Cartier watchmaking through a difficult era and one whose design is of French sensibilities to the very core. More over, these are not quite outrageously in demand yet. Read: attainable. And it looks like this? See the appeal I’m aiming toward here?

In the mid 70s, Cartier began to see the Santos line as a potential sporting alternative to the integrated Genta steel which was gaining mass popularity. So came the Santos de Cartier, will a full integrated steel bracelet. In 87, that trendy take evolved into the Galbée (French for ‘curved’ or ‘shapely’) with a more elegant and slender lug design. This look suited the Santos well, as the integrated Santos has become generally regarded as one of the house’s most important steps into the modern era. Though the majority of production have been quartz, a few references with automatic calibres have also see light. This is one of those. A reworked ETA, it is a basic platform powering a classic design. At 29x41mm, this integrated case is svelte and a wrist presence all its own.

This example is strong shape for its thirty decade life. The case is full, all brushed finishing visible. The bracelet is almost entirely unmarked, including clasp. The watch comes with a box or papers from a well-regarded English retailer.

Find this 2960 Santos here from Watches of Knightsbridge for 3500 GBP.