Bokey TimeThe Santos de Cartier from Cartier is widely regarded as one of the earliest true wristwatches in the world, with over a century of history.
In 1904, Cartier introduced a watch designed to be worn on the wrist, created for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont and named after him. This marked the origin of the Santos watch. At the time, most “wristwatches” were simply pocket watches adapted to the wrist, with the crown still positioned at 12 o’clock.
The Santos, however, introduced a groundbreaking design by placing the crown at 3 o’clock and setting a natural spinel on the crown, whose deep blue glow has continued to captivate wearers ever since.
The modern upgraded version presented here features an enhanced quick-release strap system introduced in 2018. It allows strap removal and installation without any tools—simply press lightly by hand, making it highly convenient and a patented innovation.
It comes in a 40mm case size, powered by a SW200 automatic movement, and is equipped with sapphire crystal glass. It is considered both an excellent gift option and a refined everyday timepiece suitable for personal use.
