Cartier Santos-Dumont Large Model Lacquered Case
The origins of this particular timepiece can be traced all the way back to the turn of the century, in 1904 when Mr. Louis Cartier himself made it one of the first wristwatches ever. Now over 120 years later the watches design remains timeless, as it continues to seem at place within modern stylings. At Wonders and Watches 2022 we were surprised by three new versions of the Cartier Santos-Dumont.The square shaped case measures in at 43.5mm (large model) with a solid caseback and is available in either stainless-steel, 18k rose gold, or platinum. But the peculiar thing here is that the case is finished in a colored lacquer that extends on to the dial portion. This is not a complete novelty, since Cartier had done a similar decoration before on some vintage Santos models.
Mounted to watch is a matching lacquered bezel with exposed screws. In essence these are all the classic traits of the Santos collection. But the addition of this lacquer finish further imbues it with a vintage aesthetic, while also coming across as a fresh new take.
They all come equipped with the iconic blue jewel studded setting-crown, but the bordeaux version mimics its dial hue to preserve a more consistent color scheme. All topped by a sapphire crystal that assists with water-resistance reaching up to 30 meters (98 feet).
Time is exhibited on a lacquered dial in either burgundy (platinium), champagne (gold) or black (steel) with Roman numerals, while circling around the flange is a railroad-motif minute track.
This lacquered coating has been imprinted with a concentric cube pattern, which pulls our gaze inward to the watches core center. A very interesting approach in design that further shines within a finely squared frame.
These three options manage to offer very distinct vibes. The black (steel) model with its monochromatic color scheme has a noir feel, while the burgundy (platinum) may come across as the most lively option, and the champagne (rose gold) keeps a tone-on-tone look. All models feature central sword shaped hands with a polished finish. 
Cartier Santos-Dumont Large Model Lacquered Case
The “Cartier Santos-Dumont Large Model Lacquered Case” (References not available yet) is powered by the in-house hand-wound, caliber 430 MC with 18 jewels, 131 components, and 21,600 vph. This is the Cartier-branded version of the Piaget 430P, which is also an ultra-thin hand-wound movement.
Mounted to these watches are scaled alligator leather straps, secured by a pin buckle. The steel model is regular production, while the platinum edition is limited to 150 pieces and the rose gold is limited to 250 pieces. These watches should become available in November, but for more up to date information visit the official Cartier website here.
