Replica Cartier Santos-Dumont – Limited Editions – W&W 2022
Four new, limited Cartiers with engraved lids were created to recall the aircraft designed by Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. replica watches uk
Alberto Santos-Dumont – born in Brazil to a wealthy family of coffee growers – expressed an interest in science from his childhood. He was absorbed in the subject of internal combustion engines,
and then aircraft. He designed quite a few of the latter, and it was they that served as the names and decorative element of the caseback of the new line of limited Cartier watches. These models will complement the Santos-Dumont XL base line with manually wound calibers, unveiled just a month ago.
Replica Cartier Santos-Dumont “Le Brésil”
The watch takes its name from the first balloon designed by Santos. This balloon – described by the author as “the smallest” and “beautiful”
– was created in 1898 and then it made its first flight. Now it is engraved on the case back of the model ref. WGSA0034. Le Brésil received a brushed silver-plated dial with polished Roman numerals serving as hourly indices and Cartier’s trademark.
The watch case is made of platinum and measures 43.5 x 31.4 mm. A manually wound cassette is inside it, which will power the entire series – 430 MC. In fact, it is the Piaget 430P movement
(Replica Cartier and Piaget are connected by the same owner – the Richemont group),
which is distinguished by a thickness of 2.1 mm,
which translates into a small thickness of the entire watch – 7.3 mm. Werk is clocked at 3Hz and guarantees a reserve of 38 hours. The Cartier Santos-Dumont “Le Brésil” will be built in the number of 100 copies and will be delivered to future owners on a gray alligator leather strap. One copy costs CHF 17,800 (~ PLN 77,000).
Cartier Santos-Dumont “La Baladeuse”
The second watch – “La Baladeuse” or “n ° 9” – recalls the motorized airship in which the Santos-Dumont crossed the skies of Paris in 1903. The small, single-seat “La Baladeuse” was intended for the personal use of its creator,
who wanted to demonstrate the usefulness of this type of equipment in urban spaces. “There will come a day when aircraft will transport tourists and business travelers,”
Santos-Dumont said at the time.
“La Baladeuse” is engraved on the screw-tight yellow gold case back. This time the watch received blued hands and a champagne dial with black Roman numerals printed on it. There will be 300 copies, each on a green alligator strap. The watch will cost 13,600 CHF (~ 59,000 PLN).
Cartier Santos-Dumont “n ° 14 bis”
In the “n ° 14 bis” flying machine,
often described as “compartmentalized kite”,
the fuselage pilot was connected to the rudder by cables. On October 23, 1906, Santos-Dumont won the Archdeacon Cup in “n ° 14 bis”. Then,
on November 12, he received the Aéro-Club award. Alberto thus became the first aviator to complete a flight at an altitude of 220 meters,
verified by an official organization.
In the “n ° 14 bis” model, Replica Cartier put on a gold bezel, screwed with screws to a steel, matte case. The composition is completed with an anthracite sunburst dial with white Roman numerals printed on it. The crown used to move the golden hands is decorated with a blue, synthetic spinel. There will be 500 copies of “n ° 14 bis” and it will certainly be the most accessible of all described in this article. One piece was priced at CHF 6,850 (~ PLN 29,700).
Replica Cartier Santos-Dumont “La Demoiselle”
Finally,
the icing on the cake – the “La Demoiselle” model limited to only 30 copies. Built in 1908, “La Demoiselle” went down in history as Santos-Dumont’s best proven flying machine and one of the first mass-produced aircraft.
This time the platinum case is slightly larger – 46.6 x 39.9 mm and 7.5 mm thick. Inside, under a sapphire crystal, there is an ecru-colored dial,
the central part of which is decorated with a pattern reminiscent of the weave of a Panama hat (an element of the outfit that very often accompanied Dumont). To indicate the time,
beautiful Breguet hands coupled with a crown with a ruby cabochon were used. The watch will be sold in a wooden box,
complete with two stripes (ecru and brown), a travel case and a set of cufflinks.
