CARTIER SANTOS: Of love, respect & genius.


Submitted by Miguel on Tue, 07/12/2011 - 21:40

 

Ever since high school, I adore the Cartier Santos . 

During those times, I am just fascinated with the design and the brand.

Few years later (6 Cartier Santos watches & 2 decades), I learned  not only to love, but value and respect "THE CARTIER SANTOS" watches. 

 

Behind the beautiful practicality of this watch is a poignant story of driven genius and unrequited love.

 

In Paris in 1904, Alberto Santos Dumont, a Brazilian aviation pioneer, relentless inventor, the toast of Paris at that time asked Louis Cartier about an alternative to the pocket watches- something that would solve the difficulty of checking his pocket watch to time his performance during flight and that would allow him to keep both hands on the controls.  

 

The result was a watch with a leather band and a small buckle, to be worn on the wrist.  The Cartier Santos-Dumont was born and from hereon was never to be taken off by the man till his death.

 

 

(my first Cartier Santos circa 90's)

 

 

(one of my latest, circa 2010)

 

Cartier succeeded in getting the essence of Santos Dumont with the Cartier Santos.

 

It is a no-nonsense design which speaks of the utilitarianism of the inventor/aviation pioneer.  The fact that Cartier has made no effort and had the screws a focal point of the design, speaks of its regard for functionality above all else.

 

The exactingness of the record breaking pilot was matched by the precision of the Santos watch which guided him from one record breaking flight to another.

 

Now the sad story….(KLEENEX please!!)

 

Alas, in his darker years, when besieged with a serious illness that kept him from doing what he loved most and with the despondency brought by the evils of the war he witnessed, his watch stood witness to Santos’ burning to flames of his papers, plans and notes on his inventions.

 

Santos Dumont took his life at the age of 59 in despondency over life. The Cartier Santos stayed until his last breath loyal not only to the man’s triumphs but to his melancholic fate of existential depression and a life-long of unrequited love.

 

The Cartier Santos Dumont inspite of its engineering excellence, and elegance is a watch without pretentions.  

 

For me, Cartier Santos is not a symbol of success, but a symbol of  passion for life.  

And like it did to its eponymous first master, my Cartier Santos will see me through.