As a customer, one of the most fascinating things to know is the process behind how the products and services that you buy came to be. There are even shows specifically for this purpose such as Discovery Channel’s How It’s Made, and some companies even let customers take behind the scenes peeks, using transparency as part of their marketing strategy.
Tapping on human’s innate curiosity and affinity towards novelty, perhaps this gave Cartier the idea to showcase to the world its proud tradition of fine watchmaking combined with innovative capabilities to stay relevant and modern. Done in the most bare and literal way—through the Cartier Santos de Cartier Skeleton.
Release Date and Price
Release Date: 2018
Price: US$26,800
Cartier needs no introduction. Having been in the industry for more than 170 years, the luxury brand jewelries and watches are some of the most coveted. French-origin Cartier made a name for itself as the brand of choice of royals, celebrities, and collectors. The Cartier Santos de Cartier Skeleton is the latest successor of the long-running Santos collection initially introduced in the 1970s. With its iconic silhouette improved with new design features and functionalities, the 2018 version is a jampacked watch that stays elegant and timeless. The best part? It retails at a reasonable price of US$ 26,800 for the stainless steel and US$ 63,500 for the pink gold.
Specifications
- Case: Stainless steel, 47.50mm by 39.80mm by 9.08 mm
- Bezel: Stainless steel
- Dial: Skeletonized, Roman numerals
- Water resistant: 10 bar
- Movement: Manual-winding
- Caliber: 9611 MC
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Wristband: Stainless steel, folding clasp
Pros
The Cartier Santos de Cartier Skeleton is a beautiful timepiece that excellently blends classic elegance with the brand’s flare for continuous groundbreaking artistry. If you want a watch that is easily unique-looking and packed with quality, this watch is for you. Featuring a black dial with manual-wind movement, operating the crown is easy and comfortable.
Equally beautiful is the Caliber 9611MC that powers the skeleton movement. A genius creation, it acts as bridges to form the discreet but large roman numerals. With this kind of a genius structure, you can definitely see the mechanical engineering behind watchmaking like no other.
Both versions of the Cartier Santos de Cartier Skeleton have metal bracelets adorned with SmartLink technology which enables you to wear the watch perfectly around your wrist. Moreover, you are given the freedom to choose because the model features a QuickSwitch system, allowing you to use the additional alligator strap with ease.
Cons
The Cartier Santos de Cartier Skeleton is indeed a genuine piece of beauty. However, its defining skeletonized style might not agree with everyone’s taste. While its overall look and feel can be flexible enough to be worn with casual shirt and jeans, the bezel with screws limit it from being paired well with formal wear.
Compare With
- Tudor Black Bay GMT ‘Pepsi-Cola’ Watch
- Cartier Santos Watch
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST Watch
- Piaget Polo S Stainless-Steel Watch
Featured image credit: Time+Time Watches
Image credit: Watch-Insider
