The Cartier Santos has achieved a lot of “firsts” during its 121-year lifespan.
Making its debut in 1904 as the Santos Dumont, the watch was originally created for pilots, making it the consensus first pilot’s watch. And, since it’s still around today, it can also be considered the first iconic watch ever, as it predates other ancient icons that have also stood the test of time, such as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, Rolex Datejust and the Santos’s sibling, the Cartier Tank.
In 1978, the Santos took on the more familiar form we know today when it gained an integrated steel bracelet in place of its original leather strap, transforming into a more modern sports watch.
Now, in 2025, the Santos has once again undergone a revolution in order to keep up with the times, as Cartier has launched its OG icon in full bead-blasted titanium for the first time.
Toughen up
It’s hard to think of a Santos de Cartier in the watch’s century-plus history that’s looked nearly as sporty as this new titanium version. In fact, I’d go so far as to call this thing badass, which is not an adjective I ever expected to use to describe a Cartier watch.
The watch uses Grade 5 Extra Low Interstitial titanium, which Cartier says is 43 percent lighter and 1.5 times stronger than steel. The anthracite-colored alloy is used for both the “Large” 39.8mm × 9.3mm case and integrated bracelet of the Santos, both of which have been given a bead-blasted finish that’s highly uncommon for Cartier, a brand known just as much for its jewelry as its watches and one that tends to favor mirror-polished finishes.