Cartier Santos 100 Flying Tourbillon

The Cartier Santos 100 Flying Tourbillon is given a masculine contemporary approach, from its very stately size to the heavy-looking rose gold casing in the classic square “tank” look.

The modern reputation of Cartier is such that it is a brand more commonly associated with women jewelry or jeweled watches. However, with the newer Santos models, Cartier is hoping to move away from that misguided perception.

The movement on the Santos 100 Flying Tourbillon is the automatic Cartier Caliber 9452 MC, with 19 jewels that vibrates at 21,600 times per hour. Impressively, this movement comes with the Seal of Geneva, and is individually numbered. Fascinating to this model is the flying one-minute tourbillon complication with seconds indicated by the C-shaped tourbillon cage.

The rose gold casing is 46.5 x 54.9mm, with a height of 16.5mm. The face is made of sapphire crystal, and a transparent case back allows a view of the splendid movement within. Water resistance is to 30 meters. The characteristic Santos octagonal crown is present, as with the bezel secured with eight screws. The functions are hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds (on tourbillon cage).

The Cartier Santos 100 Flying Tourbillon slate-grey galvanic guilloche dial, with openwork sunray grid with black Roman numerals is completed with sword-shaped blue steel hands. The band is made of reptile skin, with a triple deployant adjustable buckle.