74 Cartier A highly unusual and very rare, Santos, automatic wristwatch in yellow and white gold, with diamond set bezel and bracelet.
Estimate: Fr. 10'000 – 20'000
- Model Santos
- Year Circa 1980s
- Reference 901
- Case Material 18K yellow, white gold and diamonds
- Case Number 02'986
- Bracelet Material 18K yellow, white gold and diamonds Cartier bracelet, approximate length 155mm
- Movement Automatic, 17 jewels
- Dimension 24mm width x 34.5mm length
- Signed Case, dial and movement
An object that challenges expectations at first glance, this Santos presents itself not merely as a watch, but as a deliberate reinterpretation of an icon. Rendered in a striking combination of yellow and white gold, the familiar geometry of the Santos is here softened and enriched through contrast and texture. The alternating links of the bracelet create a rhythmic interplay of tones, while the integration of diamonds, subtly set within both bezel and bracelet, introduces a discreet brilliance that reveals itself gradually rather than immediately. What distinguishes this example is precisely that balance: it resists excess. The diamonds do not dominate; instead, they punctuate the design, echoing the industrial screws that have long defined the Santos aesthetic. The dial remains faithful to tradition, with its Roman numerals and blued hands offering a sense of continuity amid the more elaborate exterior. Beneath, an automatic movement ensures practicality, reinforcing the idea that this is still, fundamentally, a watch conceived for daily wear, albeit in a far more elevated form. Unusual in both execution and intent, this piece belongs to a category of Santos models that explored the boundaries between sport, jewellery, and design. Such examples were produced in limited quantities, often for a clientele seeking individuality rather than convention. It is, ultimately, a Santos reimagined: a watch where contrast becomes its defining language, and rarity lies not only in its scarcity, but in its quietly confident departure from the expected.