Born from aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont’s request for a watch he could read without ever letting go of his flying controls, this silhouette is celebrated as one of the earliest purpose-built wristwatches. Its enduring design answers the collector who wants a dress watch with genuine historical significance and a character that remains unmistakably Cartier.

Presents itself in brand new condition with no signs of wear. Set against a satin-finished silvered surface, the sunray dial fans light outward from its center and drifts between warm and cool silver as the wrist turns. Woven from hundreds of tiny platinum links, the mesh bracelet drapes with a suppleness you rarely feel from a precious metal, moving almost like fabric across the wrist. Crowned by a ruby cabochon seated in a beaded platinum collar, the winding crown adds the single drop of color reserved for the platinum model.

Functions include hours and minutes. The beaded crown on the right side of the case winds the hand-wound movement when turned in its resting position. Pull the crown out one notch to set the hours and minutes, then return it to its resting position once the correct time is reached. Inside runs the ultra-thin manufacture calibre 430 MC, offering approximately 38 hours of power reserve, with the platinum case water resistant to 30 meters.

Comes as a full set, double-boxed with the outer box, inner presentation box, and Cartier warranty card.

Platinum sits at the very top of the Santos-Dumont family, the kind of quiet flex only the most seasoned eyes will catch across a room. For the collector who already owns the obvious icons and now wants the one almost nobody else is wearing, this is the Cartier that rewards a closer look.