Cartier is known for extremely high standards, both as a watchmaker and a jeweller, but it also enjoys a well-deserved reputation for whimsy.
Whether it is a ferociously bejewelled animal, or a watch that looks like it has been mangled in a car crash, Cartier likes to tickle us. And so it is with the Santos Dumont Rewind, a red-dialled watch that tells the time in reverse.
At first glance it looks like a regular Santos Dumont, but on closer inspection things aren’t quite as you expect. In the standard 10-past-10 shot you can see that the hands are flipped and everything is the wrong way around.
The mind-bending backwardness extends to the manual-winding movement, which must be wound, yes you’ve guessed it, in reverse.
This reversal of time is available in a limited edition of 200 pieces, with a platinum case and red leather strap. For those who prefer their time told the normal way around, there are new regular-handed versions of the Santos Dumont with lacquer dials.
They are offered in platinum, rose gold and yellow gold, with hand-polished lacquered dials and bezels in either olive green, taupe grey or peacock blue.
Cartier Santos-Dumont Rewind
Ref. WGSA0102 is limited to 200 pieces
Reverse-geared 230 MC hand-wound movement
Platinum case 31.5mm diameter, 43.5mm lug to lug.
Strap: leather
Price: POA
Limited to 200 pieces
Cartier Santos-Dumont Cartier
Ref: WGSA0096 (platinum)
Ref: WGSA0098 (rose gold)
Ref: WGSA0097(yellow gold)
Cartier 430 MC hand-wound
Case: 31.5mm diameter, 43.5mm lug to lug.
Strap: leather
Price: POA
Each limited to 200 pieces
There is also a new Santos de Cartier Dual Time, with a second time zone in a small dial at 6 o’clock. It is available with either a metal bracelet or a leather strap. They are easily swapped out with the patented QuickSwitch system, while the metal bracelet can be adjusted with Cartier’s SmartLink system.
Cartier Santos de Cartier Dual Time
Movement: Automatic
Functions: Second hour indicator, day/night indicator
Case: steel 40.2 x 47.5mm
Water-resistant to 100m
Strap: Steel bracelet and anthracite alligator leather strap
Price: POA
Those who prefer the more sparkly end of the French maison’s offering will not be disappointed. The Reflection de Cartier follows a long list of pieces that have perfectly blurred the lines between the brand’s watch and jewellery wings. The gold bracelet opens to reveal a small dial hidden where the two sides meet. As the bracelet is opened and closed, the other side shows a reflection of the dial, therefore showing it the wrong way around. So it seems Cartier has a thing for time going backwards. The Reflection de Cartier is available in five versions: yellow gold or rose gold; fully diamond-set white gold; and two further white gold models set with a range of coloured stones.
Reflection de Cartier
Movement: quartz
Functions: hours and minutes
Price: POA
