Cartier Santos Octagon

Buy a vintage Cartier Santos Octagon

The story of the Santos begins in 1904: Louis Cartier designed a wristwatch for the aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont that he could read in flight without taking his hands off the controls. In 1978 Cartier relaunched the Santos in steel and in steel with gold, with the visible screws on the bezel and bracelet. The Santos Octagon continues this line with an octagonal case and is today one of the most sought-after vintage models of the family.

SM or LM, for women or men

The SM is the smaller model and is mostly worn by women. The LM has more presence on the wrist and suits women and men alike. Not sure whether the bracelet will fit? Send us your wrist circumference and we will tell you before you buy whether it works.

Steel or steel with gold, quartz or automatic

The steel version looks sporty and understated. The bi-color variant, often called combi, combines steel with 18 karat gold on the bezel, screws and bracelet. This is the classic Santos look of the 1980s. With a quartz movement the watch runs accurately and only needs a new battery every few years. The automatic is mechanical and winds itself through the movement of your wrist, and is more sought after among collectors.

Inspected, serviced, shipped insured

Our certified watchmaker checks every Santos Octagon for authenticity, takes it apart, cleans and services it. You receive a certificate of authenticity and a one year warranty. Insured worldwide shipping. Would you like to see the watch first? Our showroom in Offenburg is open by appointment.

Also from the Santos family: Cartier Santos Galbée. You can find all models under Cartier Santos.

Frequently asked questions about the Santos Octagon

Is the Santos Octagon a ladies or a men's watch?

Both. The SM is mostly worn by women, the LM suits women and men.

What does combi or bi-color mean?

Steel combined with elements in 18 karat gold, on the Santos mainly the bezel, screws and middle links of the bracelet.

Quartz or automatic, which is the better choice?

Quartz is more accurate and easier to maintain. The automatic is the mechanical, more classic variant and more sought after among collectors. Both are sold serviced by us.

How do I recognize a genuine Santos Octagon?

We explain the most important features in our guide How to spot a genuine vintage Cartier. Every watch from us is inspected by our certified watchmaker and comes with a certificate of authenticity.