Watch of the Week: Santos de Cartier Skeleton

Earlier this year Cartier had quite a few surprises for us in store: not only did they release an updated version of the Santos de Cartier, but they also introduced a skeleton version which was not only available in pink gold but also in stainless steel.

Over the last few years, skeleton watches have become a complication typical of Cartier. With the bridges reshaped as Roman numerals they fit seemingly into the DNA of the brand, yet gives them at the same time a technical edge, as you can see all the moving parts beneath them. The result is stylish, yet not overly classic, hitting just the right note for what many people are looking for in a high-end wrist watch these days.

The stainless steel and the pink gold version feature an identical design, yet couldn’t be further apart from each other in terms of character. The pink gold Santos de Cartier Skeleton looks very precious. The brushed finish on the bracelet and most of the case is highlighted by the polished screws and bezel. Cartier prevented a gold overkill by applying a rhodium finish on the top bridge of the skeleton movement. This not only improves legibility but also balances the design out, preventing that it becomes too much of a good thing.

The stainless steel version of the Santos de Cartier Skeleton is a different animal altogether. It has more of a technical look, despite that it shared the same brushed and polished surfaces as its pink gold sibling. For this model, Cartier kept the top bridge as it is, which works perfectly as legibility is ensured by the beautiful blued sword hands.

Both watches come not only with the “SmartLink” resizing system, which allows you to make the bracelet fitting yourself at home, but also the “QuickSwitch” interchangeability strap system. On a strap, both watches take on a completely different look, depending on the color and material of the straps chosen. It increases the versatility of them, which is, especially for the steel version, already quite high. It also highlights Cartier’s eye for detail, which offers an added value that many watch enthusiasts will be keen to acknowledge.