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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Santos Galbée wristwatch

Cartier Santos de Cartier Galbée

Partially verified

This Santos de Cartier Galbée wristwatch, dating to the 1990s, features a 24 mm stainless steel case. The design is characterized by its curved profile and visible screws on both the bezel and the integrated bracelet. The dial is white with Roman numerals, a chemin-de-fer minute track, and blued sword-shaped hands. The watch is powered by a quartz movement. A crown set with a sapphire cabochon completes the design. This specific version belongs to the Santos collection, a line originally developed in 1904 for the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. The watch is presented as a piece that combines the historical design elements of the Santos collection with the convenience of a modern quartz movement.

Front view of the Cartier Santos de Cartier Galbée showing the white dial with Roman numerals and the steel bracelet.
Front view of the Cartier Santos de Cartier Galbée showing the white dial with Roman numerals and the steel bracelet. — Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Wristwatch · Santos Galbée wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Cartier
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1990s
Source-reported place
France

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial Design

The Cartier Santos de Cartier Galbée is constructed with a 24 mm stainless steel case designed to follow the curvature of the wrist, a feature denoted by the "Galbée" designation. The exterior is defined by the recurring use of visible screw heads positioned on the square bezel and throughout the links of the integrated steel bracelet.

The dial is finished in white and includes printed Roman numeral hour markers. It incorporates a chemin-de-fer minute track around the periphery and is equipped with blued sword-shaped hands. A crown set with a sapphire cabochon is located on the right side of the case.

Evidence for this section
  • “بدنه ۲۴ میلی‌متری آن از فولاد ضد زنگ ساخته شده”
  • “پروفیل منحنی «گالبه» به خوبی روی مچ دست می‌نشیند”
  • “پیچ‌های نمایان و دستبند یکپارچه”
  • “صفحه ساعت کاملاً کارتیر است؛ سفید و ظریف، با اعداد رومی، مسیر دقیقه‌شمار «شمن-دو-فر» و عقربه‌های شمشیر شکل آبی‌رنگ”

Movement and Functionality

The watch operates using a quartz movement. This choice of power source is intended to provide ease of use for the wearer in daily settings. The design intent of the Santos collection, dating back to 1904, was to allow aviators to read the time without needing to remove their hands from flight controls, a function maintained by the high-contrast dial layout.

Despite the shift from the original manual-wind historical precursors, the quartz-powered Galbée retains the aesthetic language of the Santos line.

Evidence for this section
  • “این ساعت با یک موتور کوارتز قابل اعتماد کار می‌کند که راحتی استفاده روزمره را فراهم می‌آورد”
  • “سانتوس گالبه به عنوان ساعتی توصیف شده که با کت و شلوار، پلیور کشمیر یا حتی یک تی‌شرت ساده به خوبی هماهنگ می‌شود”
  • “این مدل در سال ۱۹۰۴ برای هوانورد برزیلی، آلبرتو سانتوس-دومونت، طراحی شد”

History and Attribution

The Santos series is attributed to the design work of Louis Cartier, who developed the initial concept for the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. The model is categorized as one of the early men's wristwatches created for a specific purpose. This particular example is identified as a neo-vintage piece from the 1990s.

The documentation provided by the source situates the watch within the broader Cartier Santos legacy, highlighting its evolution from an aviation instrument to a standard luxury timepiece.

Evidence for this section
  • “این مدل در سال ۱۹۰۴ برای هوانورد برزیلی، آلبرتو سانتوس-دومونت، طراحی شد”
  • “این مدل خاص، سانتوس گالبه (Galbée) است که به دهه ۱۹۹۰ تعلق دارد”
  • “کارتیر سانتوس گالبه با حفظ اصالت خود، همچنان به عنوان یکی از مهم‌ترین و پایدارترین طراحی‌ها در دنیای ساعت‌سازی شناخته می‌شود”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement caliber used in this Santos Galbée?
  • Can the production year be narrowed down further than the 1990s using the case back serial number?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Cartier Santos de Cartier Galbée
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerCartier“برند: Cartier”
ModelSantos de Cartier Galbée“مدل: Santos de Cartier Galbée”
Case materialStainless steel“جنس بدنه: فولاد ضد زنگ”
Case diameter24 mm“قطر بدنه: ۲۴ میلی‌متر”
Movement typeQuartz“نوع موتور: کوارتز”
Date range1990s“دوره زمانی: دهه ۱۹۹۰”
CrownSapphire cabochon set“تاج با نگین یاقوت کبود”

Visible details

  • Case and bracelet feature prominent visible screws
  • Crown is fitted with a blue sapphire cabochon
  • The white dial displays Roman numerals
  • Integrated stainless steel bracelet with curved links

Research qualifications

  • Specific production year within the 1990s is not verified
  • Exact movement caliber is not specified in the source

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

ساعت مچی Cartier Santos de Cartier Galbée

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record c0d9562cc8

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.