Cartier

A brief history of Cartier

Cartier’s watchmaking history is closely tied to design. The Santos story dates to 1904, when Louis Cartier created a wristwatch for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. The Tank followed in 1917, introducing another distinctive approach to case shape. These landmarks show how the house helped establish alternatives to the conventional round wristwatch.

That heritage gives pre-owned Cartier buyers a rich range of proportions and styles to consider. A familiar collection name can cover watches with different dimensions, movements and bracelets, so compare individual references. The appeal is often in how the whole design sits on the wrist, rather than in case width or a model name taken in isolation.

Choosing your Cartier

With a shaped watch, case width alone does not tell the whole story: length, thickness and bracelet or strap fit also affect comfort. Check the movement of the exact reference rather than assuming every watch in a collection is quartz or mechanical. Read our Cartier Santos versus Tank buying guide for practical advice on proportions, fit and comparing individual examples.

Questions before buying

For advice on condition, servicing and accompanying documents, read our pre-owned watch buying guide. We offer insured UK delivery; see our delivery and returns terms. Our 12-month mechanical warranty is subject to the full warranty terms; ask us about coverage for the particular watch.

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