Cartier Santos de Cartier Large Model
Automatic, 47.5 by 39.8 millimetres, water resistant to 100 metres. Bracelet changed and shortened without tools. Most versions have no small seconds.
We buy Cartier Santos
Sell your Cartier Santos
You can sell your Cartier Santos to Reuven Watches in Utrecht. We buy every version: a Galbée with quartz, a Santos 100, a Santos 100 Chronograph or the current Santos de Cartier, in steel and in gold. Send a few photos and you will hear what we offer within 24 hours.
- Within 24 hoursseven days a week
- Discreet and confidentialno advert, no strangers at your door
- Shipped insuredat our expense, internationally too
You are not committed to anything. Your details stay confidential.
What is my Cartier Santos worth?
With a Santos two questions together give most of the answer: does it have quartz or an automatic, and is the case steel, steel and gold, or solid gold. Then come the size, the generation and the state of the bracelet. We assess every watch on its own, and within 24 hours you hear an offer without obligation, weekends included.
The Santos descends from a watch Louis Cartier made in 1904 for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont, an aviator who did not want to reach for a pocket watch while flying. It became one of the first watches intended for the wrist rather than the pocket. The square case with visible screws as we know it now dates from 1978.
Quartz or automatic makes the biggest difference
Many Santos watches from the eighties and nineties have a battery. The versions from 2018 onwards all have an automatic movement. On this model that difference decides a large part of the trade value, and it can be settled at a glance: hold the watch still by your ear and look at the seconds hand. If it ticks once a second, it is quartz. If it sweeps on in small steps, it is an automatic.
We can go ahead without box or papers
If you no longer have the box or the certificate, we still buy the watch; there is no minimum value and nothing is turned down in advance. With a Santos it is common for only the watch to be left, and for us that is no obstacle.
Versions
The Santos versions we see most
Under one name run four generations that look alike in a photo and yet sit far apart. Below are the six that reach us most, with the feature by which you can recognise them yourself.
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Cartier Santos de Cartier Medium Model
The same layout at 41.9 by 35.1 millimetres and slightly thinner. The size worn by men and women alike.
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Cartier Santos 100 XL
The large, angular generation with a thick bezel and pronounced crown guards. Automatic, and noticeably heavier than the Galbée.
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Cartier Santos 100 Chronograph
About 41 millimetres wide and 55 millimetres long, with three sub-dials and two pushers. The version we have had in stock ourselves.
See our Cartier -
Cartier Santos Galbée
A rounder case and curved lugs, usually with quartz. Often in steel and gold, with a gold bezel on a steel case.
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Cartier Santos-Dumont
The flat, slim version with a leather strap and no screws in the strap. A different watch from the ordinary Santos, however similar the name.
Over the years Cartier has used three kinds of number: four digits on the older watches, a W with digits and letters on the generation after that, and since 2018 numbers beginning with WSSA, WSTA or W2SA. We can read all three.
Reference numbers
Santos references we buy often
At Cartier the number is usually engraved on the back of the case, together with a serial number. On the older watches that is four digits, later a W with digits and letters, and since 2018 a code beginning with WSSA, WSTA or W2SA.
| Reference | Version | Period | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four-digit numbers | Santos, early generations | eighties and nineties | steel, steel and gold or gold, often quartz |
| W20011C4 and related | Santos Galbée | circa 1987 to 2005 | rounder case, curved lugs, quartz |
| W20073X8 | Santos 100 XL | circa 2004 to 2017 | large angular case, automatic |
| W20090X8 | Santos 100 XL Chronograph | circa 2004 to 2017 | about 41 by 55 mm, three sub-dials, calibre 8630 MC |
| W20072X7 and related | Santos 100, steel with gold | circa 2004 to 2017 | gold bezel on a steel case |
| WSSA0018 and WSSA0009 | Santos de Cartier Large Model | from 2018 | 47.5 by 39.8 mm, calibre 1847 MC |
| WSSA0029 and WSSA0010 | Santos de Cartier Medium Model | from 2018 | 41.9 by 35.1 mm, calibre 1847 MC |
| W2SA numbers | Santos-Dumont | from circa 2019 | flat case, leather strap, no screws in the strap |
| WSSA numbers in gold | Santos de Cartier in gold or two-tone | from 2018 | yellow or rose gold, or gold on steel |
Not finding your number here? We also buy the ladies' versions, the Santos Demoiselle, the Santos Octagon and the gold examples from the eighties.
Specifications
The Santos in specifications
The figures below come from Cartier itself and apply to the current generation, so the versions from 2018 onwards. On the Santos 100 and the Galbée the dimensions differ; that is noted line by line.
- At Cartier the reference number and the serial number are usually engraved on the back of the case. A photo with the light from the side makes that engraving legible; straight from above it disappears into the reflection.
- If you see a flat case with a leather strap and no screws in the strap, you probably have a Santos-Dumont rather than an ordinary Santos. Those are two different watches with two different markets.
- Case shape
- Square with rounded corners With eight visible screws on the bezel
- Case size, Large Model
- 47,5 at 39,8 mm The length includes the lugs
- Case size, Medium Model
- 41,9 at 35,1 mm The Santos 100 XL chronograph is about 41 by 55 mm
- Case thickness
- 9.38 mm Large Model, 8.83 mm Medium Model The Santos 100 Chronograph is over 14 mm thick
- Movement
- Calibre 1847 MC, automatic The Galbée usually has quartz, the Santos 100 an automatic
- Water resistance
- 100 metres on the current generation Considerably less on older versions
- Crown
- Seven-sided, with a faceted stone A blue stone on steel, a sapphire on the gold versions
- Bracelet
- Metal or leather, with screws in the links Since 2018 changed and shortened without tools
Use this table to work out which Santos you have. An offer does not follow from it: we make that on the individual watch, with it in hand.
Check it yourself
Four places you can check yourself
On the Santos the things that matter are, happily, visible from the outside. Take the watch in hand, stand by a window and go through these four.
The eight screws on the bezel
Check that the screw heads all sit at the same depth and that there are no burrs or slips around the slot. Scratches running outwards from the slot mean the wrong screwdriver has been used. Then check whether the screws in the bracelet look the same, because they should match the same version.
The crown and the stone in it
The crown is seven-sided and has a faceted stone in the middle. Check that the stone is still there, that it is not cracked and that its colour matches the case: blue on steel, a sapphire on the gold versions. A missing or loose stone is one of the few things on a Santos that is visibly absent.
Quartz or automatic
Hold the watch still and watch the seconds hand for half a minute. If it jumps once a second with a distinct tick, there is a battery in it. If it sweeps on in small steps, it is an automatic movement. On this model that difference matters more than on most other watches, and it is the first question we ask.
The hidden name in a Roman numeral
With a loupe, on many Cartiers the brand's name can be found in the side of one of the Roman numerals, usually in the VII or the X. It is a small engraving invisible to the naked eye. On older examples it is sometimes elsewhere or absent; if you do not see it, that on its own is therefore not yet a conclusion.
If you cannot capture all of this, no problem. Send what you can manage and write down what you noticed yourself; we will work out the rest.
Have your Santos assessedValuation
What sets the value of a Cartier Santos?
On this model two examples that look identical in a photo sometimes sit far apart, and that is more often down to the movement and the metal than to condition. The six points below are in order of how heavily they weigh.
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Quartz or automatic
A Galbée with a battery and a Santos de Cartier with an automatic are two different watches, however alike they look. On this model that is the weightiest point, and the quickest to establish yourself.
Impact on the value: Large
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The metal of case and bracelet
Steel, steel and gold, or solid gold. On the two-tone versions we look at how much gold there really is, because a gold bezel on a steel case is something other than a gold bracelet.
Impact on the value: Large
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The generation and the size
The Santos 100 from the centenary year, the Galbée and the versions from 2018 each have their own audience. Within the current generation the large or medium model makes a difference as well.
Impact on the value: Large
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The state of the screws and the bezel
On this model the finish is out in the open. Damaged screw heads and scratches on the bezel stand out, because that is where everyone looks first.
Impact on the value: Average
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The bracelet and the clasp
Stretch in the links, a clasp that no longer catches properly, or a leather strap that has dried out. On the versions from 2018 we also check whether the extra strap is still included.
Impact on the value: Average
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Box, certificate and service history
With a Santos it is common for only the watch to be left. That is no obstacle. If the red box with the certificate is included, it counts.
Impact on the value: Average
You will not find figures or guide prices here. With a brand offering so many versions in the same shape, a number on a web page would sooner mislead you than help.
Request a valuation
On a Santos the seconds hand and the screws tell you which generation it is, and whether it has been worked on with the wrong tool.
Side by side
Galbée, Santos 100 or Santos de Cartier?
Three generations, the same name and the same square shape. Even so they can be told apart without tools, and they need to be, because they are three markets.
| Santos Galbée | Santos 100 | Santos de Cartier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period | circa 1987 to 2005 | circa 2004 to 2017 | from 2018 |
| Movement | Usually quartz | automatic | Automatic, calibre 1847 MC |
| Shape of the case | Round and slim | Angular and heavy | Clean, with a flat edge |
| Water resistance | Limited | Around 100 metres | 100 metres |
| Change the strap | With a tool | With a tool | Without tools |
| How often we see it | The most common of the three | Regularly | Increasingly often |
Not sure which you have? Look at the thickness of the bezel and at the crown guards. The Galbée is slim and round, the Santos 100 angular and heavy, and the current generation sits between the two with a taut edge.
The market
How does the market for the Santos behave?
Four things that on the Santos make the difference between a sale settled quickly and one that lingers. We predict nothing about the market; this is what comes across our counter.
A flat battery is not a fault
On the quartz versions it often happens that the watch has lain in a drawer for years and has stopped. That does not necessarily say anything about the state of the movement. Do not leave the battery in when you send it, though, and say that it is flat; a battery that has started to leak does more damage than the years of standing still.
The screws are not decoration
The screws on the bezel and in the bracelet belong to the version and are not interchangeable. Anyone loosening them with an ordinary screwdriver leaves marks that cannot be buffed out. So do not turn them, not even to remove a link.
Santos and Santos-Dumont are two watches
The names sit close together and the markets do not. The Santos-Dumont is flat and slim, has a leather strap and no screws in the strap. The ordinary Santos is thicker, usually on a metal bracelet and with screws on show. Put the right name in your request and you get an answer about your own watch.
On two-tone it is about how much gold
Steel and gold occurs on the Santos in different proportions: a gold bezel only, or gold links in the bracelet as well, or gold screws. That makes a noticeable difference to the value. A photo of the whole bracelet in daylight is enough for it.
If you cannot work out where your watch belongs in this list, let us look at it. The offer carries no obligation, and we handle everything discreetly: there is no advert and no strangers at your door.
All about selling a CartierClient experiences
What clients say about us
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Arman Dzulakian 5 out of 5 starsHeel betrouwbare juwelier. Met de eigenaar afgesproken om mijn Rolex Submariner in te kopen. Heeft een goeie/eerlijke prijs voor gegeven.
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Benjamin IOLI 5 out of 5 starsThe watch is in great condition, as described. Communication was good and easy. Delivery in France was fast and perfect. You can trust them. I will buy again
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Arnoud Stigter 5 out of 5 starsAls je vertrouwd een horloge wilt kopen of verkopen is dit echt een aanrader. Ontspannen, eerlijk en enthousiast
A selection of three of the 50 Google reviews, quoted word for word.
All versions
Which Santos do you want to sell?
We buy every Cartier Santos, from a Galbée with a flat battery to a Santos de Cartier in gold. For each version we look at the movement, at the metal and at the state of the screws and the bracelet. If the red box with the certificate is still there, keep it to hand.
Sell your Cartier Santos 100
The Santos 100 arrived in 2004 for the centenary and is the large, angular generation with a thick bezel and heavy crown guards. It ran until around 2017. If you want to sell a Cartier Santos 100, the first things we ask about are the size and the metal, because this generation comes in steel, in steel and gold and in gold, and in sizes from around thirty-five to well over forty millimetres.
Sell your Cartier Santos Galbée
The Galbée is the rounder, slimmer generation made from 1987 to around 2005, usually with a battery and often in steel and gold. To sell a Santos Galbée it does not matter that it has stopped: on a quartz watch of this age that is normal. Do have the battery taken out before you send it.
Sell your Santos de Cartier
The current generation arrived in 2018 and has, in every version, an automatic movement, water resistance to a hundred metres and a bracelet that can be changed and shortened without tools. When selling a Santos de Cartier we ask whether it is the Large Model or the Medium Model and whether the extra strap is still with it.
Sell your Cartier Santos Chronograph
The chronograph within the Santos 100 is about forty-one millimetres wide and fifty-five millimetres long, with three sub-dials and two pushers beside the crown. If you want to sell a Cartier Santos Chronograph, we check that it starts, stops and resets to zero cleanly and that the pushers are not seized.
Sell your gold Cartier Santos
The Santos comes in yellow gold, in rose gold and in steel and gold, and on the two-tone versions the gold is sometimes only in the bezel and sometimes in the links as well. To sell a gold Cartier Santos we weigh the watch and look at the proportions, but we bid on the watch and not on the gold weight.
Sell your Cartier Santos-Dumont
The Santos-Dumont is the flat, slim version with a leather strap and no screws in the strap, back in the catalogue as a fixture since about 2019. To sell a Santos-Dumont the first question is whether it has quartz or a hand-wound movement, because both were made and they sit in different markets.
Sell your ladies' Cartier Santos
There are Santos versions in smaller sizes, with quartz or with an automatic, and sometimes with brilliants on the bezel. If you want to sell a ladies' Cartier Santos, do say whether it has stones and whether they came from Cartier itself, because that is a difference we take into account.
Sell your vintage Cartier Santos
The versions from the eighties often have a four-digit number on the caseback and a smaller case than the later generations. To sell a vintage Cartier Santos we look at the dial, because at this age that is the part most often replaced. Just say so if you know; it is not a rejection.
Also searched for
- Sell your Cartier Santos
- Sell your Cartier Santos 100
- Sell your Cartier Santos Galbée
- Sell your Santos de Cartier
- Sell your Cartier Santos XL
- Sell your Cartier Santos Chronograph
- Sell your Cartier Santos-Dumont
- Sell your gold Cartier Santos
- Sell your two-tone Cartier Santos
- Sell your ladies Cartier Santos
- Sell your vintage Cartier Santos
- Cartier Santos valuation
- What is my Cartier Santos worth
- Sell your Cartier Santos without papers
- Sell Cartier in Utrecht
Frequently asked questions
Questions about selling a Santos
What is my Cartier Santos worth?
That depends mainly on two things: whether it has quartz or an automatic, and whether the case is steel, steel and gold, or gold. Then come the generation, the size and the state of the bracelet.
We do not add a guide price, because under one name run four generations with four different markets. Send a few photos and you will hear what we offer within 24 hours.
How do I know whether my Santos is quartz or automatic?
Watch the seconds hand for half a minute. If it jumps once a second with a distinct tick, there is a battery in it. If it sweeps on in small steps, it is an automatic movement.
If you are unsure, send a few seconds of video along. That is enough to settle it.
My Santos has stopped. Will you still buy it?
Yes. On the quartz versions a stopped watch is usually nothing more than a flat battery, and on a watch that has lain in a drawer for years that is normal.
Do have the battery taken out before you send it, or say that it is still in there. A battery that has started to leak does more damage than the stopping itself.
Where do I find the number on my Santos?
Engraved on the back of the case. On the older watches that is four digits, later a W with digits and letters, and since 2018 a code beginning with WSSA, WSTA or W2SA.
Take that photo with the light from the side rather than straight from above, or the engraving disappears into the reflection.
Do I have a Santos or a Santos-Dumont?
Look at the strap and at the thickness. The Santos-Dumont is flat and slim, sits on a leather strap and has no screws in the strap.
The ordinary Santos is thicker, usually sits on a metal bracelet and has screws in the links. They are two different watches, so put the right name in your request.
The stone in the crown is loose. Is that a problem?
It is something we see often and it is no reason for us not to buy. Just say so and send a photo of it.
If the stone is missing or cracked we say what that means for the offer. Do not tinker with it yourself; the crown is attached to the movement.
I only have the watch, no box and no certificate. Is that all right?
That is fine. Any brand, any condition, and we set no lower limit.
With a Santos it is the rule rather than the exception that only the watch is left. If the red box is included it counts, and so does a service receipt.
How soon do I get an offer on my Santos?
Usually the same day and in any case within 24 hours, Saturdays and Sundays included.
After that you decide. You may set the offer alongside others and turn it down; the watch simply stays yours.
Assessed by
Beni Reuben
Owner and valuer at Reuven Watches
With a Cartier, Beni Reuben starts with the stones and with the movement. On a Santos that means the faceted stone in the crown and the seconds hand: together those two say which generation it is. Then come the screws, because they show whether anyone has been at it with the wrong tool.
Ten years in the watch trade
More about Reuven WatchesPublished
Last updated
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Is there more in the safe? We buy these models, with or without papers, and always in confidence.
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The link bracelet and the round domed case
including the ladies' versions with stones
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Love, Juste un Clou and Trinity
bracelets and rings, with or without a certificate
All models
Further reading
More than one watch to part with?
- All Cartier
Sell your Cartier
Every model of the brand, with the process from request to payment. - All brands
Sell a watch
Any brand and any condition, faulty included, with no minimum. - Questions
Frequently asked questions
What happens after your request, and how shipping works. - About us
Who Reuven Watches are
Utrecht, since 2019, rated 4.8 out of 5 across 50 Google reviews.
No obligation
Curious what we would offer for your Santos?
Send photos of the dial, of the back with the number, and of the crown, plus a few seconds of video if you are unsure about the movement. Within 24 hours you will hear what we offer.
You are not committed to anything. Your details stay confidential.