Cartier Santos Owner Review : Elegant, refined and solar

I wanted to add some color to my collection, and green has always appealed to me. I initially wanted to acquire an OP 41 with a Matte Green dial, but my Lyon-based second-hand dealer only offered me a 36mm version, which I considered too expensive, while my Rolex retailer made it clear that there would be too long a wait, despite my good relationship with them and my previous purchases. The iconic white dial of the Cartier Santos didn't appeal to me much due to its lack of uniqueness: I saw too many of them everywhere. And not being a big fan of the brand, I didn't follow their news much and therefore didn't know that there had been colored iterations recently. At the end of December 2024, by chance, a friend looking for a watch sent me a photo of a Mocha-colored Cartier Santos to ask for my opinion, and Eureka, I finally discovered that there were colored Santos! Without further ado, I took a look at the Dialicious platform to ask for opinions from owners of this type of model. I then went to the store to try on the different sizes offered, and a few weeks later, I decided to take the plunge and buy the new model from stock. Usually very attached to the technical and chronometric specifications of my watches, I agreed to make a purely aesthetic purchase and truly fell in love with it. Cartier isn't known for their precision, but that doesn't matter. The watch sparkles with 1,000 flashes, ranging from dark green to mint green depending on the play of light. The overall effect is harmonious, chic, and sporty at the same time, and the leather strap included in the pack allows you to completely change the look of the watch, which is very interesting for experimenting with the material (a first for me) and at the same time giving yourself a transformable dress watch. The date is easy to read, the precision, while not COSC-certified, is quite good, and the crown protector is appreciated, as is the 10 bar water resistance. Purists will recognize all the hallmarks of this legendary watch, which I find increasingly popular and appreciated by young people!