Historical luxury watchmaking: the aviator and the jeweler

Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873-1932), a Brazilian established in France, was a famous designer of airplanes and airships during the pioneering era. He is considered a national hero of Brazil and one of the fathers of aviation. This ingenious character contributed to the diffusion of the wristwatch, an object much appreciated by those who piloted for convenience in consulting the time. This requirement put the engineer in contact with Louis Joseph CARTIER (1875-1942), a famous Parisian watchmaker and jeweler; he created for the aviator a more efficient wristwatch of the Patek Philippe (19th cent.), which was already supplanting pocket watches. Cartier designed the "SANTOS", which inaugurated an unbroken, glorious line of men's wristwatches since 1911. Even today, the magnificent white dial offers the reading of the hour its black Roman numerals, while some changes have been made for a more perfect adherence to the wrist of the bracelet.