Reference 2961 comes as Watch Only •Wire Price: $4,000 •Specifications: Year: Circa 1980s Model: Santos Carree Case Diameter: 29mm Lug to Lug: 40mm Case: Two-tone Dial: White Movement: Automatic •Condition: The case and bracelet look to be very sharp with all the original lines still very present. We believe it to be very close to a true unpolished example. The dial, which is known to have cracking lacquer, is in very good condition with very light marks that are not even noticeable to the naked eye. The bracelet is a decent size and will fit up to a 7-inch wrist. •The Story: In 1904, Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont complained about the unreliability and impracticality of using a pocket watch while flying. Louis Cartier designed a flat wristwatch with a square bezel, which became the first mass-produced men's wristwatch. Santos-Dumont became the first person to be filmed in an airplane flight in 1906, taking 21.5 seconds with a Cartier watch on his wrist. The Santos-Dumont watch was offered in platinum and yellow gold models. Cartier also developed the deployant mechanism for the straps, which is still used today. The Santos continued to be manufactured through the first half of the 20th century, but its square design declined due to WW2 and military requirements for round watches. In 1978, Cartier redesigned the Santos de Cartier, adding an integrated bracelet and stainless steel case and bracelet, a "bimetal" gold-steel design that became popular in the 1980s. The Santos Galbée, a quartz-powered watch, was relaunched in 1987 and updated in 2005 with the Santos Galbée XL. In 1998, Cartier introduced the Collection Privée Cartier Paris, featuring many historical models with high-end manufacture calibers. In 2004, a limited-edition Santos-Dumont was released, featuring Breguet-style hands and a similar case and movement. In 2018, Cartier updated the Santos collection with 13 watches in medium and large sizes, modernizing marketing efforts and featuring an in-house movement.