Santos Carrée 2961 ‘Godron’

Originally designed in 1904 by Louis Cartier for his friend, the pioneering aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, it was one of the first purpose-built wristwatches for men. Over the decades, the Santos evolved, and in 1978, Cartier introduced a modernized version – the Santos de Cartier collection – which featured a more robust, sportier aesthetic with integrated bracelets and a mix of stainless steel and gold; the Santos Carrée 2961 ‘Godron’ offered here.

This specific Cartier Santos Carée from around 1982 embodies the iconic two-tone gold and steel aesthetic that defined the period. The case, crafted from stainless steel, features an 18k yellow gold bezel with exposed screws – one of the most recognizable design elements of the Santos line. The dial remains true to Cartier’s signature elegance, typically featuring Roman numerals, a railroad minute track, and classic blued steel hands. At 29x41mm, the watch wears larger than its dimensions suggest, thanks to its squared shape and stunning integrated bracelet. Also, the flat sapphire crystal and screwed case-to-bezel construction, its exposed bezel screws, and its high level of luxury finish, make the Carée a true pioneer of the luxury sports watch genre. This particular Santos Carée is fitted with the so-called Godron bracelet, a unique and luxurious take on the standard Santos bracelet. Unlike the more common version with flat gold screws embedded into the steel links, the Godron bracelet features rounded gold accents running down the middle of the bracelet. This adds an additional layer of rareness to an already elegant timepiece, making it truly stand out among other vintage Santos models.

The Santos Carrée 2961 ‘Godron’ is an effortlessly stylish watch for any occasion, a true statement piece embodying Cartier’s golden era – This Santos Carée was fully serviced by Wempe Frankfurt in December of 2024, but remained unpolished to the former owners request; we respected this request and kept the watch as is, but should you prefer a full polish and brushing according to Cartier’s specifications, we can of course take care of that for you. As always, this Cartier Santos Carrée 2961 ‘Godron’ will be sold with our extensive two year warranty.

reference: 2961
case number: 296156XXX
year of production: ca 1982
case diameter: 29mm x 41mm
movement: self winding, Cartier signed ETA caliber 2671
box and papers: Wempe (Cartier) Service Invoice and Cartier pouch

Price: € 5.250,-