Simple, pure, historical and very stylish
Here’s a look at the watchmaking maisons who showcased at the renown watch trade show Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) this year from the 14th to the 17th January 2019. We’ve picked the showstoppers at the event and here is what’s next on our list — Cartier, more specifically, the Cartier Santos de Cartier Chronograph.
You can find the full series here.
If the Cartier Tank is an enduring icon of traditionally-styled, refined dress watches, then the Santos de Cartier is one for traditionally-styled, refined tool watches. The collection dates back all the way to 1904, when a watch was made for the legendary aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont—in fact, this may have been the first wristwatch ever. The DNA of this original watch—simple, pure, and of course the visible screws on the bezel—are very much part of the collection today.
This year, the brand has added something to this range that Santos-Dumont may have found very useful, had it been available at the time: the Santos de Cartier Chronograph, available in steel, steel with yellow gold and pink gold. The 1904-CH MC Cartier Manufacture movement includes features typical to a quality chronograph, including column wheel, vertical clutch, and linear reset hammer. The single pusher control at 9 o’clock keeps the case design unadorned and symmetrical, and the silver-coloured dial maintains a sense of workmanlike efficiency. The patented strap-changing system means the watch can be dressed up or down with ease—easy then, to imagine almost any situation to fit a watch with such timeless aesthetics.
SIHH 2019 Recap
The 29th edition of Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) was another record-breaking one, counting 23,000 visitors over its four days. Geneva’s Palexpo convention centre was packed not only with people, but the latest about to be unleashed on the horological world from the 35 participating brands.
There were quite a few new beginnings and surprises. Ulysse Nardin reworked the iconic Freak, and Bovet’s debut introduced the fair to its historical pocket watch heritage. Vacheron Constantin and Hermes surprised with some truly innovative watchmaking, while Panerai showcased new limited editions that come with adventurous experiences attached. On their last appearances at SIHH, both Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille unveiled new collections—the former surprising with distinct and deliberate design, while the latter with a completely unexpected candy-themed range.
