Cartier
The Jeweler's Watch
About Cartier
Cartier didn't come to watchmaking from the workshop — it came from the jewelry salon. Louis Cartier created the Santos in 1904 for his aviator friend Alberto Santos-Dumont, producing one of the earliest purpose-built wristwatches. The Tank followed in 1917, inspired by Renault tank treads on World War I battlefields. Where Swiss brands chase movement complications, Cartier leads with case design — the Santos, Tank, Ballon Bleu, and Crash are among the most recognizable watch shapes in existence. Cartier occupies a unique position: equally at home on a collector's wrist as on a runway, with crossover appeal that strengthens secondary market demand across demographics.
Santos (1904) — one of the first men's wristwatches. Tank (1917) — worn by everyone from Jackie Kennedy to Muhammad Ali. Crash (1967) — surrealist icon.
Notable Cartier references
All Cartier references
Every reference WristWorth tracks for Cartier, grouped by model.
Ballon Bleu Rose Gold 36mm
1 refBallon Bleu 40mm Rose Gold
1 refTank Louis Large Rose Gold
1 refTank Française Small Gold
1 refTank Louis Cartier Large
1 refSantos de Cartier Large Two-Tone
1 refSantos Medium Two-Tone
1 ref
Santos Large Skeleton
1 ref
Ballon Bleu 42mm Chrono
1 refPasha de Cartier Chrono
1 refBallon Bleu 33mm Two-Tone
1 refSantos de Cartier Large (ADLC)
1 refCalibre de Cartier Diver
1 refPasha 41
1 refSantos Large
1 ref
Clé de Cartier 40mm
1 refSantos Large Blue
1 refSantos Medium Green
1 refSantos Medium
1 ref
Ballon Bleu 36
1 refSantos de Cartier Medium (Blue)
1 refBallon Bleu 36mm
1 refBallon Bleu 40
1 ref
Ballon Bleu 33mm
1 refClé de Cartier 35mm
1 refRonde Must de Cartier 40mm
1 refPanthère de Cartier Medium
1 refTank Must XL
1 refTank Must Large Quartz
1 refTank Must SolarBeat
1 refTank Solo Large
1 refSantos-Dumont Large
1 ref
Panthère Medium
1 ref
Tank
1 refBrowse by price
Frequently asked
How many Cartier references are in the WristWorth Vault?
The Vault catalogues 51 Cartier references across 40 model lines, each with full specifications and a value estimate where market data exists.
What price range do Cartier watches cover?
Catalogued Cartier references span roughly $2,400 to $22,600, based on current market estimates and retail prices.
Where and when was Cartier founded?
Cartier was founded in 1847 and is based in France.
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