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WatchesHeritage

by Dara Morgan

Watch the Icon: 4 Things You Didn’t Know About the Cartier Santos-Dumont

16 Jun 2025

Ever had that feeling that you might like to understand something properly, but weren't entirely sure where to begin?
That was me, with watches. I knew the names — Rolex, Omega, Audemars Piguet, Cartier (a personal favourite — very much on the wishlist). But the rest of it? Chronographs, calibres, complications... I know spells from Harry Potter better. It all seemed like a secret club with too many rules and very small tools.
Thankfully, Sofia Brontvein — founder and publisher of The Sandy Times — knows the world of watches inside out. She knows things about watches that would frighten your average jeweller. She also knows how to tell a good story. And luckily for us, she has decided not to keep those stories to herself.
The result is Watch the Icon — a brand new ten-part podcast where Sofia explores the most legendary wristwatches ever made. From the very first true wristwatch, to other ticking legends like the Rolex Submariner and the Omega Speedmaster, she takes you behind the scenes of timepieces that changed more than just how we tell time.
The best part? Each episode is under 12 minutes, which means you can become insufferably knowledgeable in less time than it takes to queue for your matcha.

What is the first episode about?

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Each episode of Watch the Icon focuses on one legendary timepiece — and we begin right at the beginning. Episode 1 is all about the Cartier Santos-Dumont: the watch that brought time out of the pocket and onto the wrist.
It was practical, stylish, and a little bit rebellious — and it changed everything. The Santos-Dumont wasn't just the first proper wristwatch for men. It was the start of a design revolution that continues to this day.
To give you a taste, here are four things about the Cartier Santos-Dumont that might surprise you:
1. It was made for flying. In 1904, pilot and sky-adventurer Alberto Santos-Dumont needed a way to check the time while steering an airship. Pocket watches were useless in mid-air, so he asked his friend Louis Cartier to come up with something better.
2. Those little screws on the bezel were once a scandal. At the time, showing screws on a luxury item was unheard of. Cartier put them on display — and created a whole new look.
3. Andy Warhol wore one — but didn't bother to wind it. Apparently, he didn't need it to tell the time. He just liked the way it looked.
4. It changed everything. Before the Santos, men carried pocket watches. After it, they wore them on their wrists. Simple as that.

Intrigued?

Hit play on Episode 1 of Watch the Icon. In just 12 minutes, you will be transported to Belle Époque Paris, float through the skies with Santos-Dumont, and discover the watch that started it all.