Santos Carrée

Cartier Santos Carrée Bicolor “Burgundy Dial” – Ref. 2961 (1984) Full Set

Dating from 1984, this Cartier Santos Carrée ref. 2961 is a particularly distinctive example of the early automatic Santos. Its angular stainless-steel case, 18kt yellow-gold bezel and integrated bicolor bracelet are paired with the rare burgundy lacquer dial, creating one of the most collectible configurations of the vintage Santos Carrée.

Case

The square case is crafted from stainless steel and 18kt yellow gold, with the characteristic exposed screws and yellow-gold bezel that define the two-tone Santos aesthetic.

The case measures approximately 29 mm across and 41 mm lug-to-lug, giving it considerably more wrist presence than the nominal width suggests. A sapphire crystal protects the dial, while the crown is set with Cartier’s characteristic red cabochon.

Dial

The highlight is the rare burgundy lacquer dial, presenting a dramatically different appearance from the more commonly encountered white Roman-numeral Santos.

Its minimalist design dispenses with conventional hour markers, leaving the deep burgundy surface largely uninterrupted except for the gold Cartier signature, gold sword-shaped hands and date aperture at 6 o’clock. This configuration is documented on original ref. 2961 examples.

On vintage examples, the lacquer can sometimes develop fine crazing or “spidering” with age, so the preservation of the dial is particularly important when assessing condition and value.

Movement

Powered by an automatic Cartier movement based on the ETA 2671 architecture. .

Bracelet

Fitted with the characteristic integrated Cartier Santos bracelet in stainless steel and 18kt yellow gold, completed by a folding clasp.

Condition

Very nice overall vintage condition with signs of wear consistent with age. The movement runs accurately.