I decided to do the review of this reply, apart from its history, because it is a fireproof watch over time and possibly the most elegant clock that exists.
History
In 1904, the friendship between the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont and Louis Cartier French designer resulted in the creation of Santos, one of the first wristwatches in the world. 100 years later, Cartier continues to market the popular model at the time was immortalized as an icon of modern watchmaking.
Behind every invention lies a fascinating history and for the creation of the watch is no exception. But to tell the story of this useful object, you can not ignore the creation of the first plane, they are closely linked.
The real beginnings date back to the mid-nineteenth century when a Frenchman named François Dumont jeweler decided to emigrate to Brazil to try his luck. The fate led him to become the first Latin American coffee planter and accumulate a large fortune that allowed his son, Alberto Santos-Dumont, develop their curiosity about flying machines and become the unacknowledged father of aviation.
Grow a small family business called Cartier
In 1847, the French jeweler Louis-Francois Cartier in Paris founded a business to provide jewelry to the court of Napoleon III, recently came to the throne. Their quality immediately became famous, and expanded its production to the manufacture of fine tea sets, dishes and jewelry, which earned him an immense fortune.
Then Alfred, the son of Louis-Francois Cartier took over the family business and introduced the novelty of pocket watches, which freaked the Paris of the late nineteenth century. But in the early twentieth century, the grandson of the founder of the family business, Louis Cartier, marked the ultimate success of this famous house, for the wristwatch created a unique piece that established Cartier as a universal brand. The best proof is that today, a hundred years later, Cartier remains one of the houses of jewelry and watches in the world.
Las historias de Santos-Dumont y Louis Cartier se entrelazan
In 1900, Louis Cartier met Alberto Santos Dumont, who immediately became a close friend, and here is where the two stories, the famous aviator and the famous jeweler, intersect to produce a completely unexpected result: the invention of wristwatch.
In 1901, three years before the first flight of Santos-Dumont 14bis, was aboard his airship No. 6, trying to earn a reward of 100,000 francs, to make a return trip from the Parc Saint Cloud to the Eiffel Tower in less than 30 minutes. When he landed the judges said they would give the verdict in an event to be held that evening.
Santos-Dumont waited anxiously until he came to Maxim's exclusive restaurant, where the cream of Parisian society, among whom was Louis Cartier, of course, cheered and cheered by his record. The odd thing is that Santos-Dumont, obviously thrilled to have won the award, said to Louis Cartier was surprised he did not know if he had won because he was unable to time while in the air, as in the it was impossible to remove the airship hands on the remote to watch your watch. Louis Cartier promised her friend to help you find a solution to their problem and so, as this tasteful designer gave to Santos-Dumont a flat square watch and gold, which was attached to the wrist by a leather strap and a buckle. Watch The impact was such that in a short time Louis Cartier began producing in series under the name of Cartier Santos.
The Cartier Santos watch again produced in 1979 and continued in production until now, maintaining the highest standards of quality maintained when Louis Cartier created the watch to his friend almost a century ago. The first copy of the new series was donated by the manufacturer to del'Air Musée de Paris, and exposed next to the last aircraft designed, built and flown by Santos Dumont: the 1908 Demoiselle
¿Qué fue de Santos-Dumont?
We all know what happened to Cartier. But what about Santos-Dumont? In 1909, he returned to Brazil. His whole life was in love with the idea of ??creating an aircraft that was able to bridge the gap, transporting passengers, mail delivery and promote the union of nations, but the First World War gave birth to a very different reality. Santos had to witness the horror of seeing their planes were used as bombers killing of thousands of people. So, just three days after having served 59 years, hanged himself with his own tie disgusted and disappointed that he use his invention.
