The Cartier Santos is not just a watch — it is the first modern wristwatch for men. When Louis Cartier designed it in 1904 for his aviator friend Alberto Santos-Dumont, who needed to read the time without taking his hands off the controls, he created a template that every subsequent pilot's watch, sport dress watch, and integrated-bracelet watch borrows from. The Santos super clone is for collectors who want a piece of this history without the €8,000-plus entry price of the genuine Santos de Cartier.
Why the Santos Endures
The Santos's design logic is deceptively simple: a square case with exposed screws on the bezel, an integrated bracelet, and a clean white dial with Roman numerals. That combination has been in continuous production — with interruptions and revivals — for over a century. The current Santos de Cartier, introduced in its modern form in 2018, adds a Quick Switch bracelet system, a larger case choice (35.1mm and 39.8mm), and a SIHH-caliber movement. It became the best-selling Cartier watch almost immediately.
What makes the Santos immediately legible at distance: the screws on the bezel. These are not ornamental — they are structural, holding the steel case elements together. On a room full of watches, you spot a Santos immediately because those screws have no equivalent in the design language of any other major house. The Santos super clone gets this detail exactly right, and it is the single most important QC checkpoint for any Santos buyer.
Santos de Cartier Super Clone: The Two Sizes
Santos 39.8mm (Large)
The 39.8mm reference is the primary focus of most super clone buyers. It sits at a modern wrist size that reads as neither oversized nor conservative, the bracelet is substantial enough to anchor the case visually, and the steel-and-gold two-tone variant (called the Santos WSSA0010) is one of the most requested Cartier super clones.
The clone uses a visually accurate automatic movement with an exhibition case back. The bezel screws are individually finished and correctly proportioned. Both full steel (WSSA0009) and two-tone steel/gold (WSSA0010) variants are available. The two-tone version uses gold-plated links alternating with polished steel — the pattern matches the genuine's alternating finish correctly.
Price range: $580 to $720.
Santos 35.1mm (Medium/Ladies)
The 35.1mm Santos is the smaller reference, positioned as the ladies or small-wrist variant. It uses the same design language but with a 28mm hand-wound movement (the genuine uses the Caliber 430 MC). The clone renders the case proportions accurately at the smaller scale.
Price range: $480 to $580.
Dial Variants and What to Look For
The Santos de Cartier dial is white with a vertical brush pattern, Roman numerals in a characteristic Cartier font, and a blue synthetic sapphire crown set into the crown at 3 o'clock. The last detail — the blue crown — is a Cartier signature across the entire Santos, Tank, Ballon Bleu, and Panthère lines. On the super clone, this is rendered with a faceted blue synthetic sapphire that catches light correctly.
**White dial**: The standard reference. Vertical brush creates depth. Roman numerals should have consistent stroke weight across all twelve positions. The sword-shaped blued steel hands should have a consistent polish.
**Silver sunray dial**: Less common but available. Sunray brushing radiates from center. Gives the Santos a dressier, more luminous reading.
**Blue dial**: The Santos blue dial variant is one of the most sought-after Cartier super clones. The blue color should be deep and consistent from edge to edge with no gradient variation.
The Quick Switch Bracelet System
The genuine 2018+ Santos introduced a tool-free Quick Switch mechanism for swapping between the integrated steel bracelet and a leather strap. You press a lever inside the lug and the strap releases without tools in under ten seconds.
Top-tier Santos super clones replicate this Quick Switch system. The release lever works correctly. Leather strap variants using this system are available. This is not a cosmetic detail — it is a functional system that the super clone implements with accuracy.
Santos vs Ballon Bleu: Which Cartier to Clone
Both the Santos and Ballon Bleu are common Cartier super clone requests. They serve different aesthetics.
**Santos**: Square case, exposed screws, integrated bracelet, sport-dress hybrid, recognizable as a pilot watch. Appropriate for business casual through smart casual. Reads as modern and confident.
**Ballon Bleu**: Round case, fluted bezel, floating crown at 4 o'clock, usually on a leather strap or Milanese bracelet. More traditionally elegant. Reads as a dress watch.
If you work in a creative, finance, or consulting context and want a Cartier that reads as sophisticated without being stuffy: Santos. If you want something for formal events and dinner settings: Ballon Bleu.
QC Checklist for Santos Super Clones
**Bezel screws**: Each of the eight screws should be uniformly sized, correctly aligned, and show no cam-out marks from assembly. The screw heads should be flat and polished, not domed or rounded.
**Blue sapphire crown**: The synthetic sapphire in the crown at 3 o'clock should be deep blue, faceted, and secure. It should not rattle or feel loose in the crown setting.
**Roman numerals**: Each numeral should be applied with consistent stroke width, correct vertical alignment, and sharp edges. The I numerals should not appear thicker than the V or X strokes.
**Bracelet Quick Switch**: Press the release lever — the strap should release with a clean click. Re-attach — it should lock positively with no lateral play.
**Case back**: Exhibition sapphire should be flush. The movement visible through the back should show correct finishing for the stated reference.
Pricing at Jack Watches
Santos de Cartier 39.8mm Steel: $580
Santos de Cartier 39.8mm Two-Tone Steel/Gold: $650 to $720
Santos de Cartier 35.1mm: $480 to $550
Contact via WhatsApp for current stock status and QC photos before shipping.
Ready to order yours?
Browse our collections or message Jack Watches directly on WhatsApp for pricing and availability.
