If you would like to sell Cartier Santos watches, or simply want to know what yours is worth, we would be glad to help. We buy the modern Santos de Cartier in steel, two-tone and gold, including references such as the WSSA0018, WSSA0029, WSSA0030 and WSSA0071, in both the medium and large sizes. We also buy the slimmer Santos-Dumont and earlier models such as the Santos 100 and the Santos Galbée.
We are buying for our own stock, not brokering, so no commission is charged and there is no listing period. The valuation is free, insured postage or collection is paid for by us, and once a price is agreed and the watch is authenticated, you are paid by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
How to sell Cartier Santos watches to Kings & Queens
- Describe the watch. Tell us the model, the size, the reference if you have it, and whether the box, guarantee card and second strap are still with it. Photographs over WhatsApp let us come back with a quick initial figure, but they are not essential to start.
- We make an offer. We price your Santos on what that exact model, size and metal is achieving on the pre-owned market today, and we explain how we got there.
- Come in or post it free. Visit our Hatton Garden showroom by appointment, or we will arrange fully insured postage or collection at our cost.
- Paid within 24 hours. Once the watch has been checked and authenticated in person and you accept the offer, we pay you by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
Get a valuation for your Cartier Santos
What affects what your Santos is worth
The Santos family is broad, so a few specific details decide the figure when you sell Cartier Santos models. Most of them can be seen in a handful of clear photographs.
Model. The current Santos de Cartier, the slim Santos-Dumont, the Santos 100 and the older Santos Galbée are different watches with different buyers. We value the model you have, not the name in general.
Size. The Santos de Cartier comes in medium and large sizes, and each has its own following. The large model is often chosen by men and the medium by women, though plenty of people wear either, so both are bought readily.
Metal. Steel, steel and yellow gold, and solid gold models each trade at their own level. Gold and gem-set versions are valued on their own terms.
Dial. Silver, blue and other colours are each priced separately, and demand for particular colours changes over time. We price each one on current demand.
Movement. The modern Santos de Cartier is automatic, while the Santos-Dumont is offered with quartz and hand-wound movements. Each is valued on its own merits.
Completeness and condition. The guarantee card, the box, the second strap and any links removed from the bracelet all add to the offer. Condition matters too, especially the flat brushed surfaces and the screws on the bezel, which we cover below.
Which Santos do you have?
To sell Cartier Santos watches quickly, it helps to know the model and reference. Modern Cartier references begin with letters such as WSSA for the steel Santos de Cartier or W2SA for steel and gold, and you will find them on the guarantee card. The caseback carries a model number and the serial number, so if the paperwork has gone, a clear photograph of the caseback usually lets us identify the watch.
| Model | Example references | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Santos de Cartier, large | WSSA0018, WSSA0030, WSSA0071 | Steel, automatic, with the QuickSwitch strap system and SmartLink bracelet |
| Santos de Cartier, medium | WSSA0029 | The smaller steel model with the same automatic movement and strap system |
| Santos de Cartier, two-tone and gold | W2SA0009 and others | Steel with yellow gold, or solid gold, in medium and large sizes |
| Santos-Dumont | Various | A slimmer, dressier case on a leather strap, with quartz or hand-wound movements |
| Santos 100 | Various | A larger, bolder design introduced for the Santos centenary |
| Santos Galbée and earlier models | Various | Earlier designs with a gently curved case and integrated bracelet |
Cartier shows the current Santos de Cartier and Santos-Dumont range on cartier.com, which is useful for comparing your watch with today's models. If you have an older Santos and aren't sure which model it is, send us photographs of the dial, case and caseback and we will identify it before you sell Cartier Santos pieces of any age.
A short history of the Santos
The Santos is one of the earliest wristwatches designed as such. In 1904 Louis Cartier created a watch for his friend, the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to read the time in flight without reaching for a pocket watch. Its square case, with the bezel fixed by visible screws, made the design instantly recognisable, and Cartier began selling the Santos to the public in 1911.
The design has been reworked many times since. A steel and gold Santos with screws on the bracelet as well as the bezel arrived in 1978, followed by the curved Santos Galbée and, for the centenary, the larger Santos 100. In 2018 Cartier relaunched the Santos de Cartier with the QuickSwitch system for changing straps without tools, the SmartLink system for adjusting the bracelet, and the automatic calibre 1847 MC. Owners who sell Cartier Santos watches today might hold any of these generations, and each is valued on its own terms.
Straps, bracelets and the second strap
Most modern steel Santos de Cartier watches were sold with a steel bracelet and a second leather strap, both fitted with QuickSwitch. That second strap is part of the set, and a buyer will expect it. If you want to sell Cartier Santos models from the 2018 generation onwards, look for it before you get in touch, along with any bracelet links removed with SmartLink.
If you have swapped the strap for an aftermarket one, that is fine; bring the original if you still have it when you sell Cartier Santos pieces to us. Older models with integrated bracelets cannot change straps in the same way, so for those we look closely at bracelet stretch and the condition of the clasp instead.
Quartz, automatic or hand-wound?
Over the years the Santos has been made with all three types of movement. The current Santos de Cartier uses the automatic calibre 1847 MC, many Santos-Dumont models use quartz, and some use hand-wound mechanical calibres. The Santos Galbée was offered in both quartz and automatic versions. When you sell Cartier Santos watches, the movement is one of the first things we confirm, because buyers look for different things in each. A quartz watch that has stopped often needs nothing more than a new battery and a check, so a stopped watch is no reason to hold back from getting in touch.
Condition: what we check when you sell Cartier Santos watches
The Santos case is all flat planes and sharp edges, with brushed surfaces on the bezel and bracelet that catch the light in a particular way. Heavy polishing rounds the edges and changes that finish, and the metal it removes cannot be replaced. If you are tempted to have it refinished first, please don't; honest wear costs you less than a case that has lost its lines.
The screws on the bezel are part of the design, so we look at their heads closely. Damaged or chewed slots suggest the watch has been opened by someone without the right tools, while replaced screws may not match the originals. Neither stops us buying the watch, but both are worth mentioning.
On the dial, look for marks around the Roman numerals and the date window, and check that the crown and its stone are intact. A chipped crystal is a straightforward repair; a damaged dial matters more. Our sister business Alpha Group, in the same building, handles servicing and repairs, so we can judge the cost of any work accurately.
Box, papers and original parts
A Santos with its full set is the version most buyers want, so it is worth finding everything that came with yours. The receipt and any service invoices help as well, because they support the watch's history and make our checks quicker. Owners who sell Cartier Santos watches with every item present usually agree a price quickly.
- The Cartier guarantee card or certificate showing the serial number and date of purchase
- The Cartier box, outer packaging and booklets
- The second strap supplied with the watch, if it had one
- Every link removed when the bracelet was sized
- Cartier service papers and the original receipt, if you still have them
Missing items won't stop you if you want to sell Cartier Santos watches. A watch on its own remains very saleable, and we will tell you plainly how each missing piece affects the offer. Our guide to box and papers explains why paperwork carries weight.
Before you sell Cartier Santos watches: how to prepare
A few simple steps help us give you a firmer figure straight away.
- Leave the case, bezel and bracelet as they are; don't polish or refinish anything.
- Clean the watch only with a soft, dry cloth.
- Photograph the dial, bezel screws, caseback and guarantee card in daylight.
- Find the second strap, spare links and any strap tools or pouches.
- Note the size and reference, and whether the movement is automatic or quartz.
- Remember when the watch was last serviced and by whom.
Sell Cartier Santos watches in person in Hatton Garden
Our showroom is at 9 St. Cross Street, Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8UB, a short walk from Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations. Every visit is by appointment, so the meeting is private and unhurried. We are open Monday to Friday from 10:30am to 5:30pm, and on Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm.
At the appointment we examine the watch with you, check the serial number, case markings and movement, and talk you through what we find. Hatton Garden has been London's jewellery quarter for well over a century, and coming here to sell Cartier Santos watches means a face-to-face conversation with a specialist. Read more about visiting our showroom.
Sell Cartier Santos watches from anywhere in the UK
If you can't visit, we pay for fully insured postage or collection and explain how to pack the watch so that it arrives safely. Most people who sell Cartier Santos pieces from outside London start with photographs on WhatsApp, so the figure is clear before anything is sent. Once the watch is with us and authenticated, we confirm the offer and pay you by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
Sell Cartier Santos watches privately or to a dealer?
A Santos is easy to list online, but a private sale brings its own problems: strangers asking to view the watch, offers well below what it is worth, and the risk of payment fraud or a buyer who backs out at the last minute. Cartier is also a frequently copied brand, so honest private buyers can be wary, which slows things down further.
When you sell Cartier Santos watches to us, everything happens in a single appointment or a single insured delivery: the watch is authenticated in person and the money follows by bank transfer within 24 hours. A private buyer might pay more, or might not, and finding out can take weeks. Compare the figure, the time and the risk together.
Part exchange your Santos
Some owners who come to sell Cartier Santos models would rather move to a different watch than take the money. With a part exchange, the value of your Santos is offset against the watch you are buying from us in one transaction, and if yours is worth more than the watch you choose, we pay you the difference. Browse our pre-owned Cartier Santos collection, the wider Cartier range, or read how part exchange works.
Why sell Cartier Santos watches to us
We buy for our own stock rather than acting as a broker, so the price we agree is the amount you receive, with no commission or hidden fees. There is no listing period and no waiting for a buyer. As an independent specialist, we price a Santos on its model, size, metal, dial, movement, condition and completeness, and we explain each point. If you own other Cartier pieces, our sell your Cartier page covers the wider range.
Weighing up whether to sell Cartier Santos watches? Start with a free valuation, with no obligation to go ahead. Send photos of the dial, caseback and guarantee card on WhatsApp to +44 (0)7888 888835, or call 0330 043 7777.
Common questions
Can I sell Cartier Santos watches without the box and papers?
Yes. Without the guarantee card and box the figure is lower, but the watch itself is still very saleable. We authenticate it in person, explain the difference the missing items make, and offer you a firm price.
Do you buy the Santos-Dumont as well as the Santos de Cartier?
We do. The Santos-Dumont is a slimmer, dressier watch with a different buyer, and we value it on its own terms, whether it has a quartz or a hand-wound movement.
I have lost the second strap. Does that matter?
It makes a modest difference, because a buyer expects the full set on a modern Santos de Cartier. It won't stop us buying the watch, and we will explain exactly how it affects the offer.
Do you buy older Santos models?
Yes. If you want to sell Cartier Santos models from earlier decades, such as the Santos Galbée or a steel and gold Santos from the late 1970s or 1980s, we are interested. We look closely at the dial, the bracelet and the bezel screws, because originality matters.
How quickly can I sell Cartier Santos watches to you?
Start with photographs for a quick initial figure. Once the watch has been examined and authenticated in person and you are happy with the offer, the money follows by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
Do you buy gold and diamond-set Santos models?
We do. Solid gold, two-tone and gem-set versions are each valued on their own terms. Stones set by Cartier are part of the watch's value, while stones added later are judged very differently, so tell us what you know about its history.
How am I paid when I sell Cartier Santos watches to you?
By secure bank transfer within 24 hours, after we have authenticated the watch in person and you have accepted the price. No commission or fees are taken, so you receive the full amount we agreed.
Ready to sell Cartier Santos watches? Request a valuation | Other watches we buy | Speak to our team
Kings & Queens Watches is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with Cartier.
