Santos de Cartier Chronograph XL

The Santos de Cartier Chronograph XL (ref. WSSA0017) presents Cartier's storied aviator-inspired silhouette in a 43.3 mm case finished in steel with an Amorphous Diamond-Like Carbon (ADLC) coating. A silvered opaline dial carries the house's signature Roman numerals alongside two chronograph counters, balancing legibility with classical Cartier aesthetics. Power comes from the manufacture Calibre 1904-CH MC, affirming the Santos line's evolution toward fully in-house horology.

The Santos de Cartier traces its lineage to Louis Cartier's 1904 commission for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont — widely regarded as one of the earliest purpose-built wristwatches. The modern Santos collection was substantially relaunched in 2018 with refined proportions, an interchangeable strap system, and new manufacture movements. The WSSA0017 Chronograph XL variant, introduced in 2019, extended that relaunch into the complications segment, pairing the XL case with the in-house 1904-CH MC movement. Its ADLC treatment gives the steel case a distinctive dark, wear-resistant character that has resonated with collectors seeking a sportier expression of the Santos.