15 BEST Cartier Watches For Men in 2023 (ALL Styles!)

Enthusiasts always recommend well-known and reliable watchmakers like Omega, Rolex, or Patek Philippe. These are very high-quality watch brands, but there is one thing that every watch enthusiast desires that these brands rarely seem to act on. Maybe it’s irresponsible for them to do so, but perhaps they aren’t bold enough to pull the trigger, step out of the line, and make a truly unique watch design that’s completely out of the ordinary.

Cartier has consistently wowed customers with their impressively unique designs for hundreds of years. Despite the crowded watch market, the brand has managed to stand out from others and keep a high-end reputation at the same time.

History of Cartier

Cartier has been a jewelry seller to various notable people for many years. From King Edward VII of Britain to different royalties and members of the Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese Courts, the brand was even called the Jeweller of Kings and the King of Jewellery by King Edward VII of Great Britain. 

Cartier was founded in the 19th century by Louis Francois Cartier, who was born in France in 1819. He became an apprentice to Adolf Picard, a watchmaker, and gained comprehensive knowledge about watches and their technicalities. Cartier bought the business from Picard in 1847, intending to do much better than his master at the trade. 

1871 came, and the revolutionaries took power from the aristocrats in France. The elites of Paris did not have access to their money in banks, so they started selling their jewelry cheaply. 

Louis Cartier saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of their desperation and put his son Alfred Cartier in charge of purchasing jewelry from the elites. The commune ended a couple of months later, and Cartier was in serious business years later. Cartier became the number one go-to jeweler for the elites.

By the 20th century, Alfred Cartier had taken over the business and moved it to Rue de la Path, a much better location for a company of such standard. The business grew, and Alfred had to bring his three sons to join the company. 

In 1904, the iconic Santos de Cartier timepiece was born. To expand the business to other countries, Alfred opened branches in New York and London, where he put his sons in charge of all three stores. The brothers further expanded the business by socializing with dignitaries and designing and selling their jewelry worldwide. 

The famous Cartier Tank was released in 1917 with inspiration from the tire tracks of battle tanks. Alfred passed away in 1925, and his boys fully took over the business. They went ahead to introduce other ornaments as part of their collection and have remained one of the top jewelers in the world since then.

The Status of Cartier Today

Many watch enthusiasts have criticized Cartier for not being trendy in the area of male watches. This argument does not hold water because of how quickly their men’s luxury watches sell out. Most watch collectors, myself included, still regard Cartier as one of the most reputable watchmakers.

The style Cartier has maintained and improved on is one of its major differentiators from most watchmakers. For a brand worth over $10 billion and a yearly revenue of over $6 billion, Cartier can be easily regarded as one of the top brands when you talk of not just men’s watches but luxury items in general.

Important Considerations for Buying a Cartier

Different Cartier watches come with distinctive advantages, so you might be getting something different from each one. These are some things to consider when looking for the best Cartier timepiece.

Affordability 

You could easily get a Cartier for as low as a thousand dollars, and some could cost up to 40 to 50 thousand. To experience the best bits of the brand, you’ll have to put your hand deep into your pocket, but having a budget of how much you are willing to spend on a timepiece before buying one is an essential move to avoid paying more than you can afford.

Versatility

Versatility is one quality you will find in most Cartier watches. Their watches have such unique styles they usually spice up a wide range of occasions.

Value

If you plan to resell your Cartier shortly, getting a piece that holds its value should be your major consideration. Cartier watches are among the best investment pieces in the industry; however, their value always depends on the specific model you put your hands on. It’s safe to say you’re generally going to be okay with a Cartier. 

The brand heritage alone can save you a ton of money. On top of that, its collectability and craftsmanship can result in great market price rises, such as the Cartier Tank and Santos gold models.

To give you an insight on some of the watches I recommend from Cartier, here’s a list of the 15 best watches for men in 2023:

The Best Cartier Watches For Men

1. Cartier Santos Medium (ref. WSSA0029)

The Santos Cartier is one of my favorite recommendations for first-time luxury watch purchases. This is not just because it’s a Cartier but because of how solid and put together this timepiece looks. Its case measures 35.1mm in diameter, and its thickness is 8.83mm. It has a small bracelet compared to its case size, with the screws blending into the case and bracelet design. 

This timepiece has a classic Art Deco design with numerals on the white dial. The easy switch system this watch has makes swapping the bracelet for a strap easy without needing any tool. This watch uses the Cartier 1847 MC in-house movement with a water resistance of 100m. This timepiece stands out as a very functional one and is currently sold for $7,050.

2. Cartier Tank Must Large (ref. WSTA0041)

Compared to most Cartiers, this is a small timepiece, but not small for a dress watch. Its case size measures 33.7mm x 25.5mm and a thickness of 6.6mm. It has a leather strap which looks great on smaller wrists. The watch is controlled by a quartz movement with an hour-and-minute function. If you are constantly dressed up, this is a watch for you, and you can get your hands on one for $3,100.

 3. Cartier Ronde Must 40mm (ref. WSRN0032)

This is one of the few dress watches with the simplicity and class it embodies. It has a 40mm case diameter and a case thickness of 9.62mm. It has a leather strap slightly larger than the Tank Must watch, so this looks better on bigger wrists as well. 

The faux leather adds to its style with two lines running down both sides. The timepiece is mostly considered unisex by a range of collectors, and it currently costs $3,950. 

4. Cartier Ballon Bleu 40mm (ref. WSBB0039)

This is also a round watch like the Runde Must but with more round edges. Its steel casing is well polished and goes over the crown, making it look like a crownless watch from the side. It has a diameter of 40mm and a thickness of 12.4mm. 

It comes with a black alligator leather strap and minute, seconds, hour, and date functions. This timepiece is functional but also looks perfect for a dress watch. It currently costs $6,500.

5.Cartier Santos-Dumont Large (ref. WSSA0022)

This model of Santos is like an upgrade of the other Santos. It looks like a dress watch but still seems sporty. It has a blue beaded crown which makes it look more dressy, and the silver dial is well brushed with a little sunray effect.

It has a case dimension of 43.5mm x 31.4mm with a case thickness of 7.3mm. The timepiece is strapped with navy blue alligator leather, controlled by a quartz movement with a water resistance of 100m. The Santos-Dumont Large currently sells for $4,200.

6. Cartier Tank Louis Cartier (ref. WGTA0011)

I’ve always seen The Tank as a very serious watch. It maintains its rectangular shape down to its strap, which makes it look perfect with a tuxedo. Being a vintage piece, it comes with a manual winding mechanical movement, 1917 MC caliber, which is a cool touch. 

It has a Matt brown alligator skin strap with a rose gold case and buckle. Its case measures 33.7mm x 25.5mm and a 6.6mm thickness. The glass, in this case, is made of mineral crystal with a water resistance of 30 meters. The watch is worth $12,500.

7. Cartier Pasha Chronograph (ref. WSPA0018)

This watch is a Chronograph version of the pasha steel, which was released earlier. It is controlled by a mechanical movement and uses an automatic winding with a 1904-CH MC. This watch comes with an extra strap, dark gray alligator skin leather, and a smart link adjustment. 

It is cased in a 41mm steel casing with three crowns for its Chronograph, date, minute, and hour function, and a see-through back with a clear view of the watch’s components. It has a thickness of 11.97mm, about 2 mm more than the Pasha Steel. It has a water resistance of 100 meters and is sold for $10,400.

8. Cartier Santos Medium Two Tone (ref. W2SA0016)

This is the two-tone version of the Cartier Santos, and its yellow gold bezel is the major distinctive factor to tell it apart from the other Cartier Santos. Its 35.1mm case is made of steel and 18-karat yellow gold with a steel bracelet with a smart link adjustment. It comes with an extra strap that’s made of calfskin. It’s an automatic watch powered by the 1847 MC caliber. This piece is currently sold for $10,300.

9. Cartier Santos ADLC (ref. WSSA0039)

This is a total upgrade from the Santos de Cartier, from its size to color and function. It is 39.8mm wide, 9.38mm thick, and 47.5mm lug-to-lug distance. It has a very flexible rubber strap, making it very gentle on the wrist. Its bezel and case are both in steel and ADLC. 

The case and strap are black, but the strap has a deeper black color and a quick switch system, making it easy to change straps. It’s a mechanical watch with an automatic winding system. This timepiece is sold for $8,300. 

10.Cartier Tank Française Large (ref. WSTA0067)

This Cartier has a lot of similarities with the 1996 Cartier Tank, which was an upgrade to the first generation of Tank watches. This one comes with some serious modern touch. Its calendar and seconds hand are the first noticeable difference, followed by the steel bracelet and its 36.7mm x 30.5mm case. 

Its glass is made of synthetic sapphire and has a 10.11mm thickness. This doesn’t look like a watch that can be worn as a daily beater due to its fragile components. It has a 30-meter water resistance and a 37-hour power reserve. It’s currently sold for $5,750.

11. Cartier Santos-Dumont Small Rose Gold (ref. WGSA0022)

This two-tone watch differs from most Cartier watches by its smaller size. Its rose gold case makes it look more luxurious than other Santos watches. It has a case size of 38mm x 27.55mm and a case thickness of 7.3mm. Its strap is an alligator skin strap with an ardillon buckle. It has a quartz movement and is currently worth $11,200.

12.Cartier Santos Chronograph (ref. WSSA0017)

This watch is extra-large, and glancing at it would tell you it is functional. It has a flexible rubber strap and an additional Gomma alligator leather strap with a folding buckle. Its stainless steel casing comes with a black ADLC as its bezel. It has a case width of 43.3mm and a case thickness of 12.4mm. It’s a 1904 CH MC automatic winding watch with up to 100m water resistance. It’s currently priced at $9,750.

13. Cartier Rotonde Mysterious Double Tourbillon (ref. WHRO0039)

Twice the tourbillon, twice the complication. The Rotonde Mysterious Double Tourbillon comes in a 45mm round platinum case with a 12.4mm thickness. It has a sapphire crystal at the front and back, and the watch’s movement can be viewed from both sides. 

It’s a mechanical watch with the manual winding 9465 MC caliber. It has a blue alligator leather strap attached to a double adjustable folding buckle made from white gold. It came in a limited edition of 30 pieces and is worth nearly $200,000.

14. Cartier Santos Skeleton (ref. WHSA0009)

The Santos Skeleton looks like a watch straight out of a sci-fi movie. It comes in a black ADLC see-through steel case with a thick black alligator leather strap in sync with the watch’s lugs. It has a case width of 39.7mm, a case thickness of 9.08mm, and a lug-to-lug distance of 47.5mm. 

The buckle has an adjustable system that helps you set the strap size to your perfect size, making the watch fit for all. This timepiece has a second strap that comes in dark grey alligator leather. It’s a manual winding watch with a 9612 MC caliber, with a power reserve of up to 72 hours and water resistance of up to 100 meters. The watch currently sells for $30,400.

15. Cartier Drive Flying Tourbillon (ref. W4100013)

The size of this timepiece gives it a unisex look, but it’s masculine dial is the most distinctive feature of this model. It’s a rose gold cased watch with a 40mm diameter, 11.3mm thick, and 46.6mm lug-to-lug distance. 

It has an hour, minute, and seconds hand in a C-shaped tourbillon carriage. Its rectangular alligator Skin strap has a 1909 vintage Cartier clasp. It’s a flying tourbillon with a mechanical movement, the hand-winding 9452 MC caliber. This timepiece is sold for $77,500.

Conclusion

The Cartier brand remains a force to reckon with when it comes to designing male luxury watches. Although their watches might be a bit pricey, the luxurious feeling it gives and their functional design makes them worth every penny. So if you’re looking at getting a Cartier to fit any trend or season, this list should be a perfect guide.