The Cartier Santos de Cartier reference WGSA0031 is a luxury timepiece that combines the collection’s historic square silhouette with modern engineering. This medium-model watch features a 35.1mm case crafted from 18k rose gold, maintaining a slim profile with a thickness of approximately 8.83mm. The silvered opaline dial is adorned with classic black Roman numeral hour markers and blued-steel sword-shaped hands, all protected by a sapphire crystal. The 7-sided rose gold crown is set with a faceted sapphire, a signature Cartier design element. It is powered by the manufacture calibre 1847 MC, an automatic winding mechanical movement that provides a 42-hour power reserve and features a quick-set date and stop-seconds functionality.
Functionally, this model focuses on essential timekeeping, providing center hours, minutes, and seconds. Despite its elegant appearance, it is engineered for versatility with a water resistance of 100 meters, a high rating for a non-screw-down crown design. The watch is highly praised for its user-friendly features, specifically the QuickSwitch and SmartLink systems. The QuickSwitch mechanism allows users to swap between the 18k rose gold bracelet and the included alligator skin strap without tools, while the SmartLink system enables easy adjustment of the metal bracelet links.
General reviews of the Santos medium model are overwhelmingly positive, often citing it as a perfect all-around watch that balances sports and dress aesthetics. Owners frequently highlight its exceptional comfort and the way the curved case integrates seamlessly with the bracelet to wrap around the wrist. While the 35.1mm width may seem small on paper, it is noted to wear larger, similar to a 36mm or 37mm round watch. Common praise is directed at its historical significance and high-quality finishing, though some users note that the polished bezel is susceptible to scratches and the luminescent material on the hands can be relatively weak in low-light conditions.