Visual Description
The Ref. 1576 is the Santos Dumont in 18k yellow gold. Antiquorum's 2025 catalog gives 27 × 36 mm with the lugs and European Watch Co. 27 × 36 mm, while Antiquorum's 2007 and 2012 catalogs give 27 × 27 mm. The two disagree on thickness: European Watch Co. gives 4.3 mm and Antiquorum 6.5 mm. The dial is silver guilloché with painted black Roman numerals and an outer minute track, the hands are blued steel, the crystal is sapphire and the crown is set with a sapphire cabochon. Antiquorum records a leather strap with an 18k yellow gold Cartier deployant clasp, and European Watch Co. a strap with a yellow gold deployant buckle.
Reference Significance
Antiquorum catalogs the 1576 in the Collection Privée, under the title "Collection Privée - Santos - Mecanique". It is the yellow gold counterpart of the platinum Ref. 1575.
The Ref. 821054 is also 18k yellow gold on the Cal. 21 with a silver guilloché dial, and the case number is what separates the two: the 821054's begins 821054, while the 1576 carries a CC number (CC293222 at Antiquorum) and the 1576 B an MG number (0024MG).
Historical Context
Antiquorum dates three examples to the 1990s: the 1576 it sold in New York in 2007, the 1576 B it sold in Hong Kong in 2012 and the 1576 it sold in Geneva in 2025. No other auction house or dealer Archiva found dates one, so the range rests on that one house.
What to Look For
Read the case back for the reference, 1576 or 1576 B, and the case number: Antiquorum catalogs CC293222 on a 1576 and 0024MG on a 1576 B. A case number beginning 821054 belongs to the Ref. 821054, and a platinum case to the 1575.
Look for even, crisp guilloché on the silver dial and blued hands that match. The movement should be the hand-wound Cal. 21; ask for it to be photographed. On a strap, look for a Cartier deployant clasp in 18k yellow gold. Box and papers help: Antiquorum sold the 2007 example with a fitted box and certificate, and European Watch Co. sold one with its Cartier box and papers.
