How much will a dealer pay for a Santos Ronde?

Dealers buying to resell usually bid about 75 to 85% of public market value, because they carry the cost and risk of the resale. For a 24-27 mm ladies steel or steel and gold automatic or quartz Santos Ronde at the recent median of $2,100, that suggests bids of roughly $1,550 to $1,800. Archiva is opening a panel of specialist dealers who bid blind, with the seller keeping the whole winning bid.

What is the Santos Ronde?

The Santos in a round case. Archiva documents two 33 mm automatics with a white dial, black Roman numerals and a date at 3 o'clock: the Ref. 1910 in stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, and the all-steel Ref. 1920-1. A smaller round watch with an octagonal bezel is also sold as a Santos Ronde by some houses: the Ref. 2966, in steel with a gold bezel, and the Ref. 2965, in 18k yellow gold or stainless steel throughout. The ladies' Ref. 81913 is a 27 mm quartz Santos Ronde in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, which Aguttes sells as the Santos Vendôme. The ladies' automatic Santos Octagon comes at 24 to 26 mm as the Ref. 0906, in 18k yellow gold or stainless steel throughout, and the Ref. 0907, in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel. Dated examples run from the 1980s into the 2000s.

How do I tell which Santos Ronde reference I have?

Read the case back, then the metals and the size. The Ref. 1910 is 33 mm in stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, on a steel and gold bracelet. The Ref. 1920-1 is 33 mm in stainless steel throughout. The Ref. 2966 is a 29–30 mm round steel case with an 18k yellow gold octagonal bezel held by screws, on a steel and gold bracelet, and its case number begins 2966. The Ref. 2965 is the same size with an octagonal bezel, in 18k yellow gold or stainless steel throughout, and its case number begins 2965. The Ref. 81913 is a 27 mm quartz in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, and its case number begins 81913; the Ref. 187903 is a smaller 24–25 mm quartz in steel with an octagonal gold bezel, and its case number begins 187903. The ladies' automatic Santos Octagons are 24 to 26 mm: the Ref. 0906 in one metal, 18k yellow gold or stainless steel, with a case number beginning 0906, and the Ref. 0907 in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, with a case number beginning 0907.

Why is the Ref. 2966 sometimes called a Santos Ronde?

Auction houses disagree on its name: Sotheby's catalogs it as the Santos Octagonale and Bonhams as the Santos Ronde. It is a round steel case of 29 to 30 mm with an 18k yellow gold octagonal bezel, smaller than the 33 mm Rondes.

What should I check before buying a Santos Ronde?

The case back for the reference and case number; the bezel screws, all present and matching; the movement, which should keep time and, on the automatics, wind and change the date cleanly; the integrated bracelet for stretch and replaced links, with a folding clasp that closes firmly; and, on two-tone examples, the gold bezel and links for wear and heavy polishing.

Cartier

Santos Ronde

The Santos in a round case, in steel, steel and gold, or 18k gold: automatic, most with a date at 3 o'clock, or quartz in the ladies' 81913 and 187903.

What's it worth?View references Collector's Corner

History

The Santos in a Round Case

The Santos Ronde puts the Santos in a round case. Archiva documents two 33 mm automatics with a white dial, black Roman numerals, blued steel sword hands, a sapphire crystal and a date at 3 o'clock. The Ref. 1910 is stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, on a steel and gold bracelet with a folding clasp; Sotheby's catalogs it as Reference 1910 Santos Ronde. The Ref. 1920-1 is the same watch in stainless steel throughout, with screws on the bezel and an integrated steel bracelet.

The Ref. 2966 is smaller: a round steel case of 29 to 30 mm with an 18k yellow gold octagonal bezel held by eight screws, on an integrated steel and gold bracelet. Houses do not agree on its name; Bonhams sells it as a Santos Ronde and Sotheby's as the Santos Octagonale. The Ref. 2965 is the same size in one metal throughout, 18k yellow gold or stainless steel; Sotheby's, Bulang & Sons, Monaco Legend and Antiquorum have offered gold examples set with diamonds or rubies.

The Ref. 81913 is a ladies' quartz Santos Ronde: a 27 mm round stainless steel case with an 18k yellow gold bezel, on a steel and gold bracelet. Fellows sells it as the Santos Ronde and Aguttes as the Santos Vendôme. Listings often print its number as 8191, but that prefix also begins the case numbers of larger quartz Santos Rondes, so the fifth digit matters.

The Ref. 187903 is the smaller ladies' quartz model: a 24–25 mm stainless steel case with an octagonal 18k yellow gold bezel, a cream Roman dial and a date at 3 o'clock, on a steel and gold bracelet. Bukowskis, Auktionshaus Stahl and Vermot & Associés have sold examples with case numbers beginning 187903, and Bukowskis dates one to about 1990.

The ladies' automatic Santos Octagon puts the octagonal bezel on a round case of 24 to 26 mm. The Ref. 0906 is made in one metal, 18k yellow gold or stainless steel; Monaco Legend has cataloged a diamond-set gold example as Reference 9060, the same number with the leading zero dropped. The Ref. 0907 is stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel and gold screws.

Movements

The four larger references are automatic. The 1910 runs on a Cartier caliber built on an ETA base. The 1920-1's caliber is cited two ways, as the Cal. 077 with 25 jewels by Antiquorum and as the Cal. 049 on the ETA 2892-2 in dealer listings, and Sotheby's catalogs the Cal. 077 with 25 jewels on a 2966. For the 2965, Eppli and Antiquorum give the ETA 2671 and Amsterdam Vintage Watches the Cal. 90. A look at the movement settles which one a given watch has. The ladies' 0906 and 0907 are automatic too; Van Ham and Monaco Legend give the Cal. 2670 for the 0906, and the 0907 records opened name no caliber. The 81913 is quartz; Fellows catalogs the Cal. 81.

Dates

Exact production years are not established. The 2966 is dated c. 1980s–1990s, the 2965 c. 1980s–2000s and the 1910 to the 1990s, the 1920-1 runs from the 1990s to an example Antiquorum dates to about 2004, the 81913 is dated from the 1980s to about 1990, the 0906 from about 1980 into the 1990s, the 0907 from 1986 to about 1990, and the 187903 to about 1990.

Quintessential Reference

Ref. 1910 · c. 1990s

Reference photography unavailable.

Want to sponsor this reference with your studio photography? Become a sponsor

Reference: 1910; Two-tone steel and 18k yellow gold, automatic movement
Year: c. 1990s; A dealer dates one example to the 1990s and Sotheby's one to about 2000; exact production years are not established
Movement: Automatic; Automatic; Bonhams catalogs the Cal. 049 with 21 jewels
Case: 33 mm, Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel
Dial: White; Black painted Roman numerals, date aperture at 3 o'clock
Hands: Blued steel; Sword-shaped
Crystal: Sapphire; Scratch-resistant
Strap: Integrated bracelet; Stainless steel and 18k yellow gold links, folding clasp

The Ref. 1910 is the two-tone Santos Ronde: a 33 mm stainless steel case with an 18k yellow gold bezel, a white dial with black Roman numerals and a date at 3 o'clock, blued steel sword hands and a sapphire crystal, on a steel and 18k yellow gold bracelet with a folding clasp. It runs on a Cartier automatic caliber built on an ETA base.

Other Known References

8 documented references across 1 era

Reunion & Democratization1964–1992

8 refs

Reference	Case Material	Movement	Case Size	Dial	Crystal
Ref. 090618k yellow gold or stainless steel · Automatic	18k yellow gold or stainless steel	Automatic	24–26 mm	White, burgundy or gray
Ref. 0907Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel · Automatic	Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel	Automatic	24–26 mm	White, silvered or burgundy	Sapphire
Ref. 187903Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel · Quartz	Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel	Quartz	24–25 mm	Cream	Sapphire
Ref. 1910Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel · Automatic	Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel	Automatic	33 mm	White	Sapphire
Ref. 1920-1Stainless steel · Automatic	Stainless steel	Automatic	33 mm	White	Sapphire
Ref. 296518k yellow gold or stainless steel · Automatic	18k yellow gold or stainless steel	Automatic	29–30 mm	White
Ref. 2966Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel · Automatic	Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel	Automatic	29–30 mm	White
Ref. 81913Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel · Quartz	Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel	Quartz	27 mm	White, cream or anthracite

What is a Cartier Santos Ronde worth?

Choose your reference, set its condition, and see what it's likely to bring. Each estimate uses sales of that exact reference where there are enough of them.

From November 2022 to July 2026, 4 counted sales of Ref. 2966 ran from $1,650 to $4,200, with a middle price of $2,600. The most recent was $4,200 at Aguttes in July 2026.

See all 5 sales of Ref. 2966: 4 counted, 1 not

Date	Ref.	Where	Details	Counts as	Price
Jul 2026	2966	AguttesAuction	Lot 84, Santos Octagon. Steel and 18k yellow gold, grey dial, automatic, 30 mm. Premium included.	This reference	€3,673≈ $4,200
Jun 2024	2966	FinarteAuction	Fine Watches, Milan, 10 Jun 2024, lot 29. Steel and 18k gold, 30 mm, automatic, case 04375, 1990s. The price includes buyer's premium.	This reference	€2,142≈ $2,300
Apr 2023	2966	Sotheby's Hong KongAuction	Important Watches II, lot 8792, closed 14 Apr 2023, no reserve. Santos Octagonale, 18k yellow gold and steel, cal. 077 automatic 25 jewels, case 296'636'704, 30 mm, c.1990, steel bracelet, no accessories. Result includes premium. Result read by Kyle from the house's signed-in result page, 6 Nov 2026.	This reference	HK$12,700≈ $1,650
Nov 2022	2966	Sotheby'sAuction	Important Watches Online, lot 592, closed 10 Nov 2022. Santos Octagonale, steel and 18k yellow gold, 30 mm, cal. 077 automatic 25 jewels, case 296'638'257, burgundy dial, c.1990, bracelet, box and tag, no papers. Result includes premium. Result read by Kyle from the house's signed-in result page, 5 Nov 2026.	This reference	CHF 2,772≈ $2,900
Aug 2026	2966	Kaplans	Lot 224, Santos Octagon. Steel and gold, automatic, 29 mm, ca 1985; sold with a damaged dial and bracelet, needing service.	Not countedDamaged, needs service	$1,126

Sales from November 2023 to November 2026, or from the last five years for a reference with fewer than three in that time. Only sales that name a reference count toward its estimate; sales of the rest of its version are shown for comparison and never folded in. Auction prices include the buyer's premium unless a row says hammer; dealer prices are the price at sale. Currency figures are converted near the sale date; Dorotheum figures include its premium and VAT. EveryWatch does not say whether its figures include the premium. Rows via EveryWatch, Collector Square or lot-art come from those indexes and should be confirmed at the auction house. Auction houses often title the square Santos simply Santos; those results are not counted here. The condition and option adjustments, the expected bid (75 to 85% of market value) and the auction range (62 to 72%) are working assumptions, to be replaced by Archiva's own bids as they come in. A sale far above or below the other sales of its reference is listed but not counted, so one unusual result can't pull the estimate. An estimate from public results, not an appraisal.

Collector's Corner

What every buyer, inheritor, and first-time collector should know.

Buying Guide

01DIAL

The Secret Signature

Introduced 1977

A microscopic 'CARTIER' hidden within the Roman numerals, present on every genuine post-1977 dial.

02CASE

Case Back Hallmarks

Varies by origin and era

A Cartier case carries the Cartier signature, a reference and serial number on later pieces, and small struck marks for the metal and the case maker. Which marks appear depends on where the case was made: an eagle's head on Paris gold, JC and a date letter on London cases, the Helvetia head on Swiss 18k before 1995. The hallmarks guide shows what each one means.

03MOVEMENT

Movement Sourcing

Varies by era and model

Cartier sourced movements from various Swiss manufacturers throughout history, including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Frédéric Piguet, ETA, and in-house production. Knowing the correct caliber for a specific reference is essential for identifying the watch and establishing provenance.

04CROWN

Crown Sapphire Cabochon

A Cartier hallmark since the early 20th century

The blue sapphire (or spinel on less precious models) cabochon crown is a Cartier signature. Original crowns show consistent color saturation and are set flush with the crown body. Replacements often show misalignment or incorrect stone dimensions that reveal themselves under magnification.

05BRACELET

Bracelet and Clasp Markings

Check the clasp first

Cartier bracelets carry their own reference markings and the deployment clasp should bear the Cartier name and logo. Aftermarket bracelets are extremely common on vintage pieces, so checking that the clasp is original and that reference numbers match is crucial to the overall picture.

06DIAL

Dial Aging and Patina

Patina tells the story

Vintage Cartier dials develop characteristic aging: cream dials warm to ivory, lacquer dials may develop fine crazing, and applied indices can show legible wear patterns. Understanding acceptable versus concerning dial aging is key to valuing a vintage piece accurately.

Questions collectors ask

Direct answers about the Cartier Santos Ronde, drawn from the reference records below.

What is a Cartier Santos Ronde worth?: Public auction and dealer results from November 2023 to November 2026 put the 29-30 mm steel and gold automatic (Ref. 2966) at $2,050 to $3,250, median $2,300 across 3 sales; the 29-33 mm steel and gold quartz (Ref. 187902) at $1,700 to $2,200, median $2,150 across 3 sales; the 33 mm steel automatic (Ref. 1920-1) at $1,300 to $1,900, median $1,600 across 2 sales; the 32 mm steel quartz (Ref. 8192) at one public sale at $1,350; and the 24-27 mm ladies steel or steel and gold automatic or quartz (Ref. 0906, 0907) at $1,600 to $2,650, median $2,100 across 7 sales. Condition, a recent Cartier service, and the original box and papers move an individual watch within or beyond these ranges, and the calculator on this page adjusts for each.
How much will a dealer pay for a Santos Ronde?: Dealers buying to resell usually bid about 75 to 85% of public market value, because they carry the cost and risk of the resale. For a 24-27 mm ladies steel or steel and gold automatic or quartz Santos Ronde at the recent median of $2,100, that suggests bids of roughly $1,550 to $1,800. Archiva is opening a panel of specialist dealers who bid blind, with the seller keeping the whole winning bid.
What is the Santos Ronde?: The Santos in a round case. Archiva documents two 33 mm automatics with a white dial, black Roman numerals and a date at 3 o'clock: the Ref. 1910 in stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, and the all-steel Ref. 1920-1. A smaller round watch with an octagonal bezel is also sold as a Santos Ronde by some houses: the Ref. 2966, in steel with a gold bezel, and the Ref. 2965, in 18k yellow gold or stainless steel throughout. The ladies' Ref. 81913 is a 27 mm quartz Santos Ronde in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, which Aguttes sells as the Santos Vendôme. The ladies' automatic Santos Octagon comes at 24 to 26 mm as the Ref. 0906, in 18k yellow gold or stainless steel throughout, and the Ref. 0907, in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel. Dated examples run from the 1980s into the 2000s.
How do I tell which Santos Ronde reference I have?: Read the case back, then the metals and the size. The Ref. 1910 is 33 mm in stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, on a steel and gold bracelet. The Ref. 1920-1 is 33 mm in stainless steel throughout. The Ref. 2966 is a 29–30 mm round steel case with an 18k yellow gold octagonal bezel held by screws, on a steel and gold bracelet, and its case number begins 2966. The Ref. 2965 is the same size with an octagonal bezel, in 18k yellow gold or stainless steel throughout, and its case number begins 2965. The Ref. 81913 is a 27 mm quartz in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, and its case number begins 81913; the Ref. 187903 is a smaller 24–25 mm quartz in steel with an octagonal gold bezel, and its case number begins 187903. The ladies' automatic Santos Octagons are 24 to 26 mm: the Ref. 0906 in one metal, 18k yellow gold or stainless steel, with a case number beginning 0906, and the Ref. 0907 in steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel, with a case number beginning 0907.
Is the Santos Ronde automatic?: Mostly. The 1910, 1920-1, 2965 and 2966 are automatic, with a date at 3 o'clock, and the ladies' 0906 and 0907 are automatic; the ladies' 81913 is quartz, and Fellows catalogs its movement as the Cal. 81; the smaller ladies' 187903 is quartz too, which Bukowskis catalogs on the Cal. 687. The 1910 runs on a Cartier automatic caliber built on an ETA base. For the 1920-1, Antiquorum catalogs the Cal. 077 with 25 jewels while dealer listings give the Cal. 049 on the ETA 2892-2, and Sotheby's catalogs the Cal. 077 with 25 jewels on a 2966. For the 2965, the ETA 2671 and the Cal. 90 are both cited, and Van Ham and Monaco Legend give the Cal. 2670 for the 0906.
Why is the Ref. 2966 sometimes called a Santos Ronde?: Auction houses disagree on its name: Sotheby's catalogs it as the Santos Octagonale and Bonhams as the Santos Ronde. It is a round steel case of 29 to 30 mm with an 18k yellow gold octagonal bezel, smaller than the 33 mm Rondes.
What should I check before buying a Santos Ronde?: The case back for the reference and case number; the bezel screws, all present and matching; the movement, which should keep time and, on the automatics, wind and change the date cleanly; the integrated bracelet for stretch and replaced links, with a folding clasp that closes firmly; and, on two-tone examples, the gold bezel and links for wear and heavy polishing.

Next Steps

INHERITOR