Cartier · Santos

Santos, 18k Yellow Gold or Steel

Ref. 2960c. 1978–1990

The Cartier Santos Ref. 2960 is a 29 × 41 mm automatic Santos in 18k yellow gold or stainless steel, made c. 1978–1990 on the ETA 2671-based Cartier Cal. 077, with a white dial and a date at 3 o'clock.

Have this watch?

Recent sales of Ref. 2960 (Large, solid 18k gold, automatic): $15,700 to $20,450, median $17,650 across 4 sales of this exact reference, Nov 2023 to Nov 2026. What's yours worth?

  • Ref. 2960 (Large, steel, automatic): $4,200 to $7,400, median $4,700 across 3 sales.

Only sales that name Ref. 2960 count here, each version on its own.

We’re opening a small panel of specialist dealers soon. Leave your email and we’ll write once, when they’re ready to bid on your watch. Nothing else.

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4

Photos by @watchesofknightsbridge

Specifications

Reference
2960
18k yellow gold or stainless steel, automatic, date at 3 o'clock
Year
c. 1978–1990
Dealers and auction houses date examples from about 1980 to about 1990; the Santos was relaunched in 1978
Movement
Automatic
Cartier Cal. 077 (based on ETA 2671), 17 jewels
Case
29 × 41 mm, 18k yellow gold or stainless steel
Dial
White
Black Roman numerals, date window at 3 o'clock
Hands
Blued steel
Sword-shaped
Crystal
Sapphire
Scratch-resistant
Strap
Integrated bracelet
18k yellow gold on gold cases, stainless steel on steel cases, with a deployant clasp

Visual Description

The Ref. 2960 is the 1978 Santos in a single metal, solid 18k yellow gold or stainless steel, from the square 29 × 41 mm case to the integrated bracelet. Exposed screws hold the bezel. The white dial carries black Roman numerals and a date window at 3 o'clock under blued steel sword hands, and the crown is set with a cabochon. Steel examples are also documented with burgundy and gray dials.

Reference Significance

The 2960 shares its 29 × 41 mm case and its date at 3 o'clock with the steel and gold Ref. 2961. What separates them is metal: the 2960 was made in solid 18k yellow gold and in stainless steel. Dorotheum sold a steel 2960 with a burgundy dial in 2024, so the reference number alone does not mean gold; check the case and bracelet.

Historical Context

Cartier relaunched the Santos in 1978; Amsterdam Watch Company dates the steel Santos on an integrated steel bracelet to that year.

Dated 2960s run from about 1980 to about 1990. Gold examples are dated to about 1980 and 1985 and steel examples to 1981 through 1984, and Watches of Knightsbridge sold a factory diamond-set gold example of about 1990.

What to Look For

Metal: The case and bracelet should be one metal: solid 18k yellow gold or stainless steel. A steel case with a gold bezel and screws is a 2961.

Bracelet: Look for stretch and lateral play between the links, and wear at the clasp.

Bezel screws: All should be present, with matching heads and undamaged slots.

Movement: It should be automatic, wind and keep time, and set the date cleanly. Catalogs give the Cal. 077 on the ETA 2671, but Antiquorum lists one steel example as the Cal. 076 with 25 jewels, so look at the movement itself.

Known Variants

Documented dial, case, and bracelet variations of Ref. 2960.

White Dial

Black Roman numerals, blued steel sword hands and a date at 3 o'clock, documented on 18k yellow gold examples.

c. 1980–1985 (dated examples)Documented by dealers

Burgundy Dial

A burgundy dial, documented on stainless steel examples; Bachmann & Scher describes a red ruby on the crown of its 1981 example, where Dorotheum's has a synthetic sapphire cabochon.

c. 1981–1984 (dated examples)Documented at auction and by dealers

Gray Dial

A slate gray dial on stainless steel examples sold by European Watch Co. and Antiquorum, the latter sold new in May 1984.

c. 1984 (dated example)Two examples documented

18k Yellow Gold, Factory Diamonds

Watches of Knightsbridge sold an 18k yellow gold example of about 1990 with factory-set diamonds, on its gold Santos bracelet.

c. 1990 (dated example)One example documented

How to tell it apart

What separates a Ref. 2960 from its neighbors, and what to check before you buy or sell one.

What is a Cartier Santos Ref. 2960 worth?

Public auction and dealer results for Ref. 2960 (Large, solid 18k gold, automatic) from November 2023 to November 2026 come to $15,700 to $20,450, with a median of $17,650 across 4 sales of this exact reference. The most recent was $23,250 at Eppli in September 2026. Ref. 2960 (Large, steel, automatic): $4,200 to $7,400, median $4,700 across 3 sales. Condition, service history, and the original box and papers move an individual watch within that range.

What is the Santos Ref. 2960?

The 1978 Santos in solid 18k yellow gold or in stainless steel: a 29 × 41 mm square case with exposed screws on the bezel, a white dial with black Roman numerals, blued steel sword hands, a date at 3 o'clock and a cabochon crown, on an integrated bracelet in the case metal. It is automatic, on the Cartier Cal. 077 built on the ETA 2671.

Is every Ref. 2960 gold?

No. Dealers have sold the 2960 in 18k yellow gold, and Dorotheum and Antiquorum have sold it in stainless steel, so the number alone does not tell you the metal. Check the case and bracelet: a gold 2960 is gold throughout, and a steel one is steel throughout.

What dial variants exist on the Ref. 2960?

White with black Roman numerals is documented on gold examples. Steel examples are also documented with burgundy dials, dated 1981 to 1984, and with slate gray dials, one of them sold new in 1984. A gold example of about 1990 with factory-set diamonds is also documented.

How do I tell a 2960 from a 2961?

By the metals. Both are 29 × 41 mm automatics with a date at 3 o'clock. The 2961 is stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel and screws; the 2960 is solid 18k yellow gold or stainless steel throughout. Read the reference on the case back to be sure.

What should I check on a Ref. 2960?

The bracelet first: look for stretch and lateral play between the links and wear at the clasp. Then the bezel screws for originality, the case for heavy polishing, and the movement, which should wind, keep time and set the date cleanly. Catalogs differ on the movement, since Antiquorum lists one steel example as the Cal. 076 with 25 jewels, so look at the caliber itself.

Specialist Dealer

A dealer who handles Ref. 2960

Alex Stevens Vintage

Founding dealer

Curated vintage watches with a focus on Cartier and military timepieces

Location
London, United Kingdom
Established
Est. 2015
Services
In-house inspection
Tank Louis CartierTank AméricaineTank FrançaiseSantosSantos GalbéeSantos DumontPanthère de Cartier

Other Santos References

Ref. 0901Photograph wanted
Ref. 0901

Santos, Ladies' 18k Gold or Steel

18k yellow gold or stainless steel · c. 1984–1990s

Ref. 0902Photograph wanted
Ref. 0902

Santos, Ladies' Steel & Gold

Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel · c. 1982–1995

Santos, Steel & Gold, Automatic, Ref. 2961, front
Ref. 2961

Santos, Steel & Gold, Automatic

Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold bezel and screws · c. 1978–early 1990s

Santos Carrée, 18k Yellow Gold, 27 mm, Ref. 2964, front
Ref. 2964

Santos Carrée, 18k Yellow Gold, 27 mm

18k Yellow Gold · c. 1980s–1990s

Back to Santos