The Cartier Santos Octagon that arrived today is a piece with a lifetime warranty card, which covers Cartier's complete service and natural mechanical failures free of charge in Japan.
Compared to the two-tone models, stainless steel models with lifetime warranty cards are extremely rare on the market.
This may very well be the last time we receive one.
In the 1980s, very few stainless steel Santos models were produced,
and two-tone models were the mainstay of the market.
Roughly speaking, for every 20 two-tone models in circulation, there was perhaps only one stainless steel model?
Furthermore, for a piece to be considered to have a lifetime warranty, the warranty card must at least still be present,
which shows just how valuable this particular piece is.
You can feel a different interpretation of watches compared to today, but at the same time, the level of service is also vastly different.
Currently, the base fee for a complete service at Cartier for a mechanical watch is ¥99,000.
In addition, parts replacement fees will also apply,
so including the replacement of exterior parts as in this case, the repair cost would be around ¥170,000.
With a lifetime warranty card, the complete service fee is covered,
so the value of a piece with a lifetime warranty card increases every time prices are revised.
It is unlikely that a price once raised by the manufacturer will suddenly drop,
so even if prices remain unchanged, a lifetime warranty card offers more than enough value.
Also, today there is a tendency to prefer watches with a more understated atmosphere rather than flashy ones,
and stainless steel watches are so standard that they are offered by every brand and in every model.
Considering the design and service of watches, the fact that they cannot be obtained as current models is part of the appeal of vintage watches,
but including their rarity and low market availability, this particular piece can be said to be extremely valuable.
Even we have only received a handful of stainless steel Santos Octagon models with lifetime warranty cards in the past,
and considering the difficulty of sourcing them and the rising market prices, it will become increasingly difficult to receive more.
Even if we do receive one, we will inevitably have to raise the selling price.
The selling price this time is by no means cheap,
but compared to the nature of watches and their selling prices around the world, it should be by no means a bad deal.
Furthermore, when you consider the additional service of the lifetime warranty card,
ultimately, getting it at the current price is the best value,
and considering future repairs, it is undoubtedly a watch you should acquire.
We wish we could receive them regularly, but as a vintage watch, that is simply not possible.
However, it is certain that even if you stretch yourself to buy it, you will not lose out.
You should buy it before you miss out and then worry about what to do with it afterward.
Really, hurry!
