Overview
In 2005, Cartier released the Santos Galbée XL as a size update to the wildly popular Santos line that was instrumental in popularizing the brand with a younger audience. The Galbée ("curved" in French) is known for its more wrist-hugging shape and originally came in a 29mm x 41mm case when launched in 1987. The XL then bumped up the size to 32mm x 45mm to satisfy the demand for larger watches in the mid 2000s. The case also became slightly thicker and the date window was moved from the 3:00 to a more discrete location at 4:30. Overall, it wears very similarly to a 36mm round watch.
While the two-tone version was the original poster child for the Santos, the all-steel models have become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s no surprise given how sleek and sporty they look. While the Galbée XL is no longer in production, Cartier continues to produce a modern version of the Santos in medium and large sizes.
Specifications
Brand:
Cartier
Model:
Santos Galbée XL
Reference:
W20098D6
Year:
2013
Case Number:
519730 SX
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
32 mm
Lug Width:
20 mm
Thickness:
8.7 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
45.0 mm
Dial:
White
Lume:
None
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Automatic
Caliber:
Cartier 049
Bracelet/Strap:
Cartier stainless steel bracelet with steel screws
Max Wrist Size:
8in (24 links)
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The case is pristine with the original brushed finishing present and only a few hairlines on the bezel and the case side opposite the crown. Given that the bracelet stickers and hang tag are still attached, these imperfections are likely from handling and storage versus actual wear. The lugs are thick and fully defined with beautiful contrast between brushed and polished surfaces. The case back looks untouched with sharp, deep engravings that are fully legible.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The white dial and blue sword hands are perfect. The sapphire crystal is clean and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The fully-linked Cartier stainless steel bracelet shows no signs of wear with protective stickers present.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown-winding, time-setting, and date-changing are working as expected.
Service History: Unknown.
