The http://www.speedroc.com/replica-cartier-ballon-bleu-28mm.html GMT has always held a certain appeal to us. After all, it is THE original jet-setter's watch. As most know, it was designed in conjunction with Pan-American airlines for the first intercontinental airline pilots and has retained a similar look for a solid half century; black dial, 24 hour bezel, and of course that now legendary fourth hand. It is the (unofficial) choice of countless spacemen, the 40 year partner of Ferrari boss Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and of course, Chuck Yeager wears one too.
The "Pepsi-Bezel" version of the GMTs are the most easily identifiable, but few outside the true aficionados are aware of the varying materials used to make these bi-colored "timing rings", as Cartier Santos themselves called them when originally launched. Originally, the bezel on thereplica cartier pasha was made from a material called polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, or Bakelite. Bakelite was an early plastic that was popularly used in radios, telephones, and jewelry in the first half of the 20th century. It was easily moldable, but also very brittle. The Bakelite bezels faded easily and broke even easier. There was also a fear that they may have been radioactive. Needless to say replica tag heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 began swapping out Bakelite bezels with steel ones relatively quickly after the launch of the GMT.
Not many Bakelite GMT's have survived through the years, and those that have fetch a pretty penny, so the watch we've got for you today is really something special. This early GMT (reference 6542) is in pristine condition, and even the bakelite bezel is "like new". It has a gilt "Swiss" dial, matching hands, and black date wheel. As the seller describes, "we see many marginal examples of the 6542 pop up, this is truly a museum piece."
Now how much would you expect to pay for a first generation GMT Master with original bakelite bezel? Well, a bakelite bezel alone, in worse condition than the one attached to this watch, sold for $11,400 just last week at auction. So, if you add a Cartier Santos watch to this Cartier Santos bezel...well you can do that math. The price is on application, and more details and images of this epic and early Cartier Santos GMT Master with original bakelite bezel can be found right here.
The President (née "Day-Date") is perhaps the most famous watch on the planet, and it should be. It is a heaping chuck of solid gold worn by everyone from Brad Pitt to Nicolas Sarkozy to Warren Buffet. Most Presidents you see have the typical configuration of being yellow gold with a fluted bezel and the day of the week presented in English. If you're a classicist, that's the one to get, but you're looking for something subtly awesome, we have three excellent choices for you.
http://community.artofmanliness.com/profiles/blogs/a-beautiful-cartier-santos-watch-for-the-beautiful-game
http://myphillygolf.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=905&PID=1707#1707
http://mandarincollective.org/forum/topic.php?id=2583&replies=1#post-4632
http://community.artofmanliness.com/profiles/blogs/a-hot-rod-racer-s-cartier-santos