Written by: Laura Barber

With its machine-like design and futuristic style, the Cartier Santos-Dumont Skeleton Carbon Men’s Watch W2020052 looks like something you would expect to see someone wearing in The Matrix. So, if you’re the kind of guy who likes to picture himself in a black trench coat and dark sunglasses dodging bullets and single-handedly fighting off a crowd of bad guys with your ultramodern ninja skills, this is definitely the watch for you.

As a brand, Cartier is known for its intricate, whimsical and sometimes even bizarre designs, and the W2020052 is no stranger to this trend. This watch boasts an entirely titanium case, bezel and crown, sword-shaped brass hands and an alligator skin bracelet with an adjustable 18-karat white gold buckle. Its most interesting and notable feature however, is the detailing on the face. Because this is a skeleton watch, it lacks a solid dial. Instead, the Roman numerals that form the bridges of its movement create a sort of makeshift dial, through which you can see this timepiece’s inner workings.

The W2007051 brings a more traditional look to Cartier's Santos-Dumont collection.

Other features of this watch include:
• Mechanical movement with manual winding caliber
• 38.7 mm x 47.4 mm case dimensions
• Up to 72 hours of power reserve
• Water-resistant to 100 feet (30 meters)
• Movement is individually numbered
• Sapphire crystal and case back

Despite its somewhat spindly appearance, this watch is actually quite solid. The strength of the titanium used throughout its composition will make this one difficult to break. However, if there are problems with your watch, it is protected under a two-year limited warranty.

To sum up all the pros about this watch:
• Its interesting and intricate design
• Its durability
• Its three day long power reserve
• Its water-resistance

Unfortunately, you can’t have pros without cons:
• Price—$46,000 (and that doesn’t include any sales tax)
• Readability—if you didn’t already know there were Roman numerals on this watch, I bet you wouldn’t even notice them.
• Its futuristic look will probably only appeal to a small group of shoppers
• Lack of variety— not for those who prefer a diverse color palette or a selection of different materials in the construction of their watch

If you have the money to spend and this selection from the Santos-Dumont collection satisfies your stylistic tastes, then go ahead and get this watch, I don’t think you’ll regret it. However, if you prefer something a little more subdued, Cartier offers other watches in the same collection that have a more traditional look.