Buyer's Comparison
Cartier Santos vs Rolex Datejust
The Cartier Santos and the Rolex Datejust are the two most accessible iconic luxury watches — both designed for everyday wear, both in continuous production for decades, both wearable across formal and casual contexts. The Santos (1904) is the world's first purpose-built men's wristwatch: a 35.1mm or 39.8mm square case with the iconic eight visible screws on the bezel, Cartier's QuickSwitch interchangeable strap system on modern references, and the in-house Calibre 1847 MC automatic movement. The Datejust (1945) is Rolex's longest-running reference: 36mm or 41mm round Oystersteel case, the Cyclops magnification over the date window, Jubilee or Oyster bracelet, and the Calibre 3235 chronometer-grade movement. Santos in steel trades $7,000–$9,500; Santos in two-tone trades $9,500–$13,000; Datejust 36 in two-tone Rolesor trades $7,500–$11,000; Datejust 41 in two-tone Rolesor trades $11,000–$15,000. The Santos is the design statement — square case, exposed screws, distinctive Cartier identity. The Datejust is the universal Rolex — recognisable globally, appreciation-resistant, and available in dozens of dial-and-bezel configurations.
Option A
Cartier Santos
The design-led square dress-sport watch
Best For
- Distinctive design
- Strap versatility
- Cartier brand affinity
Option B
Rolex Datejust
The universal Rolex
Best For
- Universal recognition
- Better resale liquidity
- Dress-sport versatility
The Verdict
The Santos for a more design-led, more distinctive luxury watch. The Datejust for the broader recognition and the deeper Rolex resale market.
In Stock
Cartier Santos — Available
Cartier
$8,000
Santos de Cartier Medium
Ref. WSSA0029
Cartier
$8,100
Santos de Cartier Medium
Ref. WSSA0063

Cartier
$7,750
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0062

Cartier
$7,050
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0061

Cartier
$7,050
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0029

Cartier
$10,600
Santos de Cartier
Ref. W2SA0016
Cartier
$20,000 – $25,000
Santos
Ref. WHSA0009
Cartier
$6,500 – $8,250
Santos
Ref. WSSA0018

Cartier
$36,600
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WGSA0029

Cartier
$11,700
Santos de Cartier
Ref. W2SA0030

Cartier
$7,050
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0063

Cartier
$30,400
Santos de Cartier skeleton
Ref. WHSA0009

Cartier
$31,000
Santos-Dumont Skeleton Watch with micro-rotor
Ref. WHSA0032

Cartier
$7,750
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0018

Cartier
$4,200
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WSSA0022

Cartier
$7,750
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0071

Cartier
$8,300
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0039

Cartier
$7,750
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0064

Cartier
$3,900
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WSSA0023

Cartier
$11,700
Santos de Cartier
Ref. W2SA0009

Cartier
$6,050
Santos-Dumont
Ref. W2SA0011

Cartier
$7,050
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0065

Cartier
$14,000
Santos de Cartier
Ref. W4SA0005

Cartier
$5,600
Santos-Dumont
Ref. W2SA0012

Cartier
$6,250
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WSSA0032

Cartier
$6,050
Santos-Dumont
Ref. W2SA0028

Cartier
$8,050
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0037

Cartier
$13,000
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WGSA0021

Cartier
$16,600
Santos de Cartier
Ref. W3SA0007

Cartier
$36,600
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WGSA0018

Cartier
$20,000
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WGSA0019

Cartier
$70,000
Santos de Cartier skeleton
Ref. WHSA0016

Cartier
$8,800
Santos-Dumont
Ref. W2SA0017

Cartier
$30,900
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WJSA0013

Cartier
$16,700
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WGSA0028

Cartier
$43,300
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WJSA0014

Cartier
$31,500
Santos de Cartier skeleton
Ref. WHSA0026

Cartier
$16,800
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WGSA0032

Cartier
$36,600
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WGSA0095

Cartier
Price on request
Santos de Cartier Skeleton
Ref. WHSA0014

Cartier
$35,300
Santos de Cartier skeleton
Ref. WHSA0019

Cartier
Price on request
Montre Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0079

Cartier
$19,200
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WJSA0017

Cartier
$22,300
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WJSA0016

Cartier
$14,700
Santos de Cartier Chronograph
Ref. W2SA0008

Cartier
$30,400
Santos de Cartier skeleton
Ref. WHSA0015

Cartier
$14,000
Santos de Cartier
Ref. W4SA0006

Cartier
$11,200
Santos-Dumont
Ref. WGSA0022

Cartier
$31,500
Santos de Cartier skeleton
Ref. WHSA0027

Cartier
$40,400
Santos-Dumont Skeleton Watch with micro-rotor
Ref. WHSA0030

Cartier
$30,900
Santos de Cartier
Ref. WJSA0012

Cartier
Price on request
Montre Santos de Cartier
Ref. WSSA0081
Rolex Datejust — Available

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274
Rolex
$16,000 – $22,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126333
Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300
Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234
Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334
Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334
Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234
Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334
Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200
Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200
Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234
Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334
Rolex
$12,000 – $14,000
Datejust
Ref. 126234
Rolex
$17,000 – $21,000
Datejust
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126231

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278273

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126281RBR

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126301

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278271

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278271

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126281RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126303

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126333

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278273

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126231

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278271

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126331

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126231

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278273

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126301

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126231

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126303

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126301

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126281RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278271

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126231

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126281RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126281RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126334

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126231

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278271

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126301

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126303

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126333

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126333

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126200

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126303

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126233

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278381RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278271

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126234

Rolex
$25,000 – $30,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126283RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126203

Rolex
$20,000 – $25,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278383RBR

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126231

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126303

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278273

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 36
Ref. 126201

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126300

Rolex
$15,000 – $20,000
Datejust 41
Ref. 126331

Rolex
$10,000 – $15,000
Datejust 31
Ref. 278274
FAQ
Cartier Santos vs Rolex Datejust — Buyer Questions
More Comparisons
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