The Cartier Santos-Dumont WGSA0112 is the full 18K rose gold XL with the linen dial — one of the newest and most talked-about additions to the Dumont line, and a watch most owners had to chase to get. The beige dial carries a woven linen texture, a quiet tribute to the linen-and-wood flying machines of the earliest aviators, Alberto Santos-Dumont's among them. Cartier ships it on brown alligator with an 18K rose gold pin buckle.
Which means the whole factory package is warm: gold case, beige dial, brown strap. Beautiful — and, as this guide will show, only half of what this watch can do. Correct size first.
Cartier Santos-Dumont WGSA0112 Strap Size and Fit
The essentials:
- Reference: WGSA0112, Santos-Dumont, Extra-Large model, 18K rose gold
- Case dimensions: 46.6 × 33.9 mm, just 7.5 mm thin
- Correct strap size: 19 mm
On the product page, select the 19 mm option. The Santos-Dumont uses standard spring bars — no QuickSwitch — and our Dumont straps come with spring bar inserts and a slim, tapered cut made for this case, so nothing interrupts its clean lines.
Size by case, not by photos: the XL (46.6 × 33.9 mm — this reference and the other hand-wound XLs) takes 19 mm, the Small (38 × 27.5 mm) takes 15.5 mm, and the mid-size Large model is covered separately in our Santos-Dumont Large strap guide. If your case measures 33.9 mm across, you're a 19.
A Gold Watch With an Aviator's Dial
Everything about the WGSA0112 is the precious version of the Dumont formula. The case is solid 18K rose gold. The beaded crown holds a genuine sapphire cabochon — where the steel Dumonts carry a synthetic spinel. Inside is Cartier's hand-wound manufacture calibre 430 MC, the movement that keeps the case at 7.5 mm and makes morning winding part of owning it. The caseback is engraved with Santos-Dumont's handwritten signature, and the dial is the star: a linen-textured beige surface with rose gold Roman numerals — and blued-steel sword hands, the single cool-toned detail on the entire watch. Water resistance is 30 meters; this is a dress watch with an aviation soul.
Gold Wants Contrast, Not Company
Here's the thing about the factory setup: gold case, beige dial, brown alligator — it's one continuous warm tone from lug to buckle. Elegant, but it costs the watch something. Gold reads richest against contrast; it's why jewelers show gold on black velvet, not on tan suede. On the factory brown, the WGSA0112 glows softly. Put it on a dark strap and the rose gold suddenly pops — the case edges sharpen, the linen texture reads deeper, and everyone can see what the watch is made of.
So the strap question on this reference isn't "what matches the gold" — Cartier already shipped the match. It's "what does the gold stand out against." These are the most popular strap choices among Dumont XL owners:
1. Black Leather – Gold on Black Velvet
A black leather strap for the Santos-Dumont is the register the factory kit never offers: maximum contrast, evening formality, the classic tuxedo pairing for a gold dress watch. Against black, the rose gold case does all the talking and the beige linen dial becomes the warm center of a framed picture. If you add one strap to this reference, this is the one that changes it most — and it's the strap for the occasions a watch like this was bought for.
2. Brown Leather – The Factory Look, Renewed
The brown alligator in the box is the strap that will age first — daily wear creases and grays every leather. A brown leather strap keeps Cartier's warm-on-warm intention alive for everyday wear while the factory alligator rests for the days it was made for. Rotating the two more than doubles the life of both — worthwhile arithmetic when one of them came from Cartier.
3. Blue Leather – The Hands Already Chose It
Look at the dial again: those sword hands are blued steel — the only cool note Cartier allowed on this watch, deliberately placed at its center. A blue leather strap extends that choice to the wrist, and navy against rose gold is one of the most confident pairings in modern watch styling: warm metal, cool ground, nothing accidental. The pick for owners who want the gold noticed without wearing it loudly.
4. Black CTS Rubber – The Gold, Off Duty
Even a rose gold XL has weekends. A black CTS rubber strap made for the Santos-Dumont gives the WGSA0112 a modern, low-key mode for travel and summer — and rubber carries a lifetime warranty. You'll find it with every option above in the full Cartier Santos-Dumont strap collection, all in 19 mm.
One note on the factory buckle: your watch came with an 18K rose gold ardillon — keep it safe with the original strap. A complete factory set matters on a reference this sought-after.
Keep It Slim
At 7.5 mm, the Dumont XL slides under any cuff — that thinness is the design. Slim, flat straps preserve it; padded straps break it. Every strap above is cut specifically for the Dumont's profile.
Final Thoughts
The WGSA0112 is the Dumont at its most precious — solid rose gold, a hand-wound manufacture movement, and a dial woven from aviation history. The strap decides whether it glows or shines. Helvetus is one of the leading names in the aftermarket strap world, and our Santos-Dumont straps are cut precisely for this case — an exact 19 mm fit with spring bar inserts included. Rubber straps carry a lifetime warranty, shipping is free worldwide with no import costs, and more than 50,000 watch owners already trust us with their straps.
Cartier dressed the gold in gold. The strap is where you get a say.
