Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Stormzy spotted wearing Cartier

Stormzy, the South London MC who became the first solo grime artist to headline Glastonbury, was photographed wearing a Cartier Santos 100 Carbon — reference WSSA006 — a sighting that underlines the model's growing relevance outside traditional watch-collecting circles and inside the world of cultural tastemakers.

The Santos 100 Carbon WSSA006 is built around a 51.1 × 41.3 mm case constructed from carbon composite, giving it a distinctively dark, matte appearance that sets it apart from the stainless steel and gold variants in the Santos 100 family. The integrated rubber strap and black PVD-coated steel hardware complete a monochromatic look that reads more motorsport than drawing room — intentional, and effective. Powering the watch is Cartier's calibre 1847 MC, a robust quartz movement that prioritises reliability over complication. The sapphire crystal displays the characteristic Roman numeral dial and chemin de fer minute track — hallmarks of the Santos DNA that trace back to Louis Cartier's original 1904 commission for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont.

The Santos 100 Carbon occupies a specific niche in the collector world: it is simultaneously one of Cartier's most technically undemanding references and one of its most visually arresting. The carbon case differentiates it sharply from the stainless steel Santos 100, and its oversized proportions — unusual for a Cartier — give it genuine wrist presence. Collectors who approach Cartier through the sports watch angle tend to gravitate toward this reference precisely because it signals awareness without shouting luxury in the conventional sense.

For Stormzy, the choice is consistent with a personal aesthetic that balances premium taste with a refusal to be overtly ostentatious. The Santos 100 Carbon is not a Patek or a Royal Oak — it's something quieter, more considered, and arguably more confident for it. Stormzy has consistently demonstrated an eye for quality over flash across fashion and culture.

At a UK list price of £6,100, the Cartier Santos 100 Carbon WSSA006 occupies a relatively accessible position in the luxury watch market, typically trading close to retail on the secondary market given Cartier's sustained brand strength and the enduring appeal of the Santos line.