Footballer Gianluca Lapadula spotted wearing a Cartier

Gianluca Lapadula was recently photographed outdoors — likely near a marina, given the nautical backdrop — wearing a substantial Cartier Santos de Cartier in 18k yellow gold on his wrist. The image, taken from a profile angle, reveals the unmistakable warm yellow-gold tone of the bracelet and case catching the natural light, a sighting that prompted a closer look at the exact configuration on his wrist.

The watch in question is the Cartier Santos de Cartier Large model in 18k yellow gold, reference WGSA0009. The dial presents all the hallmarks of the contemporary Santos: a silver-toned guilloché dial with bold black Roman numerals, a railway minute track, a discreet date window at 6 o'clock, and the signature blued steel sword-shaped hands. The case measures 39.8mm × 47.5mm, housing the in-house Cartier calibre 1847 MC — a self-winding mechanical movement offering approximately 40 hours of power reserve. The integrated gold bracelet features the QuickSwitch and SmartLink systems, allowing strap changes and size adjustments without tools, a quietly practical engineering detail on an otherwise traditional luxury piece.

The Santos de Cartier traces its lineage directly to Louis Cartier's 1904 commission for Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, making it arguably the most historically significant wristwatch reference in existence. The 2018 relaunch of the Santos line modernised the proportions and introduced interchangeable strap technology while preserving the architectural DNA — exposed screws on the bezel and integrated bracelet — that collectors have prized for decades. In yellow gold, the Santos occupies a particularly traditional register, evoking the original Cartier aesthetic before stainless steel became the dominant material of the modern era.

Lapadula, who has played at the highest levels of Italian football with clubs including Genoa, AC Milan, and Benevento, and represented Peru at the 2021 Copa América, has developed a reputation as a footballer with refined taste off the pitch. The choice of an 18k yellow gold Santos — rather than the more commonplace steel or two-tone versions — signals genuine familiarity with the Cartier catalogue rather than a default luxury purchase.

On the grey market, the WGSA0009 trades at a premium over retail given the current demand for Cartier sports references in precious metal, making this a financially appreciating asset as well as a wearable piece of watchmaking history.