How to Spot Fake Cartier Watches

Cartier remains one of the most valuable brands in the world; 170 years since it was founded. The French brand made its name by creating jewelry and timepieces for royalty and society’s elite.

Due to the iconic nature and global reach of Cartier’s creations, they are always targeted by counterfeiters – but you don’t have to be a victim of their schemes.
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Here are a few elements you can look at so you can spot a fake Cartier timepiece.

THE DIAL

In many models of Cartier watches, you’ll find that the dial has a symmetrical guilloché pattern. The guilloché is a decorative technique that creates a repetitive and very precise, circular wave-like pattern. Many other models feature a silvered dial that has a slight surface texture and a slightly off-white color.

A Cartier watch will also have high-quality finishing on the dial. Look for jagged lines on the hour markers, blobs of paint on the dial, and irregular fonts. SEE ALL CARTIER >

THE SECRET SIGNATURE

Cartier also puts a “secret signature” on most of its watch dials. The thin line of either the 10 o’clock or 7 o’clock Roman numeral markers is not really a line; it is CARTIER spelled out in clear text, as seen above.

Right below the 6 o’clock marker, you’ll often find the words SWISS, SWISS MADE, or PARIS spelled out in clear text. It is hardly visible, and this is an incredibly small detail that is often left out by counterfeiters. SEE ALL CARTIER >

THE BLUE DETAILS

The Cartier Tank, Ballon Bleu, Panthere, Santos, and Ronde will usually have Cartier’s signature blue details: the blued steel hands and the circular grained crown, set with either the blue spinel or blue sapphire. Models with diamonds usually have a diamond set in the crown.

Look very closely at how the cabochon is attached to the crown: it should be set into the crown and not glued on it. SEE ALL CARTIER >

THE SCREWS

The cases of Cartier watches are most often secured by uniform, flathead screws.

Knock offs will usually have inexpensive and thin snap-on cases or they can have screws, but usually use rounded, Phillips head screws. SEE ALL CARTIER >

THE CASE BACK

On the case back, you should find the following information engraved in a crisp, clean manner.

– The Cartier logo

– A four digit model number

– A serial number with two letters and four to six digits

– The words “water resistant” and “Swiss Made”. SEE ALL CARTIER >

Lastly, pay attention to the overall construction of the watch. Authentic Cartier watches are made of the finest materials, so its weight will be more substantial and any element on the watch will be of high quality.

As always, it’s best to only buy from reputable dealers. If you already own a Cartier, always bring your watch to any authorized Cartier dealer to have it checked for authenticity.

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SEE MORE OF THE WATCHES IN OUR VIDEO: