Short answer
"1701" is not a Cartier reference number. Cartier reference codes for the Astrotourbillon line use a W prefix and seven characters. Sellers who write "1701" use a stock tag or batch code, not a maker reference.
Second point: a low-cost copy cannot match the movement. The Astrotourbillon puts the balance wheel and escapement in a carriage that circles the dial once per minute. That carriage is the product. Copies at three-digit prices use a standard balance wheel and a decorative bridge.
fake cartier astrotourbillon 1701 replica
What the Cartier Astrotourbillon is
Cartier released the Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon in 2010. Calibre 9451 MC. Hand-wound. The tourbillon carriage sits at the center of the dial and completes one turn per minute, so the cage acts as the seconds indicator. Case diameter is 47 mm. Cartier offered the model in platinum, rose gold, and titanium.
Cartier later added skeleton versions under the Astrotourbillon S name. Those use a different caliber and a different case.
What "1701 copy" refers to
- Batch code. Replica trading uses short numeric tags that do not map to maker references.
- Case label. Some sellers use numbers for case diameter.
- Stock number. Common on marketplace listings that recycle photos across accounts.
No public record ties "1701" to a specific workshop. Claims about the source are unverifiable.
How to separate a tourbillon from a look-alike
- Find the balance wheel inside the cage. In a tourbillon, the balance, hairspring, and escapement all move with the carriage.
- Time one rotation. One turn per minute matches the seconds hand on the Astrotourbillon.
- Check the caseback. Calibre 9451 MC shows hand-wound bridges and a serial number.
- Compare price. A working tourbillon movement costs four figures before case, dial, and finishing. A three-digit price does not cover the parts.
Legal status in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments that carry counterfeit marks. A buyer who pays for a seized shipment has no refund path through customs. Cartier is a Richemont brand and enforces its trademarks in US courts.
There are practical costs as well. Counterfeit watches have no service network and no parts supply. Water resistance claims are untested.
Questions to put to a seller
- Which movement is in the watch, and who makes it?
- What is the case diameter and case material?
- Does the carriage rotate, and at what rate?
- What is the return address and the return window?
If those answers do not come in writing, the listing cannot be checked.