Quick answer
A fake Cartier Roadster 38mm clone is a replica of a steel automatic watch Cartier sold from about 2001 to 2012. The genuine watch has a 38mm case, 100m water resistance, sapphire crystal, and Cartier caliber 049. Replicas differ in case finish, dial print, and movement. Use calipers, a 10x loupe, and a timegrapher. No photo set proves a watch is genuine.
Genuine specs to compare
- Case: steel, 38mm wide, about 44mm lug to lug, about 10.5mm thick.
- Movement: Cartier 049 automatic, 21 jewels, 28,800 vph, about 42 hours power reserve.
- Crystal: sapphire.
- Water resistance: 100m.
- Crown: steel with blue synthetic spinel cabochon.
- Dial: Roman numerals, date at 3, Cartier script, Swiss Made at 6.
- Bracelet: steel with folding clasp.
Checks on a clone
1. Case dimensions
Measure width at 9 and 3 o'clock, thickness at the caseback center, and lug to lug. A 38mm clone should read 37.8mm to 38.2mm across. Thickness should read near 10.5mm. A case that reads 40mm or 12mm is not a 38mm Roadster case. Weight varies with bracelet links, so compare against a known watch with the same link count.
2. Crown cabochon
The genuine crown uses a blue synthetic spinel. Replicas use glass, plastic, or dyed stone. Check the dome under a loupe for bubbles and flow lines. The stone should sit in a steel cup with no gap. Color under daylight should read deep blue with a purple shift, not bright blue.
The Ultimate Guide to Fake Cartier Roadster 38mm Replica Watches
3. Dial print and date
Under 10x, check the Cartier script. Stroke width on genuine print is even across letters. Replica print can show ink spread or a thick tail on the letter r. Check Roman numerals VII and IX for shape. The date font should match the genuine font: open counters and a thin stroke. Hands should reach the Roman numerals without crossing them.
The Ultimate Guide to Fake Roadster 38mm Watches
4. Caseback
The genuine caseback is solid steel and screws down. Engraving includes the reference, serial, Swiss Made, and water resistance. Genuine engraving has a machined base and even depth. Replica engraving can show a dot pattern from laser marking. Check the thread: it should engage with no grit.
5. Movement
Open the caseback if you accept the risk. Cartier caliber 049 is based on the ETA 2892-A2. It has 21 jewels, a signed rotor, and beats at 28,800 vph. Replicas use Asian 2824, 2836, or 2892 clones. A timegrapher reading of 21,600 vph is a mismatch. Check rotor engraving and jewel count.
6. Bracelet and clasp
End links should meet the case with no step. Screw heads should sit flush. The clasp should have a double fold and a stamped Cartier mark. Replica bracelets can have sharp edges, loose pins, and a single fold clasp.
US legal notes
US law bans trafficking in counterfeit goods under 18 U.S.C. section 2320. CBP can seize shipments that contain counterfeit trademarked items. A personal purchase is not the same charge as resale, but seizure and disposal are possible. Delivery from an overseas seller is not guaranteed.
What a clone cannot match
The Roadster is discontinued, so new genuine stock is gone. Case finishing, dial print, and movement decoration differ from the original. Ask for macro photos with a ruler and a timestamped video of the running watch. Photos can be copied from other listings. A video with a timegrapher and serial close-up gives more data.