Short answer
162369 is not a Cartier reference number. Cartier Santos references start with a letter and run four digits, for example WSSA0018 on the large steel Santos. The number in this listing is a seller SKU. The v6 tag is a version label used inside the replica trade. Neither code comes from Cartier.
What v6 means
Replica sellers add version numbers when a model gets revised. v1 through v6 mark claimed changes to the case, dial, bracelet or movement. No registry tracks these labels. Two sellers can put v6 on two different watches. Ask for photos of the unit in hand and of the movement, not renders.
Factory names
Buyers pass around factory names such as BV, GF, AF and 3K for Santos replicas. Which factory built a given watch is unverified in most cases. Treat a factory claim as marketing text until the seller shows the caseback and the movement.
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What to check against the real watch
- Case size. The large Santos measures about 39.8 mm across and about 9 mm thick. The medium measures about 35.1 mm.
- Dial. Cartier is printed in a serif script. Genuine dials carry a hidden Cartier signature inside the VII numeral. Many replicas miss it or print it too large.
- Crown. A blue spinel cabochon sits in the crown. Color and cut vary on copies.
- Bracelet. The genuine bracelet uses Cartier QuickSwitch release and SmartLink sizing. Copies render the look. Check that the links articulate and the release buttons work.
- Movement. Replicas ship with a Miyota 9015, a Seiko NH35 or a clone of an ETA 2824. Ask which one. A Miyota 9015 runs at 28,800 vph and hacks.
- Finish. Look at the brushed and polished transitions on the bezel and case flanks. Photos taken at an angle show them.
Legal status in the US
US law treats counterfeit goods as illegal to import and to sell. 19 U.S.C. 1526 lets Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy shipments. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A buyer who orders stock and resells it can face civil claims from the trademark owner under the Lanham Act. CBP can seize a parcel sent to a private address.
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Questions to send a seller
- Photos of the watch in hand with a timestamp.
- Which movement, plus a photo of the rotor.
- Case thickness measured with calipers.
- Return address and return window.
- Payment method, and what happens if the parcel is seized.
Bottom line
The 162369 v6 listing describes a Santos copy with a seller code and a version tag. Judge the watch on measured size, dial detail, bracelet action and the movement inside. The codes alone carry no information.