What a replica Ladybird diamond watch is
Cartier made the Ladybird as a small women's watch. Most examples date from the 1970s and after. Case width runs about 20 mm to 25 mm. Many use a quartz movement. Gem-set versions carry diamonds on the bezel, the dial, or both.
A replica Ladybird comes from a third party. Cartier does not make it, sell it, or service it. The stones in a replica are not Cartier stones. Common listings name cubic zirconia, moissanite, or lab-grown diamonds. Case metal is steel with gold plating in most listings.
Stones
Diamond hardness is 10 on the Mohs scale. Cubic zirconia measures 8 to 8.5. Moissanite measures 9.25. A thermal tester separates diamond from cubic zirconia. It does not separate diamond from moissanite, because both conduct heat. Lab-grown diamonds share the hardness and the chemical structure of mined diamonds. Reports from GIA or IGI name the growth method and the carat weight.
Stone count and carat weight are the two numbers that matter. Genuine Cartier gem-set pages list both. A replica listing with no count and no weight gives no basis for a price.
Case and finish
Gold plating on replicas runs from about 0.5 microns to 3 microns. Plating wears at the case edges, the crown, and the clasp. Solid gold does not wear this way. Case backs on replicas carry engraved text. Spelling errors, wrong fonts, and missing reference numbers show up in photos.
Movement and service
Quartz is the common movement in a replica Ladybird. Quartz runs on a battery and needs a replacement cell every one to three years. Mechanical replicas use automatic or hand-wound movements. Service for a replica can be hard to find. Cartier service centers do not accept replicas.
Legal status in the US
US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit goods at the border. Import of goods that carry a counterfeit trademark is prohibited under 19 U.S.C. 1304 and 19 CFR Part 133. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Penalties include fines and prison terms. Selling a replica as a genuine watch is fraud.
Prices
Replica prices vary by seller. Listings run from tens of dollars to a few hundred. No standard price exists. Genuine Cartier Ladybird watches with diamonds trade on the secondary market in the thousands of dollars. Auction results and dealer listings set that range.
Checks before a purchase
- Ask for the stone count and the total carat weight.
- Ask for plating thickness in microns.
- Ask for the movement type and the battery reference.
- Ask for a clear photo of the case back.
- Ask about water resistance. A rating on a replica has no test certificate.
Some of these numbers are hard to verify. Sellers who give none of them are a known risk.