"830107" is not a Cartier reference number. Cartier codes for the Tank line use a letter prefix and four digits, such as WSTA0041 or WGTA0067. The string 830107 appears in replica listings as an internal seller SKU. It does not map to any Cartier catalog entry, and it does not identify a movement, case size, or metal.
What the Cartier Tank Is
Louis Cartier designed the Tank in 1917. The name comes from the Renault FT tank. Production began in 1919. Cartier sells the line under several names: Tank Must, Tank Solo, Tank Française, Tank Louis Cartier, Tank Américaine, and Tank Anglaise. Steel models start near $3,000. Gold pieces with complications pass $100,000.
Cartier is owned by Richemont, a Swiss group. Casebacks carry a model reference and a serial number. Both are engraved into the metal, not printed on a sticker.
Why "830107" Shows Up in Search
Replica sellers assign item codes to inventory batches. The codes change between batches. The same watch can appear as 830107, 8301-07, or another string on a different site. The number has no meaning outside that seller's stock system. It is not a Cartier service number and not a case number.
US Law on Counterfeit Watches
Counterfeit goods are illegal to import and sell in the United States. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 lets US Customs and Border Protection seize shipments that bear a counterfeit trademark. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114 and § 1125, covers civil claims by the trademark owner. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison. CBP publishes seizure totals each year.
Common Traits of Counterfeit Tanks
- Quartz movement in a reference that Cartier sells as mechanical.
- Mineral glass in place of sapphire.
- Plated brass case, lighter than steel or gold.
- Printed dial text with uneven spacing.
- Blue cabochon crown made from plastic or glass, not synthetic spinel.
- Serial and reference numbers that do not match between caseback and papers.
Checks on a Watch in Hand
- Read the reference on the caseback. Compare it with the current Cartier catalog.
- Check the movement type. A Tank Must runs on quartz. A Tank Louis Cartier runs mechanical. Cartier states the movement for each reference.
- Inspect the crown. Cartier sets a blue spinel cabochon into the crown on most Tank references.
- Ask for service records. Cartier keeps a service history keyed to the serial number.
- Request a weight. Cartier does not publish case weights for most references, so figures from sellers are not reliable on their own.
Resale and Service
Cartier will not service a counterfeit. Authorized service centers reject them at intake. Auction houses and resellers refuse them. Secondhand value is zero. A buyer who pays for one holds a watch with no parts support and no legal resale path in the United States.