Quick answer
A fake Clé de Cartier medium watch is a counterfeit copy of the Cartier Clé de Cartier, a line Cartier introduced in 2015. The medium case measures 35 mm across. Genuine pieces run the automatic Calibre 1847 MC movement. Most counterfeit copies are built in China and sell for $40 to $800. They copy the outside of the watch. The crown mechanism, case finish, and movement are the parts that fail inspection.
The genuine medium model
Cartier took the name from the French word for key. The winding crown sits inside a key-shaped housing. A pusher on the case side frees the key, and the key turns to wind and set the watch. The medium case is 35 mm, offered in steel, pink gold, and white gold. Cartier fitted sapphire crystals and the 1847 MC automatic movement. Cartier does not publish production totals for the line.
Buying Guide: Fake Cle de Cartier Medium Replica
Counterfeit grades and prices
- Quartz copies, $40 to $120. Battery movement. The crown does not turn. Case metal is brass with plating.
- Entry automatic, $130 to $300. DG2813 or Miyota movement. Date window sits off center. Strap hardware is stamped, not milled.
- High-grade copies, $350 to $800. ETA clone movement, sapphire crystal, case within 1 mm of the genuine size. Boxes, papers, and warranty cards ship with these kits, and those items are counterfeit too.
Identification checks
- Turn the crown. A genuine key engages, releases, and winds. Most copies have a fixed crown or a cap glued to the case.
- Measure the case. Genuine medium is 35 mm wide at 3 to 9 o'clock, crown excluded. Copies measure 37 mm and up because builders use stock cases.
- Read the dial print under 10x magnification. Genuine Cartier lettering has clean edges. Copy print shows ragged edges and uneven stroke width.
- Inspect the cabochon. Genuine crowns hold a polished blue spinel. Copies use dyed glass or plastic.
- Match the serials. Cartier stamps a serial on the caseback and a matching number on the movement. Copies use one number or none.
- Check the finish under raking light. Genuine cases show brushed and polished surfaces with a sharp break line. Copies show rounded edges from a polishing wheel.
Legal facts
Cartier holds trademarks on the Clé de Cartier name and the key-shaped crown. In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison. A second offense carries up to 20 years. Fines reach $2 million for an individual. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry, and watches rank among the top seized categories.
fake cle de cartier medium mens
Swiss made claims on a listing
Swiss law limits use of the term. A watch must meet Swiss content and assembly rules. A counterfeit cannot meet those rules. Sellers print the phrase on dials and in listings to raise the price.