Quick answer

The Calibre de Cartier 42 mm is a Cartier watch with a 42 mm case, a sapphire crystal, and the in-house Calibre 1904-PS MC movement. Replica listings copy the look and use a third-party movement. No replica matches the case profile, the dial texture, or the movement finish. Import into the US and resale both break federal law.

Specs to compare

  • Case: 42 mm diameter. Steel, pink gold, or white gold.
  • Movement: Calibre 1904-PS MC. Automatic. 27 jewels. 28,800 vph. 48-hour power reserve.
  • Crystal: sapphire on the front and the back.
  • Water resistance: 30 m.
  • Dial: Roman numerals, date window at 3 o'clock. Layout changes with the reference number.
  • Caseback: eight screws. Reference and serial engraved.

What replica versions use

  • Movement: Chinese clones of the ETA 2824-2, Miyota 9015, or a decorated unit with a plate made to read as 1904-PS MC.
  • Case metal: 316L steel on most listings.
  • Crystal: mineral glass on the low tier, sapphire on the top tier.
  • Price: about $80 to $500. Higher prices track the movement and the bracelet.

Five checks

  1. Beat rate. A 1904-PS MC runs at 28,800 vph, or 8 beats per second. A timegrapher reading of 21,600 vph points to a cheaper movement.
  2. Rotor. Genuine rotors carry Cotes de Geneve stripes and deep engraving. Replica rotors use printed text or shallow cuts.
  3. Cabochon. The crown holds a blue spinel. Replicas use glass or dyed resin.
  4. Screws. Eight caseback screws. Heads sit flush and take a flat blade.
  5. Weight. Ask for a scale photo. Steel on a bracelet carries mass that copies often miss.

US law

19 U.S.C. 1526 bars import of goods that carry a counterfeit mark. CBP can seize the shipment and assess a fine. 15 U.S.C. 1114 covers sales and distribution. Cartier is a Richemont brand and files takedowns and seizures on these grounds. One watch for personal use still carries border risk.

What is not public

No public data set says which factory made a given replica or how many 42 mm units exist. Seller pages are the main source of detail, and those pages are not verifiable. Treat any claim about "1:1" or "same factory" as unproven.