Short answer
A fake Cartier Must de Cartier is an unlicensed copy of a watch Cartier sold from 1973 into the 2000s. The real watch used a vermeil case: 925 sterling silver with gold plating. Counterfeits use brass or steel with a gold tone finish. They carry no silver hallmark, no valid Cartier service record and no Cartier warranty.
Top Best Guide to Finding Replica Cartier Watch Online
What the Must de Cartier line was
Cartier launched the Must line in 1973. It sat at the entry level, below the Santos and the Tank. The range grew to include leather goods, pens and a fragrance. The watches ran on quartz movements assembled in Switzerland. Cartier is owned by Richemont.
Counterfeit Must de Cartier: How to Tell Real From Fake
- Case: vermeil, 925 silver under gold plate. US guides set the plating floor at 2.5 microns.
- Dial: white or cream, Roman numerals, "Must de Cartier" script, Cartier signature.
- Crown: blue cabochon set in a gold plated crown.
- Case size: 20 mm to 30 mm across on most models.
- Caseback: model number, serial number, and an "Argent 925" or vermeil stamp.
Points where counterfeits differ
- Metal. Vermeil rings and patinas in a way plated brass does not. A brass case shows no 925 stamp and wears thin at the lugs.
- Markings. Copy typefaces run wide or bold. Engraving is shallow and laser cut, not stamped.
- Cabochon. Cartier used blue spinel or sapphire. Copies use glass or dyed plastic.
- Movement. Real Must watches use signed quartz movements. Copies use unbranded modules.
- Weight. A vermeil case weighs more than a plated base metal case of the same size.
- Papers. Counterfeit boxes and booklets use wrong typefaces and model numbers that do not match the case.
US law and enforcement
18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. The Lanham Act allows civil suits and statutory damages. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit watches at the border. A personal purchase is not trafficking, but the item can still be seized and the buyer has no refund path.
Market size
The OECD and EUIPO put counterfeit trade at about USD 464 billion in 2019, or 2.5 percent of world trade. Watches and jewelry rank among the most copied categories.
Replica Must de Cartier Cartier: How to Find a Quality Piece Online
What cannot be confirmed
Cartier does not publish an open serial number database. No public count of Must de Cartier counterfeits exists. Authentication needs a Cartier boutique or an independent watchmaker with the case in hand. Photos and listing text do not settle the question.