A fake Drive de Cartier 38588 is a replica of Cartier's Drive de Cartier sold under a seller-side catalog code, not a Cartier reference number. The digits group a specific factory run, case size, and movement tier. Two watches sharing the 38588 code can differ in every part that matters.

What does the number 38588 mean?

Cartier reference numbers for the Drive family follow a set format, such as CRWSNM0004 or CRWGNM0006. The number 38588 is not part of that format. It comes from replica catalogs, where sellers assign short numbers to group production batches.

Ask what the code covers before you pay. A direct answer names the case diameter, the movement, and the factory. A vague answer means the seller copied the listing from another store.

The real watch behind the replica

Cartier released the Drive de Cartier in 2016. The case is a cushion shape, 40 mm by 40 mm on the standard automatic models, with an Extra-Flat version that measures 6.6 mm thick. The dial uses Roman numerals, a small seconds subdial at six o'clock, and a date window at three.

Inside sits the 1904-PS MC, an in-house automatic movement. That caliber is the hardest piece for a replica maker to match, and it sets the price gap between quality tiers.

Which Drive de Cartier versions get copied?

Replica makers focus on four models: the 40 mm automatic, the 38 mm automatic, the Extra-Flat, and the Moon Phases. Skeleton and tourbillon versions show up less often because an open dial leaves nowhere to hide sloppy finishing.

• 40 mm automatic: date at three, small seconds at six. The most common build.
• 38 mm automatic: same layout in a smaller case, aimed at smaller wrists.
• Extra-Flat: 6.6 mm thick, no date and no small seconds. Slim cases demand a thin movement, so cheap builds run thick.
• Moon Phases: adds a moon aperture at six. The moon disc and its printed stars are where budget builds fail.

Replica quality tiers

Entry tier

Prices land under $80. Expect a quartz movement, a stamped case back, and a mineral crystal. The seconds hand ticks one step at a time, which anyone can spot.

Mid tier

This range runs $120 to $250. You get an automatic movement, often a Miyota or a Chinese clone, plus sapphire glass. Date font, crown shape, and dial printing are where the shortcuts appear.

Top tier

Top builds start near $400. They target a clone of the 1904-PS MC with a decorated rotor, correct case thickness, and a dial printed from a high-resolution scan. Even here, the movement finishing looks different with the back off.

How to check a listing before you pay

• Ask for the case measurement in millimeters, not "standard size."
• Request photos of the crown, case back, clasp, and dial in daylight.
• Get the movement name and number: quartz, Miyota, or a clone caliber.
• Compare the weight. A 40 mm steel watch on a strap sits near 80 to 100 grams.
• Search the seller name on watch forums and look for chargeback complaints.

Which details give a fake away?

Three details separate a replica from a genuine Drive de Cartier: the small seconds hand, the dial pattern, and the case back engraving. On the genuine watch the seconds hand sweeps in a smooth arc from the six o'clock subdial. Replica dials often print the guilloche pattern instead of stamping it, so the surface looks flat under direct light.

Case back text is the second tell. Genuine engraving is crisp with even spacing between the reference and the serial number. Replica engraving is shallow and the letters crowd together.

Where buyers lose money

Payment method matters more than the photos. Wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments leave no route to a refund if the watch never ships. A seller who refuses a card or an escrow service carries real risk.

Stolen photos are the second trap. Sellers lift images from other stores, so run a reverse image search on the dial shot to see whether the listing is original.

Is buying a fake watch legal?

In the United States, selling, importing, or shipping a counterfeit watch is illegal. Buying one for personal use sits in a gray zone that varies by state, and a seized parcel means the money is gone. U.S. Customs can hold trademark-infringing goods at the border, and marketplaces pull listings after a brand complaint.

Drive de Cartier replica FAQ

Is 38588 a Cartier reference number?

No. Cartier uses references such as CRWSNM0004 for the Drive de Cartier. The number 38588 belongs to replica seller catalogs.

What should a good fake Drive de Cartier cost?

Automatic replicas with sapphire glass run $120 to $250. Top-tier builds start near $400. Anything under $80 is quartz and easy to identify.

Does a replica take a real Cartier strap?

Most 40 mm Drive cases take a 20 mm strap, so a third-party band fits when the lug holes line up. Confirm the lug width with the seller first, because some builds use 21 mm or a proprietary fitting.

Can a watchmaker spot it?

With the case back off, yes, and it takes under a minute. On the wrist across a table, the answer is harder, which is why most replicas pass casual viewing.