The "fake Cartier Astrotourbillon 1701" is a counterfeit version of Cartier's Astrotourbillon, a high-complication watch built in very small numbers. The "1701" is almost always a seller or catalog code, not an official Cartier reference number, and no counterfeit carries the hand-finished in-house tourbillon movement that defines the genuine piece.
What the Term Covers
Cartier introduced the Astrotourbillon as part of its Calibre de Cartier collection, with the tourbillon carriage placed at the center of the dial and acting as the seconds hand, completing one rotation per minute. It is a genuinely complicated mechanical watch, produced in limited quantities and priced in the tens of thousands of dollars. That mix of a recognizable design and a hard-to-copy movement is exactly why counterfeiters target it.
Search terms like "fake Cartier Astrotourbillon 1701" usually come from replica storefronts that attach internal stock numbers to their listings. Cartier reference numbers follow a structured pattern that begins with a letter prefix and can be checked against Cartier's own records or an authorized boutique. When a listing presents "1701" as though it were an official model number, that is already a sign the seller is not describing a real watch.
Where Counterfeit Astrotourbillon Watches Fall Short
A real tourbillon is a regulating cage that houses the balance wheel and escapement and rotates to average out positional error. It takes a trained watchmaker hours to assemble and regulate one. Copying that at a low price point is not feasible, so fakes substitute visual approximations.
- Tourbillon cage: often a decorative rotating bridge or an open aperture with no functioning escapement inside.
- Movement: a generic third-party calibre, sometimes hidden under a stamped plate designed to resemble Cartier finishing.
- Finishing: genuine pieces show beveled bridges, polished screws and consistent Geneva striping. Fakes show stamped edges and uneven plating.
- Case metal: solid gold versus gold plating over steel or brass, which changes weight, color over time and skin contact.
- Dial and printing: slightly wrong fonts, thicker lacquer, misaligned markers.
- Papers and packaging: missing serial numbers, blank warranty cards or cards that do not match the case back.
Legal and Buyer Risks
Counterfeit watches infringe registered trademarks, and importing or selling them can be illegal in the United States. Shipments can be seized by customs, and payment is rarely recoverable. Cartier and its authorized service network will not service or authenticate a counterfeit watch, so there is no repair path once something breaks.
There is also a practical money problem. A fake has no resale market and no provenance, so its value is close to zero the moment it arrives. Many replica sites take payment and never ship, or send a different watch than the one photographed. Plated cases can also contain nickel, a common allergen, and water resistance claims on fakes are effectively meaningless.
How to Verify a Cartier Astrotourbillon
- Buy from an authorized dealer or a reputable pre-owned seller that provides original papers and service history.
- Compare the case back engraving and serial number against Cartier records.
- Ask for close photographs of the movement, not just the dial.
- Have an independent watchmaker inspect the escapement if the watch is sold without documentation.
- Treat any price far below market as evidence the watch is not genuine, because an Astrotourbillon cannot be produced at that cost.
Quick Answer for Shoppers
If you are searching for a fake Cartier Astrotourbillon 1701, understand that you are looking at a counterfeit listing code rather than a Cartier model. The genuine Astrotourbillon is defined by an in-house tourbillon movement and hand finishing that replicas do not reproduce, and buying one carries legal, safety and resale downsides. Anyone who wants the real thing should verify the reference number and serial directly with Cartier before money changes hands.