Short answer
A fake Cartier Panthère small is a copy of the Panthère de Cartier small model, a quartz watch with a 22 mm by 30 mm case. Copies sell for $150 to $900. The real watch sells for about $6,500 in steel and $25,000 and up in 18k gold. Copies use gold plating, generic quartz movements, and printed dials. They do not use solid 18k gold.
What the real Panthère small is
- Case: 22 mm wide, 30 mm long.
- Movement: quartz. The small model has no seconds hand.
- Water resistance: 3 bar, or 30 m.
- Crystal: sapphire.
- Metals: steel, 18k yellow gold, 18k rose gold, 18k white gold. Some gold references have diamonds on the bezel.
- Bracelet: three-row link bracelet, polished and brushed surfaces.
- Crown: set with a blue cabochon.
Cartier launched the Panthère de Cartier in 1983 and brought the line back in 2017. The small model sits between the mini and the medium.
Where copies fail
Check these points with a loupe or a phone camera at full zoom:
- Weight. Gold models feel heavy in the hand. A plated copy of the same size feels light because the case holds a brass or steel core.
- Cabochon. Real: blue, smooth, seated in metal. Copies: plastic, wrong shade, glue visible at the edge.
- Dial print. Real: sharp CARTIER lettering and SWISS MADE at 6 o'clock. Copies: thick letters, uneven spacing, text off center.
- Hands. Real: sword shape, correct length. Copies: painted or plated, wrong length, rough edges.
- Bezel screws. Real: flush with the surface, aligned slots, correct depth. Copies: raised heads, or molded shapes that are not real screws.
- Bracelet. Real: links move, side screws sit flush. Copies: gaps between links, sharp edges, screws that strip.
- Caseback. Real: engraved reference and serial, plus gold hallmarks on gold models. Copies: shallow laser etch or a sticker.
Serial numbers and papers
Cartier does not run a public serial lookup tool. A boutique or an independent watchmaker can check a reference and serial against service records. Boxes and papers are simple to copy, so they prove little on their own. A dealer receipt and a service history carry more weight.
Prices and the legal side
Copy sellers list the small Panthère for $150 to $900. That is far below the price of the real watch in any metal. In the US, importing or selling counterfeit goods is illegal under trademark law, and US Customs seizes shipments. A buyer gets no warranty, no service, and no parts.
If you already own one
Take it to a watchmaker. Ask for a movement check and a case metal test. Gold models should show hallmarks. A quartz copy will show a generic movement with no Cartier marking, or a Cartier stamp printed on the plate.