An orange Pasha is a Cartier Pasha with an orange strap, an orange dial, or both. Fakes exist in all three forms. The check that matters most is the reference number. A real Pasha has a reference that appears in the Cartier catalog for that exact case size, metal and dial color. If the seller cannot name a reference that matches the watch in the photos, treat the watch as fake.
Where orange appears on a Pasha
The Pasha de Cartier line launched in 1985, designed by Gérald Genta. Cartier relaunched it in 2020 with 30 mm, 35 mm and 41 mm cases in steel, gold and two-tone. Orange shows up on Cartier straps and on a small number of dial variants. A plain orange dial is not part of the standard range. Ask for the reference number and check it on Cartier's own site before you pay.
Pasha Orange Imitation Watch Buying Guide: Skip the Fake, Choose Legit
Case and crown
- The Pasha crown sits under a screw-down cap. On several models a small chain links the cap to a lug.
- Genuine crowns carry a blue sapphire cabochon. Fakes use glass, plastic or dyed stone. Look at the cabochon under a loupe: a real one has a polished dome and a bright, even blue.
- Case finishing on a real Pasha alternates brushed and polished surfaces with sharp borders. A fake shows soft edges and rounded lug tips.
- Measure the case with calipers. A 41 mm Pasha measures 41 mm across the case, not 39 mm or 43 mm.
Dial checks
Look at the printed text under a loupe. Cartier applies paint with clean edges and even thickness. Fakes show thick strokes, uneven spacing and ink bleed. The minute track on a real dial sits at a fixed distance from the flange. On many fakes that gap changes around the dial. The word SWISS MADE sits at 6 o'clock in small type on genuine dials. Check the hands: Pasha hands have a defined bevel and a polished center.
Caseback and movement
Cartier engraves the reference and serial numbers on the caseback. The engraving on a real watch cuts deep with crisp walls. Laser-printed numbers on a fake look shallow and grey. Look at the caseback screws: real ones sit flush and take a proper driver bit.
Steel Pasha automatics use the Cartier 1847 MC caliber, which runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Small sizes use quartz. A fake movement shows no maker engraving on the rotor, rough perlage and a low beat rate. Ask for a timegrapher photo. A rate far off 28,800 vph means the watch is not a 1847 MC.
Strap and buckle
Cartier orange straps are alligator with a signed pin buckle or deployant clasp. Check the stamp inside the buckle, the stitch spacing and the leather edge. Aftermarket orange straps are common on real Pashas. A strap swap alone does not prove a watch is fake, and a fake watch often ships with a cheap orange strap.
Price signals
A new steel Pasha de Cartier on a strap retails around $6,000 to $7,000 USD. Used steel examples trade in the $3,000 to $5,000 range. Replica sellers price super clones at $400 to $900. An orange Pasha listed as new at $1,200 with no box or papers is a fake.
Photos to request
- Macro of the crown cap and cabochon.
- Caseback with the reference and serial readable.
- Dial at 12 and at 6, shot straight on.
- Movement through the caseback with the rotor turned.
- Buckle stamp inside the strap.
What photos cannot prove
A photo set can filter out poor fakes. It cannot confirm a watch. A jeweler or watchmaker with the piece in hand can open the case, check the movement and verify the serial with Cartier. Budget for that inspection before you buy any Pasha from a private seller.