Short answer
A replica Cartier Roadster is a copy of a watch Cartier made from 2002 to about 2011. Replicas sell from about $50 for quartz pieces to $600 or more for automatic builds sold as "1:1" or "Swiss." None are genuine. Cartier and its parent company Richemont do not make, authorize, or service them. The real Roadster is out of production, so used prices run about $2,300 to $6,000 depending on metal and condition.
What the genuine Roadster is
Cartier launched the Roadster in 2002. The case is a rounded tonneau with a flat bezel and a crown under a curved guard. The Large model measures about 38 mm by 43 mm. Thickness on the three-hand automatic is about 11 mm. Water resistance is 100 m on most steel models.
The three-hand automatic uses Cartier Calibre 049, based on the ETA 2892-A2. Some smaller references used quartz. The dial carries Roman numerals, a chemin de fer minute track, and a date window at 3 o'clock. The bracelet is a solid three-link design with a folding clasp. Cartier crowns on the Roadster hold a blue cabochon, either sapphire or spinel.
Tiers in the replica market
- Quartz copies, $40 to $90. Mineral glass, printed dial, thin case, no sweeping seconds hand.
- Mid-tier automatic, $120 to $250. 316L steel case, Asian automatic movement, sapphire or mineral crystal.
- Top tier, $300 to $600. Clone ETA 2824 or 2892, sapphire with anti-reflective coating, closer case dimensions, engraved caseback.
Labels like "1:1," "Swiss made," and "super clone" have no standard. Two sellers use the same words for different products. The label is not a specification.
Specs to compare
- Case size. Genuine Large is 38 mm by 43 mm. Many replicas listed as 38 mm measure 40 mm once the crown guard is included.
- Thickness. Genuine three-hand is about 11 mm. Replicas land at 12 mm to 13 mm.
- Weight. A genuine Large steel Roadster on its bracelet is reported at about 140 g. Many replicas come in under 120 g because the bracelet is hollow or the case is thinner steel.
- Beat rate. The Calibre 049 runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Many replicas run at 21,600. A timegrapher app on a phone measures this.
- Crystal. Sapphire on genuine. Mineral glass on most cheap copies, which scratches.
- Cabochon. Faceted blue stone on genuine. Glass or resin on copies, often a flat dot with no facets.
- Caseback. Genuine engraving is deep and sharp, with reference and serial numbers that match the papers.
Checks buyers run
- Measure the case with calipers.
- Weigh the watch on a kitchen scale.
- Check the beat rate with a timegrapher app.
- Look at the cabochon under a lamp for facets and color shift.
- Inspect dial print at 10x magnification. Cartier puts a hidden signature inside a Roman numeral on many models. Sellers claim it often. Magnification settles the point.
- Ask for a clear photo of the movement and the caseback threads.
Legal facts
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. 18 U.S.C. Section 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit merchandise at ports and can destroy it. A shipment stopped at customs means the buyer loses the money and the watch. Resale of a counterfeit as genuine is a separate offense with its own penalties.
What a replica does not include
No Cartier warranty. No service network. No parts supply. Cartier service centers handle discontinued models on a case by case basis, and owners report long waits for Roadster parts. A replica has no resale value and no collector demand.