Fake Cartier Clé de Cartier watches copy a Cartier line launched in 2015. The Cartier watch has a crown in the shape of a key. Counterfeits often have a key that does not turn, a movement from another maker, and engravings that lack depth. Check the crown, movement, weight, and caseback.

Cartier Clé de Cartier Basics

  • Cartier introduced the Clé de Cartier in 2015.
  • Case sizes: 35mm, 38mm, 40mm.
  • Materials: steel, pink gold, yellow gold, white gold, platinum.
  • Movement: 1847 MC automatic from Cartier.
  • Crown: shape of a key. The key turns to wind and set.
  • Crystal: sapphire.
  • Price: steel models start near $6,000 USD.

Tells on a Counterfeit Clé de Cartier

  • The key crown does not turn or pull out. It is fixed.
  • The movement is a Miyota, Seagull, or another maker. It is not the 1847 MC.
  • Caseback engravings lack depth. Font does not match. Spelling errors appear.
  • Weight is 20 to 30 percent less than a Cartier watch.
  • The crystal is glass, not sapphire. It scratches.
  • Dial font does not match. Date font does not match. Date window is not centered.
  • Bracelet screws do not match the Cartier screw heads.
  • Serial number on the caseback does not match the certificate.

Movement Check

The 1847 MC has 23 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve, and runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Many counterfeits use movements with 21,600 vph or lower. The Clé de Cartier has a caseback that does not show the movement on most models. You cannot see the movement without opening the case. Ask a watchmaker to open the case. If the seller refuses, treat the watch as a counterfeit.

Price and Legal

Cartier Clé de Cartier watches in steel sell for $6,000 to $8,000 USD on the used market. Counterfeits sell for $100 to $500. Selling counterfeit goods is illegal in the US under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. US Customs can seize counterfeit imports. Buying a counterfeit for personal use is not a crime in most cases, but the watch can be confiscated.

Where Counterfeits Are Sold

Counterfeits appear on online marketplaces, social media, and flea markets. No Cartier dealer sells counterfeits. A Cartier boutique will not service a counterfeit.

How to Verify

  1. Take the watch to a Cartier boutique or a watchmaker.
  2. Ask for the serial number. Cartier can confirm the number.
  3. Check the box and papers. Papers have matching numbers.
  4. Weigh the watch. Compare to a Cartier model.
  5. Inspect the key crown. It must turn and pull out.