Answer
A fake Pasha steel is a replica of the Cartier Pasha de Cartier with a stainless steel case. Case sizes copy the original line: 35 mm, 38 mm, 41 mm, and 42 mm. Street prices run from about $60 for quartz to $450 for a copy fitted with a clone of the Cartier 1847 MC movement. The movement sets the price tier. Case steel, dial printing, and bracelet hardware set the rest.
Pasha References That Get Copied
The original Pasha arrived in 1985, designed by Gérald Genta. Cartier brought back a 41 mm steel Pasha de Cartier in 2020 with the in-house 1847 MC movement and a SmartLink bracelet. Earlier steel models include the Pasha C 35 mm automatic and the Pasha Seatimer 40.5 mm. Replica factories copy the 2020 41 mm model first, then the 35 mm, then the Seatimer. Two-tone steel and gold versions sell in smaller numbers.
Case and Steel
Most replica Pasha cases use 316L stainless steel. Low-cost cases use 304 steel. Both resist corrosion. 316L holds a sharper polish and takes brushing with less grain. The original mixes brushed case sides with a polished bezel and lugs. A copy with one finish across the case reads flat in daylight.
- Measure the case across the bezel, not the crown guard. A 41 mm copy should read 41 mm.
- Check lug width. The 41 mm Pasha takes a 20 mm strap or bracelet.
- Check the crown. The Pasha crown is screw-down and carries a chain link and a cabochon. The chain should pivot on a hinge pin.
- Read the caseback. Originals stamp a reference number, a serial, and a water resistance rating. Font weight and depth vary on copies.
Movements and Price Tiers
Four movement types show up in steel Pasha replicas.
- Quartz. $60 to $120. The second hand ticks once per second. Case thickness often runs 1 mm over spec.
- Miyota 8215 or 9015. $120 to $220. The 9015 runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 42-hour power reserve and 24 jewels.
- Seagull ST2130 or Hangzhou 6300. $200 to $320. These copy the ETA 2824 layout. The sweep is smooth and the date flips near midnight.
- 1847 MC clone. $350 to $450. The decoration copies the Cartier rotor and bridges. The clone is a modified Asian automatic, not a Cartier movement.
Dial and Printing Checks
The Pasha dial has a four-grid pattern, Roman numerals, a railroad minute track, and the Cartier script. Diamonds run along the flange on some references. Check these points:
- The script "Cartier" sits at 10 o'clock on most Pasha dials, not under 12.
- Roman numerals use a matching serif. Copies mix two typefaces on one dial.
- "Swiss Made" prints at 6 o'clock in small caps. Spacing between the two words is even on originals.
- Date windows sit at 4:30 on references with a date. The aperture edge should be clean.
Bracelet and Clasp
The 2020 Pasha uses the SmartLink bracelet. Links release with a side button and no tool. Replica SmartLink systems use a spring bar in a housing, and the button travel is short. Check the screw heads on the bracelet. Slotted screws strip. Solid end links should sit flush with the lugs, with no gap over 0.3 mm.
Legal Note
US law bans trafficking in counterfeit goods under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments. A replica marked "Swiss Made" also carries a false origin mark under Swiss labeling rules. A watchmaker can refuse service on a counterfeit, and parts do not swap with genuine Cartier components.