Short answer
A "Rotonde 4004" is not a Cartier model. Rotonde de Cartier is a real Cartier line of round watches. The number 4004 does not appear in published Cartier reference lists. The full phrase comes from marketplace listings and forum posts, where sellers attach batch codes, catalog numbers, or internal SKUs to a model name. Buyers who search the term are looking for a counterfeit Cartier Rotonde. A listing that carries the number 4004 tells you nothing about the movement, the case, or the origin of the watch.
The genuine Rotonde de Cartier
Cartier builds the Rotonde de Cartier in round cases from 35 mm to 42 mm. Metals include steel, pink gold, yellow gold, white gold, and platinum. Calibers include the 1904-CH MC chronograph, the 1904-PS MC, and the 1847 MC. Cartier reference numbers carry a W prefix. List prices for steel models start near $6,000. Gold and platinum versions cost more.
Counterfeit Watch Rotonde 4004: A Comprehensive Guide
How counterfeit Rotondes are listed
- Movements: Seagull ST19, Shanghai 3L, and Miyota 9015 appear in most copies. Sellers call these units "Swiss ETA."
- Cases: 316L stainless steel in most builds. Some listings claim 904L steel and do not supply a test report.
- Crystals: mineral glass or low-grade sapphire.
- Crown: a glass or synthetic stone cabochon in place of the blue sapphire or spinel on the genuine watch.
- Markings: "Swiss Made" printed on a dial or caseback does not show Swiss assembly.
Price bands
- Counterfeit Rotonde chronograph: $150 to $600.
- Genuine used steel Rotonde chronograph: about $5,000 to $9,000.
- Genuine Rotonde in gold: $12,000 and up.
Prices track condition, box, and papers.
Checks to run on a watch in hand
- Caseback engraving. Genuine Cartier engraving has crisp edges and even depth. Copies show shallow, rounded letters.
- Movement finish. A real 1904-CH MC has Geneva stripes, chamfered bridges, and a signed rotor. Copies show plain plates.
- Dial print. The Cartier name sits in a heavy Roman serif. Copies use thin letters and uneven spacing.
- Date wheel. The numeral font on a copy does not match the dial font.
- Serial and reference. Compare the caseback number with the number on the warranty card. A mismatch points to a fake.
What the number 4004 tells you
Digits added to a model name often exist to dodge brand filters on marketplaces. Some sellers use the same digits across unrelated brands. If 4004 appears in a listing title or a caseback, treat it as a seller code and not a Cartier reference. Cartier does not publish a Rotonde reference that ends in 4004.
Legal status in the United States
US law bans the import and sale of counterfeit watches. CBP seizes shipments under 19 U.S.C. 1526. The personal exemption for one item does not cover goods that carry a counterfeit trademark. 18 U.S.C. 2320 makes trafficking a federal crime, with up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for a first offense by an individual.
Risks of ownership
- No warranty and no parts supply. A broken movement has no service path.
- Gold plating wears through on the caseback and lugs.
- Water resistance claims are not tested. Seals fail.
- Resale value is near zero.
Bottom line
Rotonde 4004 is a search phrase, not a watch reference. The Rotonde de Cartier is a real product line with published references and in-house calibers. Counterfeit versions use third-party movements, plated or steel cases, and stone cabochons that differ from the genuine part. Import and sale of these watches is illegal in the US.