Short answer
162370 is not a Cartier reference number. Cartier stamps Santos casebacks with four digits, such as 1564 or 2878, or with a W-prefixed code, such as WSSA0009. A six-digit string matches neither format. In listings it works as a seller code, a marketplace SKU, or a factory batch label.
Cartier Santos reference formats
- Four digits. The Santos Galbée uses 1564. The Santos 100 large uses 2878.
- W prefix. Models sold from 2018 onward use codes such as WSSA0009 and WSSA0010.
- Movement caliber. Many automatic Santos 100 watches carry caliber 049, built on the ETA 2892-A2 base.
Sellers mix these formats. A listing that labels a watch Santos 162370 while the box shows a 2018 W-code is inconsistent on its face.
Check the watch in this order
- Caseback. Genuine engraving is cut into the metal. Fake engraving is shallow, with uneven letter spacing.
- Reference and serial. Both sit on the caseback. Both must match the warranty card and box label. Replica sellers reuse one serial across a batch.
- Crown. Cartier fits a blue cabochon. The genuine stone is synthetic blue spinel with a dome. Glass and plastic copies look flat and scratch.
- Bracelet screws. Santos links use slotted screws. Look for burred slots and mismatched screw heads.
- Dial. Under a loupe, the Cartier name and Swiss Made print is crisp on genuine dials. Copies show fuzzy edges and thick paint.
- Crystal. Genuine Santos watches use sapphire. Scratch tests damage the case, so leave this to a watchmaker.
- Gold marks. Gold cases carry Au750 or 750 stamps. Steel cases carry none. A gold stamp on a steel case is a fake tell.
- Movement. Caliber 049 hacks, winds with light pressure, and holds a few seconds per day. Cheap copies use quartz or unbranded automatics.
US law and customs
18 U.S.C. 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine. Repeat offenses carry up to 20 years.
US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry. Seized goods are destroyed. The buyer gets no refund and no shipment. The trademark owner can also sue for damages.
What a replica Santos is
Many replica Santos watches use a quartz movement or a low-grade automatic. Cases come in 316L stainless steel with gold plating, not solid gold. Plating wears through at the lugs and crown within a year or two of daily wear.
Cartier service centers do not service counterfeit goods. Independent watchmakers may refuse. Gaskets, crystals, and bracelet links from Cartier do not fit replica cases.
Cost and resale
New steel Santos de Cartier models list above $7,000 as of 2024. Replica versions sell for a few hundred dollars. Resale value on a replica sits near zero, and marketplaces pull counterfeit listings after a rights holder complaint.
What to do next
- Ask the seller for the caseback reference and serial in writing.
- Compare both numbers against the Cartier format. Six digits do not fit.
- Have a watchmaker open the case. The movement is the clearest evidence.
- Walk away if the seller blocks an inspection or a return.
Cartier boutiques do not authenticate watches bought from third parties. Watchmakers and independent appraisers do that work for a fee, often $50 to $150.