"Fake Cartier Santos blue" is the search term people use for counterfeit copies of the Cartier Santos de Cartier with a blue dial. The genuine watch is reference WSSA0013: a 39.8 mm steel case, blue sunray dial, and steel bracelet. Counterfeits are not made by Cartier, carry no Cartier warranty, and cannot be serviced by Cartier.

The genuine reference

  • Model: Santos de Cartier, large model, steel, blue dial.
  • Reference: WSSA0013.
  • Movement: Cartier caliber 1847 MC, automatic, 42-hour power reserve.
  • Case: 39.8 mm wide, 47.5 mm lug to lug, 9.38 mm thick.
  • Bracelet: steel, with SmartLink sizing and QuickSwitch.
  • Water resistance: 100 m.
  • Retail: about US$7,000 in 2024. Cartier sets prices and changes them. The current figure comes from Cartier, not from resellers.

What the counterfeits are

Copies sold as "Swiss made," "clone," or "super clone" use third-party movements, not Cartier calibers. Case metal, bracelet screws, crown cabochon, and dial printing differ from the original. Under US trademark law these goods are counterfeit, whatever the listing calls them.

Legal status in the United States

Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. A first conviction for an individual carries up to 10 years in prison, plus fines. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments and destroys them. Cartier, owned by Richemont, can bring civil trademark claims against sellers under the Lanham Act.

What a counterfeit buyer does not get

  • No Cartier warranty, service, or spare parts.
  • No resale market. Auction houses and dealers reject counterfeit watches.
  • Independent watchmakers often refuse to service counterfeit movements.
  • Seizure risk when a shipment enters the US.

Verification

Cartier is the source of record for references, specifications, and prices. CBP publishes seizure figures. Data on counterfeit factories, wholesale prices, and movement sources is not verifiable from public records, so treat seller claims about it as unverified. This page does not list sellers or prices for counterfeits.