Quick answer
A fake Pasha two tone is a replica of the Cartier Pasha de Cartier in steel and gold finish. Most examples use 316L stainless steel, a gold-colored coating between 2.5 and 5 microns thick, and a Chinese automatic movement. Sizes follow the genuine line: 35 mm, 38 mm, 41 mm, and 42 mm.
What two tone means on a Pasha
Cartier launched the Pasha in 1985. Gérald Genta designed it. Two tone on this model means a steel case and bracelet with gold on the bezel, the crown cap, and the center bracelet links. Replicas copy the layout: four screws on the bezel, a crown cap held by a small chain, and Vendôme lugs.
The gold is not gold. Makers plate the steel. Three methods appear in the market.
- PVD coating: 1 to 3 microns, gold color, wears at the edges.
- Ionic plating: 3 to 5 microns, color close to 18k yellow gold.
- Gold wrap or gold filled: a sheet of real gold bonded to steel, 10 to 20 microns on the best examples.
Plating thickness decides how the watch ages. A 5 micron layer outlasts a 2 micron layer on a bracelet that rubs a desk each day.
Movements and specs
Three movement classes show up in the two tone Pasha.
- Quartz: lowest tier, seconds hand jumps once per second.
- Chinese automatic clones of the ETA 2824-2: Sea-Gull ST2130, Hangzhou 6300. 28,800 vph, 38 to 42 hour reserve.
- Swiss or Japanese automatic: ETA 2892 or Miyota 9015 in the top tier.
Cases measure 35 mm to 42 mm. Thickness runs 9 mm to 13 mm. Weight lands between 90 g and 140 g depending on size and bracelet type. Crystal is sapphire on most examples above $200. Water resistance is rated 30 m to 50 m, and that rating is a claim, not a test result.
QC checks before you buy
- Bezel screws: four, set to the same depth, flat heads.
- Crown cap: snaps shut, chain has no gap at the lug.
- Dial print: "Cartier" and "Automatic" spacing even, no bleed at the edges.
- Date window: centered at 3 o'clock, font matches the case size.
- Bracelet screws: seated flush, no thread damage.
- Weight: a 41 mm two tone automatic under 110 g points to a hollow bracelet.
Price bands
Reported prices in the replica market run $150 to $400 for mid tier and $500 to $900 for the top tier. Genuine two tone Pasha watches sell on the secondary market from about $3,500 to $9,000. Cartier no longer lists every Pasha reference, so used listings vary by size and year.
Legal note
US law bans trafficking in counterfeit goods under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. CBP seizes replica watches at import. Buying one for personal use is not the same charge as selling, but the item can be taken.