How to Spot a Fake Pasha de Cartier Watch

A fake Pasha de Cartier often fails on dial printing, the crown cap, caseback engraving, and movement finishing. Compare the watch to verified reference photos from Cartier. Check each detail below with a loupe and good lighting.

Prerequisites

  • A genuine Pasha de Cartier reference photo from Cartier or a trusted dealer.
  • A 10x jeweler's loupe.
  • A bright, diffused light source.
  • A soft cloth to clean the watch.

Steps

  1. Place the watch under the light and look at the dial. Genuine dials have sharp, raised printing. Fake dials show flat, blurry, or thick text. Check the "Cartier" logo and the "Swiss Made" mark at 6 o'clock.
  2. Examine the crown cap. The Pasha de Cartier has a screw-down cap attached by a small chain. On a fake, the chain is often soldered with poor quality or missing. The cap should turn without resistance and sit flush with the case.
  3. Turn the watch over and inspect the caseback. Genuine Pasha casebacks have deep, crisp engravings of the reference number, serial number, and "Cartier" text. Fakes use shallow laser etching that looks faint or uneven.
  4. Check the movement through the caseback if it has a display back. Genuine Pasha models use Cartier Caliber 1847 MC or 1904 MC. Fakes often use unbranded or low-grade movements with rough finishing. Look for the Cartier name and caliber number engraved on the rotor.
  5. Look at the bracelet and clasp. Genuine bracelets have tight links with no gaps. The clasp should have crisp engravings and a smooth action. Fakes show loose links, sharp edges, and weak springs.
  6. Measure the case proportions. The Pasha de Cartier comes in specific sizes, such as 35mm, 41mm, and 42mm. A fake often has incorrect lug width or a case that is too thick or too thin.
  7. Inspect the date window if the model has one. Genuine date windows are centered with a crisp, clean cutout. Fakes have misaligned date wheels or a window that sits too deep or too shallow.
  8. Check the lume. Genuine Pasha de Cartier watches use Super-LumiNova that glows with even light and fades over time. Fakes use cheap lume that glows with uneven patches or not at all.

Additional Checks

Weigh the watch. A genuine Pasha de Cartier feels solid for its size. A fake often feels light or hollow. Check the serial number. Genuine serial numbers are unique and can be verified by Cartier. A fake may repeat a common number or have no serial at all. Look at the packaging. Genuine boxes and papers have precise printing, correct fonts, and a consistent finish. Fakes often have smudged text or low-quality materials.