Quick answer

The Cartier Tank Must with a green dial is a steel quartz watch Cartier introduced in 2021. Replica versions sell for about $100 to $500. They copy the case shape, the green dial, and the Roman numerals. They do not use Cartier cases, Cartier movements, or Cartier straps. Trafficking in them is a federal crime in the United States, and imported shipments get seized.

Genuine specs

  • Case: steel, Large model 33.7 mm x 25.5 mm, 6.6 mm thick
  • Movement: quartz, about 8 years of battery life per Cartier
  • Crystal: sapphire
  • Water resistance: 30 m
  • Crown: steel with a blue spinel cabochon
  • Dial: green, Roman numerals, railroad minute track
  • Strap: leather, green to match the dial
  • Retail: low $3,000s USD

Cartier also made the Tank Must in blue and red dials in the same release. Green was the middle option in that group.

What replica sellers ship

Replica Tank Must green watches come from factories in China and move through standalone sites, forums, and messaging apps. Common parts:

  • Case: 316L stainless steel, sized within a few tenths of a millimeter of the original
  • Movement: Japanese quartz (Miyota) on most builds, Chinese automatic on some
  • Crystal: mineral glass on cheap tiers, sapphire on higher tiers
  • Strap: embossed calf leather, not alligator
  • Cabochon: glass or resin, not spinel

Terms like "super clone," "1:1," and "Swiss made" in a listing are seller language. No grading body verifies them. Photos in listings are often of the genuine watch.

Differences you can check

  • Dial print: genuine Cartier printing has crisp edges. Replica print looks soft under a loupe.
  • Cabochon: genuine is a blue spinel. Replicas use glass or plastic.
  • Case back: engraving depth and font weight differ.
  • Buckle: tang thickness and the Cartier stamp on the hardware.
  • Hands: genuine blue steel hands are polished. Replicas show tool marks.

Legal status in the US

18 U.S.C. Section 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal offense. 19 U.S.C. Section 1526 bars import of merchandise with a counterfeit trademark. CBP can seize and destroy a shipment, and the buyer has no recourse. There is no Cartier warranty, no service history, and no resale market. Genuine Cartier quartz watches hold value. Replicas resell near zero.

Cost math

A replica at $300 plus shipping and a seizure risk compares to a genuine model in the low $3,000s. The gap is real. So is the difference in parts, service, and legal exposure.