How to tell an original Cartier from a fake
Cartier is a symbol of royalty and eternity. Louis-François Cartier created an aesthetic that today thousands of factories around the world are trying to copy. However, even the most expensive replica succumbs to the engineering nuances that the brand puts into the design of its products. If you want to figure out how to distinguish a Cartier original, you need to look at codes that cannot be reproduced without access to the brand's proprietary technologies.
How to find out if Cartier is real?
It is on the dial that the most reliable markers of originality are hidden.
A secret signature is a proprietary trick that counterfeit manufacturers often forget about. Look closely at the Roman numerals VII or X. One of the thin lines that make up the numeral is laser-etched with the microscopic word CARTIER. In the original it is made with such precision that the letters do not merge even under strong magnification. In a fake, this area is either empty or the text looks like an illegible blur.
The dials of many models, such as the Ballon Bleu, are decorated with a complex wave-like guilloché pattern. In original watches, this pattern is applied using high-precision cutting rather than stamping. The light should play on it softly, without harsh glare typical of cheap plastic or painted metal.
The crown of the watch is always set with a blue stone: sapphire or spinel. The most important difference: in the original, the stone is firmly set in the metal, it is smooth and cold. In replicas, this is often just a glued piece of glass or plastic that may have some play.
How to distinguish an original Cartier bracelet from a fake
The Love bracelet is the most popular piece of jewelry in the world, and this is where counterfeits are most often found. Let's figure out how a copy of a Cartier bracelet differs from the original.
Since 2011, Cartier has updated the mechanism. Now the screws that secure the bracelet do not fall out completely when unscrewed. They remain secured inside the holes. If you unscrew the screw and it falls into your hand, you have either a vintage model before 2011 or a replica.
Cartier only uses 18K 18K gold or 950K platinum. Original Love bracelets weigh from 30 to 38 grams, depending on the size. Counterfeits made of plating brass will be much lighter, since the density of gold is almost twice the density of copper or nickel.
The Cartier mark, serial number and indication of purity inside the product must be stamped clearly and deeply. In the question of Cartier original and fake, it is important to look at the font: the original is narrow, with thin serifs. Counterfeit fonts are often bold and blurry.
Cartier optics: original vs fake
Cartier glasses have long been a jewelry accessory that often costs more than original bags from other luxury brands. That is why they are copied with special care. But even the most expensive replica cannot replicate the specific production cycles that Cartier uses for its frames.
Look at the top corner of the left lens. There should be a microscopic, perfectly clear engraving of the brand name. An important nuance: it is made with a laser inside the material, so the lens remains perfectly smooth to the touch. In so-called pale painting, the inscription is often applied with paint or etching, which leaves a rough appearance.
With metal Cartier frames, such as the iconic Santos or Panthere, the glasses size is always stamped on the back of the bridge of the nose. In the original, these numbers are pressed into the metal. If the data is applied with paint or laser to the surface, it is 100% fake.
A unique 7-digit serial number is stamped on the inside of one of the temples, usually closer to the temple. It must match the number indicated on the plastic authenticity card and on the box: the numbers on the glasses are never repeated, while a mass-produced replica stamps the same code on thousands of copies.
Cartier uses precious metals, gold or platinum plating, natural wood or horn. If you are holding a wooden frame and it seems suspiciously light or has the smell of varnish, you have a replica in front of you. Natural Cartier wood undergoes months of processing and has a specific matte texture.
Understanding how to distinguish an original Cartier from a fake in optics requires attention to details comparable to jewelry, because the brand’s glasses are distinguished by the complexity of attaching the hinges and the ideal balance of the frames.
Your safety and guarantees in the Domino online store
We understand how difficult it is in the modern world to distinguish a skillfully made replica from the original, so the Domino online store takes all risks upon itself.
We offer only original products from this legendary house. Each accessory that comes to us undergoes strict control: we check the serial numbers in the Cartier Care database, study microprinting and test the weight of precious metals.
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If you want to personally find out how to distinguish an original Cartier, contact our consultants. They are professional in authentication methods and will be able to show you all the signs of the originality of a product: they will demonstrate a hidden signature on the dial under a magnifying glass or show you the operation of the screw mechanism on a bracelet. We believe that smart luxury requires integrity.
Choose timeless values without risk. Go to the Domino catalog right now, find your ideal Cartier jewelry or watch and become the owner of an original masterpiece today!
