A counterfeit Cartier Panthère 2020 is a copy of a quartz watch that Cartier sells in 18k gold or steel. The fake fails on four points: dial print, crown cabochon, case-back engraving, bracelet finish. Check those four before anything else.
What the 2020 Panthère Is
Cartier launched the Panthère in 1983 and brought it back in 2017. The 2020 catalog carried the same case shape: a flat rectangle with rounded corners, a screwed case back and a link bracelet. Cartier fits quartz movements to the line. The small case measures 22 mm by 30 mm. The medium measures 27 mm by 37 mm. Cartier rates water resistance at 30 m. Gold references use 18k yellow, rose or white gold. Some references carry diamonds on the bezel.
imitation cartier panthère two thousand twenty
- Case: rectangular, polished, four screws on the back
- Movement: quartz
- Crown: fluted, set with a blue cabochon
- Bracelet: brick-pattern links, polished and brushed
- Markings: reference number, serial number, gold hallmark on the back
Dial Print
Cartier prints CARTIER in roman capitals below the 12 position and SWISS MADE at the 6. On a genuine dial the letters are sharp with equal spaces and sit on a straight baseline. Fakes show uneven gaps, thick strokes and SWISS MADE that crowds the minute track. Look at the printed minute track under a loupe. Genuine printing runs without a break. Copies break at the corners.
fake cartier panthère two thousand twenty
Some Panthère dials hide the word Cartier inside the VII numeral. Confirm the reference before you use this test. Copies either omit the hidden signature or draw the letters too large.
Replica Cartier Panthère Two Thousand Twenty: A Practical Buyer's Guide
Crown and Cabochon
The crown is fluted and set with a blue cabochon. On gold references the stone is a sapphire. The color is deep blue, the surface is domed, and the stone sits flush in the setting. Fakes use glass or dyed resin. Glass shows bubbles, a flat top or a purple tint in daylight. Run a finger over the stone. A genuine cabochon is smooth at the edge. A fake setting leaves a lip.
Case Back
Four screws hold the back. Cartier engraves the reference number, the serial number, the gold hallmark and the Swiss assay mark. Engraving on a genuine watch is cut, with square shoulders and a flat floor. Fakes use laser etching or stamping. Edges look rounded and the floor looks grainy. Compare the reference number on the back with the number on the warranty card. Copies reuse one serial across many units, so a repeated number is a red flag.
Bracelet
The Panthère bracelet is a row of flat brick links. Cartier alternates polished and brushed surfaces, and the transition line runs straight along the row. Fakes show wavy lines, gaps at the link joints, and a clasp that sits proud of the bracelet. Flex the bracelet. A genuine one moves in equal steps. A fake one has tight links next to loose ones.
Movement and Timekeeping
A quartz seconds hand jumps once per second. That test does not separate real from fake, because copies use quartz too. Open the back only if you accept the risk, and check the movement finish, the battery clamp and the coil. Cartier does not publish movement photos for every reference, so treat this as a weak signal.
Paperwork
Cartier issues a warranty card and a numbered certificate with each watch. The card carries the reference, the serial and the sale date. Paperwork is easy to copy. Do not treat a card as proof on its own. Match it to the case back, then have the watch checked by a watchmaker who handles Cartier.
Legal Position in the US
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry under 19 U.S.C. § 1526. A counterfeit watch sold as genuine exposes the seller to criminal charges and the buyer to a claim for damages. Cartier, owned by Richemont, enforces its trademarks in US courts.
Check Order
- Read the reference number from the case back.
- Compare case dimensions with the Cartier listing for that reference.
- Inspect the crown stone with a loupe.
- Check dial print and the minute track.
- Have a watchmaker open the case.