What is a fake Cartier gold watch?

A fake Cartier gold watch is a watch that copies a Cartier design but does not use 18k gold. Cartier gold watches use 18k gold, which is 75% gold and 25% other metals. Fake gold watches use gold plating, gold-filled, or base metals like brass or steel. Plating thickness is often 1 to 3 microns. Solid 18k gold is not magnetic. Steel is magnetic. A magnet test can show a steel case under gold plating.

How to identify fake Cartier gold watches

Hallmarks and stamps

Genuine Cartier gold watches have hallmarks. French 18k gold has an eagle head hallmark. Swiss 18k gold has a St. Bernard head hallmark. The case back often has "750" or "18K" and a serial number. Fake watches may have no hallmark or a wrong hallmark. The "750" stamp means 75% gold.

Weight

Gold density is 19.3 g/cm³. Steel density is 7.8 g/cm³. A solid gold watch case weighs more than a gold-plated case of the same size. A 50-gram gold watch contains about 37.5 grams of pure gold. Gold scrap value is about $40 per gram. So a 50-gram gold watch has about $1,500 in gold. A price of $500 for a new Cartier gold watch signals a fake.

Magnet test

18k gold is not magnetic. But some fake gold watches have steel cases. A magnet will stick to steel. It will not stick to 18k gold. This test is not perfect. Some non-magnetic metals like brass are used in fakes. But a magnet that sticks means the case is not solid gold.

Acid test

Nitric acid reacts with base metals but not with 18k gold. A jeweler can apply a drop of acid to a scratch mark. Gold remains. Brass turns green or dissolves. This test can damage the watch. Do not do it at home.

Price

New Cartier gold watches cost from $10,000 to $50,000. Used models cost $5,000 to $30,000. A "new" Cartier gold watch for $500 is fake. Gold plating costs less than $50. Solid 18k gold costs hundreds of dollars. The price must match the material.

Where fake Cartier gold watches are sold

Fake Cartier gold watches are sold at street markets, online marketplaces, and some jewelry stores. In the US, selling counterfeit goods is illegal under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. Buy from authorized dealers or trusted sellers. Ask for a receipt and a certificate of authenticity.