The number of knockoff Cartier watches has increased significantly in the past five years as the demand for affordable luxury timepieces rises and the quality of fakes improves. Spotting knockoff Cartiers can difficult because they often feature the same components as the genuine article, although they are made with cheaper material and the workmanship is poor. A buyer not familiar with a Cartier watch should thoroughly research the brand and buy only from an authorized dealer to ensure authenticity.

Things You'll Need:

Jeweler's loupe

Cartier watch catalog

Instructions to Tell a Real Cartier Watch from a Knockoff :

Visit an authorized Cartier watch dealer at a high-end jewelry store. Use a jeweler's loupe to inspect the Cartier logo, the dial, the hour, minute and second hands, color, case back and the movement, which is the small electronic or mechanical device that runs the watch. Also examine the bracelet or strap for future comparisons of Cartiers at other dealers. Obtain a copy of the Cartier sales brochure or catalog and read it.

Inspect the movement by asking the seller to remove the case back to view it. It will be engraved with the Cartier name. If the seller balks at the request, don't buy the watch.

Consider the heft of the Cartier if you are considering purchasing a watch from an independent seller. Knockoff Cartiers are considerably lighter than the genuine article because they are made with cheap materials. Examine the Cartier logo to see if it's spelled correctly. Knockoffs usually originate from non-English speaking countries where English is not the primary language and workmanship is poor.

Drop a tiny bit of water on the crystal. Cartiers feature a sapphire glass crystal, in which the water beads on contact. If the water smears, the crystal is a cheap imitation.

Examine the Cartier trademark polished cabochon gemstone on the crown. The stone should be set firmly in the crown but not glued on. Use a jeweler's loupe to look for traces of glue.

Examine the Cartier logo of twin Cs on the case back, dial and strap buckle. The logos should be gracefully produced with no rough stamping.

Ask the seller for Cartier documentation in which the serial number on the printed material matches the serial number on the watch. Ask the seller for the original warranty documentation. If the seller can't produce the documentation, the watch is likely a knockoff.