Quick answer
A replica Cartier Tank Must in the Cor de Chasseur colorway copies a stainless steel Tank Must with a deep brown lacquer dial. The original large model measures about 33.7 mm across by 25.5 mm tall and runs a quartz movement, so a replica that is 40 mm wide, 9 mm thick, or sold as automatic is copying a watch Cartier never built. Replica prices run from roughly $40 for a mineral-glass quartz model to $300-$450 for a close copy with sapphire crystal, a Swiss quartz calibre, and a color-matched lacquer dial. Judge any replica on four points: case proportions, dial lacquer, printing, and strap hardware.
What Cor de Chasseur Means
Cor de Chasseur translates to "hunter's horn color," a warm dark brown that Cartier revived across the Tank line. On the Tank Must it is a lacquered dial rather than painted metal. Light should sit inside the finish with a shallow gloss, and the brown should read brown in daylight, not olive or purple. The dial carries the classic Tank layout: roman numerals, a railroad minute track, blued steel hands, and "Cartier" with "Swiss Made" printing. Cartier keeps the dial clean, so any extra text or a seconds hand that does not belong to the reference is a tell.
Correct Proportions to Check
The Tank Must large case is roughly 33.7 mm by 25.5 mm, about 6.6 mm thick, with a lug width near 19 mm to 20 mm. The small model sits around 29.5 mm by 22 mm. Look at the brancards: they should be straight, thin, and parallel, and the bezel should sit flat with sharp inner corners. A soft or rounded bezel shows a case that was polished after molding rather than finished to match the original lines.
Movement: Quartz Is Correct
The Cor de Chasseur Tank Must is a quartz watch. Genuine pieces use a Swiss quartz calibre with long battery life. Most replicas use a Ronda 763, a clone of the ETA 955.112, or a Japanese quartz module. A high-frequency automatic with a visible balance wheel in an open caseback is a mismatch with the reference. Ask the seller for a movement photo, and compare the hand set against photos of the exact model before you assume a seconds hand belongs there.
Inspection Steps
- Measure the case width, length, and thickness with calipers, then compare the numbers with 33.7 x 25.5 x 6.6 mm.
- Photograph the dial in direct sun and in shade, then check that the brown stays brown under both light sources.
- Inspect the printing with a 10x loupe and confirm even stroke weight on "Cartier" and clean roman numerals.
- Test the crystal with a light key scratch; sapphire resists, while mineral glass picks up swirl marks.
- Examine the crown cabochon and check for a blue spinel set into the crown, not a glued plastic bead.
- Flex the strap and inspect the buckle for a signed, properly stamped tang instead of a generic blank plate.
- Ask for a movement photo or open the caseback, then confirm the quartz module type and battery holder.
- Check the caseback engraving depth and font, since shallow laser etching is common on budget copies.
Price Tiers
- $40-$90: quartz movement, mineral glass, printed dial, generic strap, and a brown that shifts color under warm light.
- $120-$250: sapphire crystal, better lacquer depth, correct dial printing, and a leather strap with a signed buckle.
- $300-$450: Swiss or Japanese quartz, crisp case finishing, correct dial tone, and often a box with papers.
Common Tells
- Dial reading olive or green in indoor light
- Case that is too wide or too thick for a Tank
- Blued hands that are painted purple instead of heat-treated steel
- Crown with an oval plastic insert instead of a spinel cabochon
- Roman numerals with uneven spacing around the minute track
Legal and Practical Note
A replica is not a Cartier product and carries no brand warranty or service support. Under U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules, importing counterfeit goods is prohibited, and selling a replica as genuine is fraud. Treat a replica as a novelty watch, disclose it if you resell it, and budget for a battery change and strap replacement from any independent watchmaker.