Short answer
A replica Clé de Cartier is a copy of the Cartier Clé de Cartier, a watch Cartier released in 2015. Replica prices run from about $90 to $400. Most copies use a quartz movement or a third-party automatic movement. Cartier does not make, sell, or service them. A steel Clé de Cartier at retail runs near $6,000 or more.
Where the name comes from
Clé is French for key. The crown sits inside a rectangular housing and turns on a key-like axis. Cartier showed the model at SIHH in January 2015. Launch case sizes: 31 mm, 35 mm, and 40 mm.
Sizes and case shapes
- 31 mm: quartz or automatic, steel or gold, diamond bezel on some references.
- 35 mm: automatic, steel, pink gold, yellow gold, white gold.
- 40 mm: automatic caliber 1847 MC, date at 3 o'clock.
Movements inside replicas
No replica factory builds the Cartier 1847 MC. Common substitutes:
- Quartz: 31 mm copies. Battery power, no rotor. Quartz builds sit thinner than automatic builds.
- Miyota 9015 or Seagull ST21: 35 mm and 40 mm copies. 28,800 vph. Date function.
- ETA 2824 clone: 40 mm copies. Hacking and hand winding.
Materials and finish
Cases are 316L stainless steel. Some sellers list 904L. Genuine Clé cases use 18k gold or steel with Cartier finishing. Crystal is sapphire on top-tier copies and mineral glass on cheaper builds. The cabochon on the crown is synthetic spinel, not the sapphire Cartier fits. Bracelet links are stamped, not milled, on most copies. A 35 mm steel replica weighs 90 g to 120 g. The genuine 35 mm steel runs about 125 g to 140 g.
Markings
Casebacks carry Cartier logos, reference numbers, and serial numbers. Cartier reference numbers for watches start with W followed by letters and digits. Replica engravings are shallow and use one font. Serial numbers on copies do not match any Cartier record.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and sell in the US. 18 U.S.C. 2320 sets a first-offense penalty of up to 10 years and a $2,000,000 fine for trafficking in counterfeit goods. 19 U.S.C. 1526 lets CBP seize and destroy counterfeit goods. CBP reported about 20,000 intellectual property seizures in fiscal year 2023. Watches and jewelry rank among the top product categories. Personal use does not shield the importer from seizure. Cartier and Richemont file civil suits against sellers.
Service and parts
Cartier will not service a replica. An independent watchmaker can replace a Miyota or ETA clone. Case parts, crowns, and dials come from the seller, not from a Cartier parts catalog.