Copy Drive de Cartier Automatic for Sale: Buying Guide

Cartier released the Drive de Cartier Automatic in 2016. The case is cushion shaped. It measures 40 mm by 41 mm and stands about 11.5 mm thick. Inside sits the Cartier 1904-PS MC: automatic winding, 27 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour, 48-hour power reserve. The dial is silvered opaline with Roman numerals, a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, and a date window at 3 o'clock. Steel models carry a blue synthetic spinel cabochon in the crown. Retail on the steel version was about $6,000.

replica drive de cartier automatic for sale

A copy sells between $90 and $450. Price tracks the movement, the case finish, and the crystal. Nothing else moves the number.

drive de cartier automatic fake

Advice before you pay

  1. Ask for video, not photos. The clip needs a handwritten date card and a coin next to the case. Still photos get reused across listings.
  2. Ask the seller to name the movement. Get the answer in writing. "Swiss ETA" on a $150 watch is a false claim in most cases. Movements found in this tier: Miyota 9015, Seagull ST2130, Hangzhou 6300, decorated Asian clones.
  3. Ask for the return window in writing. Fourteen days or walk.
  4. Ask for a caseback photo. Compare the reference and serial engraving to the case shape and the crown position.
  5. Use a payment method with recourse. Credit card and PayPal Goods and Services qualify. Crypto and bank wire do not.

Parameters to compare

  • Case: 40 mm x 41 mm cushion. Genuine uses 316L steel or 18k pink gold.
  • Thickness: 11.5 mm on the genuine. Copies run 11 mm to 13 mm.
  • Crystal: sapphire on the genuine, mineral glass on low tiers. Sapphire sits at Mohs 9. Mineral glass sits at Mohs 5 to 6 and scratches on keys and door frames.
  • Movement: 28,800 vph, 27 jewels, 48-hour reserve on the 1904-PS MC. Miyota 9015 runs 28,800 vph and 42 hours. Seagull ST2130 runs 28,800 vph and 40 hours.
  • Dial: applied numerals on the genuine, printed on cheap tiers. Check the VII for a straight leg and even spacing.
  • Date window: alignment at 3 o'clock. A crooked date wheel is the top complaint on this model.
  • Water resistance: genuine carries 30 m. Copies carry a stated rating with no pressure test behind it. Do not swim in either one.

Pitfalls

Gold plating wears through in 6 to 18 months. Once the base metal shows, the case needs a re-plate or a replacement.

Drive de Cartier Automatic Copy

Rotor noise shows up on low tiers. Shake the watch near your ear before you accept delivery.

Drive de Cartier Automatic Fake: How to Spot a Replica

Crown threads strip after repeated use. Ask the seller to show the crown unscrewing and the hands setting on video.

Listings use photos of genuine watches. Run a reverse image search on the main photo before you count the money.

Some sellers ship without box or papers to lower seizure risk. That also removes your proof of purchase and your return leverage.

Customs and law

Importing a counterfeit watch into the United States violates 19 U.S.C. 1526. CBP can seize the parcel and issue a civil penalty against the importer. The seller keeps the money in most cases. Selling a counterfeit watch is trademark infringement under the Lanham Act. Factor both into the price you are willing to lose.