Short answer
Cartier relaunched the Pasha de Cartier in September 2020. Counterfeit versions of that line went on sale the same year, most of them copies of the 41 mm steel model. A replica is a counterfeit under US law. It carries no Cartier warranty, no Cartier service, and no verifiable water resistance. Trafficking in one is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320.
What Cartier released in 2020
Cartier announced the new Pasha in September 2020 in two case sizes, 35 mm and 41 mm. Metals included steel, yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold. The 41 mm watches use the automatic Caliber 1847 MC, which runs at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) with 23 jewels and about 40 hours of power reserve. The 35 mm references ship with quartz calibers on several references and automatic calibers on others.
Two hardware systems define the 2020 range:
- QuickSwitch: a spring bar release that lets the wearer swap straps by hand.
- SmartLink: a bracelet link system that removes links without tools.
Dial features include four large Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9, a screw-down crown cap on a short chain, and a cabochon set in the crown. Cartier lists 100 m of water resistance for the 41 mm references.
What the replica listings contain
Search results tagged "fake pasha cartier 2020" cover two groups. The first is a copy of the current 35 mm or 41 mm case. The second is leftover stock of older Pasha references, often 38 mm or 42 mm, sold as new. Listings use factory codes and staged photo sets. Most do not show a serial number, a movement shot, or a timegrapher reading.
Common points of failure
- Movement. Copies use low-grade automatic or quartz calibers. Beat rate is often 21,600 vph or lower, not the 28,800 vph of the 1847 MC.
- QuickSwitch. Many copies omit the release or use a stiff spring. A genuine strap clicks out with finger pressure.
- SmartLink. Fake bracelets use screw pins or friction pins. They do not release links by hand.
- Crown chain. The cap on a genuine watch links to a lug through a short articulated chain. Copies cast the link as a fixed loop.
- Case back. Engraving depth, font weight, and reference text differ from the Cartier stamp.
- Water resistance. Replicas are not pressure tested. A 100 m claim on a listing is not checked against anything.
- Gold content. Gold-plated cases are listed as gold. Plating wears through at the lugs and crown.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $2 million for an individual. A second offense carries up to 20 years and up to $5 million. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry. A seized shipment is destroyed, and the buyer does not get a refund. Trademark holders can also sue sellers and importers under the Lanham Act.
Service and resale
Cartier service centers do not repair counterfeits and do not supply parts for them. Movement parts from a copy do not fit a genuine 1847 MC. Resale value sits near the cost of the movement inside the case, and resale platforms remove counterfeit listings when a report is filed. This guide does not recommend buying counterfeits.