Fake Cartier Roadster 38mm: Short Answer
A Cartier Roadster 38mm offered as genuine at a fraction of market price is almost always a counterfeit. The Roadster line ran from 2001 until roughly 2011, so genuine stock is now sold on the secondary market at full collector pricing. Any seller with "new old stock" in quantity, factory-sealed boxes, or prices under a few thousand dollars is describing a replica, not a Cartier. This guide covers how to identify one. It does not cover where to buy one.
Fake Cartier Roadster 38mm: How to Spot a Replica
What the Genuine 38mm Roadster Looks Like
The Roadster uses a tonneau case with a curved profile that sits close to the wrist. On the 38mm version the case runs about 38mm across, with a barrel shape that narrows toward the lugs. Key traits to memorize before you inspect anything:
Roadster Cartier Fake Watch Guide: Your Ultimate Resource
- A sapphire crystal with an integrated magnifier over the date at 3 o'clock, not a glued-on bubble.
- A screw-down crown set with a cabochon that aligns flush with the case flank.
- Sharp, even brushing on the case sides and a mirror polish on the bezel without waviness.
- A dial signature applied with crisp serifs, even spacing, and no bleeding into the lacquer.
- Reference numbers on the case back beginning with W620 for Roadster models.
How to Check a Suspect Roadster 38mm
- Measure the case with calipers. Replicas often land at 39mm or 40mm and read noticeably wider on the wrist than a real 38mm.
- Run a fingernail along the lug edges. Genuine lugs are chamfered and smooth. Fakes leave a sharp burr or a soft, rounded edge from cheap casting.
- Look at the date window under a loupe. The genuine magnifier enlarges the numeral cleanly with no edge distortion or color fringe.
- Check the crown. It should thread smoothly, seat flush, and carry a cabochon with even color and no air bubbles.
- Inspect the dial print at 10x. Fakes show uneven baseline alignment, thick strokes, or a printed minute track that drifts off center.
- Weigh the watch head. A 38mm Roadster automatic should feel dense for its size. Light, hollow-feeling cases point to a plated brass or thin steel body.
- Open the case back with a proper tool. Genuine movements show signed rotors, clean finishing, and regulated timing. Fakes show generic Chinese or unbranded ebauches.
- Time it on a timegrapher. A genuine Cartier automatic holds steady rate and amplitude. Most replicas swing wildly or run several seconds per day off rate.
- Verify the case back engraving with a loupe. Reference and serial numbers should be crisp, evenly spaced, and consistent with the dial configuration.
- Ask for service history. A real Roadster of this age has paperwork, a service record, or a known dealer trail. A fake has a story.
What Replicas Usually Get Wrong
- Case back screws that are too long, too short, or sit proud of the surface.
- A crystal magnifier that is molded into plastic or glued on as a separate piece.
- Bracelet links with uneven gaps and a clasp that does not sit flush when closed.
- Gold plating that wears through at the crown and clasp within months.
- Lume plots that glow green instead of the correct tone, or glow unevenly.
- Boxes and papers printed with the wrong fonts or paper stock.
Legal and Practical Risk in the US
Importing or selling counterfeit watches is illegal in the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments, and trademark owners can pursue civil claims against sellers. Buyers also lose practical protections: no warranty, no service parts, and no resale value. If a Roadster 38mm is being sold as genuine and fails the checks above, treat it as counterfeit and walk away.