Short answer
Ruban is French for ribbon. It is not a name in Cartier's current published collections. Cartier lists Tank, Santos, Panthère, Ballon Bleu, Baignoire, and Ceinture. A 26mm case is a small size, worn mostly on women's models. Any watch sold as a fake Cartier is a counterfeit product. Federal law bans importing it and trafficking in it.
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 $2 million fine for an individual.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at the border. The ban applies to single items shipped for personal use.
- A trademark owner can recover statutory damages of up to $200,000 per counterfeit mark, or up to $2,000,000 for willful use, under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c).
What a 26mm counterfeit contains
Case diameter: 26mm. Movement: low-cost quartz or a generic Chinese automatic. Case: brass or 316L steel with gold plating. Crystal: mineral glass or coated sapphire. Plating thickness is often under 5 microns, so the gold wears off. Water resistance is untested. The watch carries no manufacturer warranty. Cartier will not authenticate, service, or supply parts for a counterfeit. Resale value is close to zero.
Checks before buying any Cartier
- Buy from a Cartier boutique or an authorized dealer.
- For pre-owned pieces, ask for the reference number, serial number, and service records.
- Compare the asking price with sold prices for the same reference.
- Independent authentication confirms condition. It does not add a factory warranty.
Unknowns
No public Cartier source confirms a model named Ruban. Listings that use the word may be invented by sellers or a mistranslation of a French term.