A fake Cartier Santos Large is a copy of the Santos de Cartier Large, references such as WSSA0018. The genuine watch measures 39.8 mm across the case, 47.5 mm lug to lug, and 9.38 mm thick. It runs the Cartier 1847 MC automatic at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 42-hour power reserve. Steel bracelet retail sits near $7,000. Copies sell from $80 to $800. No copy uses the Cartier movement.

Genuine specs to compare against

  • Case: 39.8 mm wide, 47.5 mm lug to lug, 9.38 mm thick
  • Water resistance: 100 m
  • Crystal: sapphire
  • Bezel: eight exposed screws, slots cut flat
  • Movement: 1847 MC, 23 jewels, 42-hour power reserve
  • Bracelet: steel with SmartLink sizing and QuickSwitch lugs
  • Crown cabochon: blue spinel on steel, sapphire on gold

Movement tiers in copies

Copies fall into four groups. Quartz copies cost $80 to $150 and tick once per second. Miyota 9015 copies cost $200 to $400. That movement runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and holds 42 hours. Clone ETA 2824-2 and Sellita SW200 copies cost $350 to $700. The top group carries a decorated movement stamped to look like the 1847 MC and costs $500 to $900.

Sellers label many of these as Swiss made. The claim is not verifiable from a listing photo. Ask for a photo of the balance wheel and the rotor engraving.

Common tells on a copy

  • Cabochon color and material. Copies use glass or plastic.
  • Screw slot depth on the bezel. Copies show shallow slots with burrs.
  • Date font and date window alignment.
  • Dial print weight on the Cartier name and on SWISS MADE.
  • Caseback engraving depth and letter spacing.
  • Bracelet screw heads and link fit.
  • Crown action. Genuine crowns turn with defined detents.

Price tiers by build

  1. $80 to $150: quartz, mineral glass, stamped caseback.
  2. $200 to $400: Miyota 9015, 316L steel, sapphire crystal.
  3. $350 to $700: clone ETA or Sellita, better dial print, closer case shape.
  4. $500 to $900: decorated movement, anti-reflective coating, near-correct weight.

Case steel grades vary. Most copies use 316L. Claims of 904L on this model are rare and hard to confirm.

Legal status in the United States

Import of goods bearing a counterfeit trademark is prohibited under 19 U.S.C. 1526. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy the shipment. Trafficking carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2320, up to 10 years for a first offense. Selling a counterfeit watch inside the US creates civil liability under 15 U.S.C. 1114.

What to ask a seller

Ask for the movement name, the case steel grade, the crystal material, and the measured case thickness. Ask for the serial number area in a photo at 2x zoom. A seller who cannot name the movement is selling a quartz watch at an automatic price.