The replica Cartier Tank Must blue copies a steel Cartier Tank Must with a blue lacquer dial. The genuine large case measures 33.7 mm x 25.5 mm and 6.6 mm thick. It runs on a quartz movement. A replica that matches those three numbers sits on the wrist like the real watch. A replica that misses the dial finish does not.
Genuine specs
- Line: Cartier Tank Must, relaunched in 2021.
- Large case: 33.7 mm x 25.5 mm, 6.6 mm thick. Small case: 29.5 mm x 22 mm.
- Case: steel, polished flanks, brushed caseback.
- Dial: blue lacquer, printed Roman numerals, no date, no seconds hand.
- Movement: Cartier quartz caliber 157.
- Crystal: sapphire.
- Water resistance: 30 m.
- Crown: steel, set with a blue spinel cabochon.
- Strap: leather with a steel ardillon buckle.
Price tiers on the copy market
Replica Tank Must blue watches sell in three bands. Entry copies run $100 to $180. Mid tier runs $180 to $300. Top tier runs $300 to $450. The case shell is steel in all three. The gaps show up in the dial, the crown, and the strap.
Dial
Genuine blue lacquer has a wet look. Light bends inside the layer. Cheap copies print blue ink on a flat disc, and the color reads purple or green in daylight. Check the Roman numerals with a 10x loupe. Genuine printing holds sharp edges and even spacing. Copy printing thickens the serifs on the numerals at 6 and 12.
Case and crown
The Tank Must case has a flat top, curved brancards, and beveled edges. Copy cases add thickness at the lugs. Measure the lugs with calipers. The genuine cabochon is a synthetic blue spinel, dome shaped and set in a steel crown. Copies use glass or plastic beads. They sit high, or they turn cloudy after a few months.
Movement
Cartier caliber 157 is a Swiss quartz movement. Most replicas use a Chinese quartz movement. Both run two hands and no date. A copy quartz movement holds a few seconds a month. Battery life and service options differ. The caseback on a copy often hides a press fit lid instead of a threaded back.
Strap and buckle
Blue lacquer references ship on a leather strap. Copy straps use thinner leather and stamped buckles. Check the tang, the stitching line, and the keeper. The buckle should carry a deep stamp, not a faint etch.
Checks before you buy
- Measure the case. Target 33.7 mm x 25.5 mm.
- View the lacquer in daylight and under a lamp. The color must stay blue in both.
- Inspect numeral print with a 10x loupe.
- Turn the crown. It should move the hands with light drag and no wobble.
- Inspect the cabochon for bubbles and an off-center seat.
- Weigh the head on a kitchen scale. A reading far below a steel case of this size points to a thin shell.
What a replica will not match
No replica carries Cartier service, papers, or resale value. Caseback engraving is shallow on most copies. Lacquer sheen fades at the edges over time. Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and sell in the United States, and Customs can seize shipments.