Fake Cartier Roadster size 38mm refers to the large Roadster case: about 38mm across the case body, about 44mm from lug to lug, and a 20mm strap width. That is the biggest standard Roadster size, so it wears like a men's watch on an average wrist and looks large on wrists under about 16cm (6.3 inches).
replica cartier roadster, 38mm size
Replica sellers label size by case diameter, the same way Cartier does. The number tells you the width across the case at its widest point. It does not tell you strap width, total length with the lugs, or thickness, and two fakes both listed at 38mm can differ by 1mm or 2mm depending on the factory.
Cartier Roadster 38mm: A Straight Guide to the Real Watch
What does 38mm measure on a Roadster?
The Roadster case is a curved tonneau shape, so there is no flat side to lay a ruler against. Cartier measures across the widest part of the case, near the middle of the barrel. Lug-to-lug length runs longer than the stated size because the lugs curve outward before they bend down toward the wrist.
replica cartier roadster, 38mm size
- Case width: about 38mm
- Lug-to-lug length: about 44mm
- Strap width at the lugs: 20mm in most listings
- Thickness: about 10mm to 12mm on three-hand models, more on chronographs
- Water resistance claim: listed as 100m on paper, with no pressure test behind it on a replica
Genuine Roadster sizes next to replica labels
Cartier made the Roadster in more than one size, and replica catalogs mix the labels.
Identifying Fake Cartier Roadster 38mm Models
- 38mm: the large model, the one most men wear, sold with automatic and chronograph movements.
- 32mm to 36mm: mid-size and small models, many with quartz movements and diamond bezels.
- Under 32mm: small and mini versions that appear in replica listings but are rare.
If a listing says 38mm but the dial text and date window look crowded against the bezel, the dial was copied from a smaller model and dropped into a wider case.
How to check the size of a fake Roadster before you buy
- Ask for a photo with calipers or a ruler laid across the case, not just a wrist shot.
- Confirm the lug width. A 38mm Roadster takes a 20mm strap, so an 18mm or 22mm listing points to a case copied from another model.
- Check the date magnifier. On the Roadster it is shaped like a car windshield and sits at the 3 o'clock position.
- Look at the end links. On a matched case and bracelet they meet the case with no gap and no step.
- Ask for a wrist shot with the wearer's wrist measurement attached.
Will a 38mm Roadster fit your wrist?
Wrist circumference is the fastest filter. The 44mm lug-to-lug length matters more than the 38mm width, because that is the measurement that decides overhang.
- Under 15cm (5.9in): the case will overhang the wrist edges. Look at a mid-size Roadster instead.
- 15cm to 17cm (5.9in to 6.7in): wearable, and the lugs will cover most of the wrist top.
- 17cm to 19cm (6.7in to 7.5in): this range matches the case the 38mm Roadster was built for.
- Over 19cm (7.5in): the 38mm case reads small next to modern 40mm and 42mm watches.
Size problems that show up in replica Roadsters
Case diameter is the easy part to copy. Proportions are not.
- Case height. A fake listed at 38mm may stand 12mm to 14mm tall, which changes how it sits under a cuff.
- Flat lugs. Genuine Roadster lugs bend down around the wrist. Flat lugs make the watch look bigger than its stated size.
- Crown size. The Roadster crown is screw-down and sits in a recessed guard. A small or oversized crown shows up in profile photos.
- Dial scale. A 38mm case with a dial copied from a 32mm model looks tight at the date window and the printing.
- Bracelet fit. Generic end links leave a gap between the bracelet and the case, which no polish hides.
What to check beyond the size
Once the watch is on your wrist, movement and sealing matter more than the case number. Three-hand fakes often run a Japanese or Chinese automatic. Ask whether the date flips at midnight or drifts for hours, and whether the crown threads catch when you screw it down.
Water resistance is the biggest gap between a fake and the real thing. Cartier rates the Roadster to 100m. A replica with the same number stamped on the case back has not been tested, so swimming and showering carry real risk.
Is it legal to buy or sell a fake Cartier Roadster?
Selling one is illegal in the United States and the European Union. It counts as trademark infringement, and U.S. Customs can seize shipments at the border. Buying for personal use falls in a lighter zone in some countries, but marketplaces and payment processors still ban these listings, so a watch that never arrives leaves the buyer with no useful recourse.
FAQ
Is the 38mm Roadster the largest size?
It is the largest of the standard Roadster cases. Chronograph versions use a case close to the same width and add pushers and extra thickness.
Does a fake 38mm Roadster take a genuine Cartier strap?
In most cases, no. Replica builds use a 20mm strap, but the spring bar position and end link shape differ, so genuine straps and bracelets often do not fit a replica case.
How can I tell if a "38mm" listing is accurate?
Ask for a caliper photo across the case. If the seller will not send one, treat the listed size as a guess.
Which Roadster should I compare a 38mm fake against?
Compare it with a steel 38mm automatic Roadster with a silver or white dial. That layout is the most copied, and its proportions are the easiest reference point.