What a fake Roadster 38mm is

A fake Roadster 38mm is a counterfeit copy of the Cartier Roadster in the large case. Cartier built the Roadster from 2002 to about 2012. The large case measures 38 mm across and about 44 mm from lug to lug. Genuine three-hand automatic Roadsters used Cartier caliber 049, a modified ETA 2892-A2 that runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Counterfeits copy the case shape, the dial, and the bracelet. They share no parts with the genuine watch.

Genuine specs

  • Case: 38 mm wide, about 44 mm lug to lug, tonneau profile
  • Movement: Cartier caliber 049 automatic, 28,800 vph, about 42 hours of power reserve
  • Crystal: sapphire with a date magnifier cut into the glass at 3 o'clock
  • Water resistance: 100 m on steel models
  • Bracelet: solid links, Cartier deployant clasp, or leather strap
  • Production: 2002 to about 2012, now discontinued

Counterfeit tells

  • Date magnifier: the genuine sapphire has the magnifier formed in the glass. Many fakes glue a lens on top, and the edge shows under a loupe.
  • Crown stone: Cartier sets a blue synthetic spinel in the crown. Fakes use glass or plastic, and the shade drifts toward purple or green.
  • Caseback: genuine engraving is deep and clean. Fakes show shallow laser marks, and serial numbers repeat across units.
  • Rate: genuine caliber 049 beats 28,800 vph. Many counterfeits run 21,600 vph. A timegrapher app on a phone reports the rate.
  • Bracelet: genuine links are solid and held by screws. Low-end copies use folded links and push pins.
  • Dial: Roman numerals, blued sword hands, and a hidden Cartier signature inside a numeral. Fakes print the signature off-center or leave it out.

Prices

Pre-owned genuine 38 mm steel Roadsters sell between about $3,000 and $6,000. Gold models run higher. Counterfeits sell from $40 to $600. So-called super clones sit near the top of that range. A counterfeit carries no Cartier warranty. Cartier will not service one, and an independent watchmaker may refuse the job when parts are needed.

Legal status in the United States

Selling a counterfeit watch is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. The Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1114 and § 1117) lets Cartier sue sellers and recover damages. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at import, and a shipment to a private address holds no exemption.

What is not known

Cartier does not publish a count of counterfeit Roadsters in circulation. No registry tracks them. Weight and finish differ by factory, so no single description covers every fake. Photos on resale listings cannot confirm a watch on their own. A hands-on check by a watchmaker who knows the reference is the reliable step.