A replica Cartier Baignoire is a copy of Cartier's oval-case dress watch. Prices run from about $80 to $400. Four parts decide quality: the case curve, the crown cabochon, the dial print, and the movement. Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. A parcel can be seized at the border.

What the Baignoire is

Cartier made its first oval watch in 1912. The name Baignoire, French for bathtub, came in 1957. The case is an ellipse with a flat crystal and a curved back. Cartier lists three shapes: the Baignoire, the Baignoire Mini, and the Baignoire Allongée. The small Baignoire measures about 31.6 mm by 24.5 mm. The Mini measures about 24 mm by 18.7 mm. The Allongée is longer and narrower, near 47 mm by 21 mm.

Cases come in 18k yellow, rose, or white gold. Some references use steel. Bezels come plain or set with diamonds. Most small sizes run quartz calibre 057. Some models use the mechanical calibre 1917 MC.

Where replicas differ

Case shape. The Baignoire is not a stretched circle. The sides taper and the crystal domes. Low-tier copies use a cast case with a wide rim. Ask for a photo of the profile from the side.

Plating. Gold replica cases use PVD or gold flash. Thickness runs from 0.5 microns on cheap tiers to 3 to 5 microns on better ones. Thin plating wears through at the lugs.

Crown. Genuine crowns carry a blue sapphire cabochon. Replicas use glass, spinel, or dyed resin. Check the color in daylight.

Dial. Roman numerals are printed or applied. Applied markers sit raised with sharp edges. Printed markers look flat under a loupe. Hands are blued steel on many references. Copies use painted steel.

Price tiers

  • $80 to $150: quartz, gold flash, printed dial, mineral glass.
  • $150 to $250: sapphire glass, 1 to 2 micron plating, cleaner dial print.
  • $250 to $400: 3 to 5 micron plating, applied numerals, Japanese or Swiss quartz, engraved case back.

Legal notes for US buyers

18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. Resale of a counterfeit watch is a federal offense. CBP can hold, seize, or destroy a shipment. Country of origin and declared value on the customs form change the odds of a hold. No seller can guarantee delivery.

Questions for a seller

  • Case dimensions in millimeters, measured with calipers.
  • Plating method and thickness in microns.
  • Movement maker and model number.
  • Crystal material.
  • Photo of the case profile.
  • Return policy and shipping carrier.

Data on replica production volume is not public. Treat any claim of a specific factory name as unverified.