The replica Pasha 366338 is a steel Pasha de Cartier style watch sold as a replica, and the reference number on the caseback is the first detail to match against photos of the original. Buy the version that copies the 41 mm case, the Vendome-style lugs, the screw-down crown cover with its chain, and the dial layout of the ref. 366338 you are comparing. Skip any seller who cannot show the caseback engraving, the crown assembly, and a movement photo in the same listing.
What the 366338 reference covers
Ref. 366338 sits in the modern Pasha de Cartier line: a round steel case of about 41 mm, a smooth bezel, four Vendome lugs, and a crown set under a hinged cap with a small chain. The original runs the Cartier 1847 MC automatic, rates 100 m of water resistance, and uses a sapphire crystal. Replicas vary most in the crown cap, the dial print, and the bracelet or strap hardware, so those are the areas to inspect first.
Before you start
- Know your wrist size in millimeters so the 41 mm case and lug-to-lug span make sense on your arm.
- Save three to five photos of the genuine ref. 366338 for side-by-side comparison.
- Decide on dial color and whether you want a steel bracelet or a leather strap.
- Ask the seller for photos of the caseback, crown, dial, and movement in one set.
How to check a replica Pasha 366338
- Read the caseback. Confirm the ref. number 366338, the serial format, and the engraving depth. Laser etching looks flat; the original is stamped with crisp edges.
- Measure the case with calipers. The width should read about 41 mm without the crown, and the thickness should land near 9.5 mm.
- Work the crown cap. It should hinge open, seat with a firm click, and hold a blue spinel or synthetic cabochon. The chain should move but not rattle.
- Inspect the dial print. Check the Cartier signature, the minute track, the applied numerals, and the date window position for sharp edges and even spacing.
- Check the crystal and hands. The sapphire should sit flush with the bezel, and the hands should reach the minute track without touching it.
- Look at the movement through the caseback. Ask for a photo of the rotor and bridges, and confirm the beat rate and hand-winding if the seller lists them.
- Test the strap or bracelet. The quick-release spring bars, the deployant clasp, and the end links should line up with the lugs without gaps.
- Have a watchmaker pressure-test it before you swim. Seller water-resistance claims are not a substitute for a test on your watch.
Fit and wear
The Pasha case sits tall on the wrist because of the crown cap, so a 41 mm replica can look larger than the number suggests. Leave about 5 mm of strap or bracelet slack for a snug fit, and check that the caseback does not press on the wrist bone. A leather strap suits smaller wrists; the steel bracelet adds weight and visual size.
Care after purchase
- Rinse the case with fresh water after contact with salt water or sweat, then dry it with a soft cloth.
- Keep the crown cap closed when the watch is not being set, since the cap protects the crown seal.
- Service the movement every three to five years, or sooner if the rate drifts by more than 15 seconds a day.
- Store the watch away from magnets, and avoid wearing it during impact-heavy work.
Common mistakes
- Buying from a listing that shows only stock images and no caseback photo.
- Assuming the crown cap seals against water without a pressure test.
- Matching the dial but ignoring the caseback engraving, which is the easiest tell in hand.
- Choosing a bracelet with loose end links that overhang the lugs.