Hi everyone.

I recently acquired this electroplated watch on the cheap and wondering if it's possibly a legit Cartier. The other tanks I've seen have a series of screws on the sides of the case, but I'm not sure how old this is or what to look for on these little guys. I'm also used to seeing the serial number on the outside caseback. Would appreciate any knowledge or opinion on this. Thanks everyone.

Best

M

 

Not an expert, but I'm about 99.99999999% sure that's a fake.

 

Cool, but what specifically clues you in to that?

 

I think it could be legit. Cartier made some pretty ordinary stuff in the 70's and 80's, especially in their 'les must de Cartier' line of watches which were a step or two above a plain fashion watch, gold plated vermeil cases were the norm.

 

The finishing just looks really off. Compare it to the back of this one:

 

The “Must” Cartier is (based on my failing memory) always gold plated on sterling silver. I have long been under the impression that any Cartier resembling the subject watch would have been karat gold. The subject watch is marked as gold plated, but lacks the “argent” description for a sterling case. And I don’t recall ever seeing a gold plated Cartier that wasn’t a sterling case (marked “argent”). The subject watch is missing the usual microscopic name CARTIER on the one Roman numeral. In total, this doesn’t define the watch as a fake, but it sure looks suspicious.

 

I'm suspicious for the same reasons, but without knowing how many variations are out there, still curious!

 

Nasty Fake. Dial has no small Cartier text on the 11 which is normally seen, no internal case markings and a very cheap and nasty movement with suspect markings. Cartier have made some cheap and nasty watches alright, but this is in a league below their output. At least I hope it is.

EDIT: please see my updated comment on p2.

 

Real IMO

 

I’ve looked at a lot of these and I still don’t know if this model is real or not. What I will say is that this exact model is quite common, and I don’t believe all of the 70s-80s tanks had the “hidden” Cartier text.

The movement looks like a standard re-branded ETA that they frequently used in these. I think it’s a 78-1 if I recall correctly.

 

What's nasty about the movement? It looks like a pretty standard ETA, no? Do you expect a different caliber in this? Which specifically?

 

Real redial?

 

Not all had the side screws. Not all had the hidden Cartier text on the dial. Heck, some didn’t even have a serial number. I think it’s legit.

 

Soooo many Cartier's were/are simply fashion accessories not necessarily quality watches, I think it's genuine.

 

Put me down for "real".

 

The inscription on the back looks like it was done by hand after the back had already collected a lot of tiny scratches. The C is not smoothly curved.

 

I traded a newer Cartier Tank MC to a collector and we met at the Cartier store where they verified the watch at no charge. If you’re polite and they’re nice and not too busy I think you could swing by the watchmaker at the nearest Cartier store and get the confirmation.

 

Usually we talk about how good the fakes are.
This thread, we're talking about how bad the originals are.

 

Yes it is an ETA, I missed the mark under the balance, I took it for sonething even lower rent. The lack of proper Cartier markings in the case, still concern me. I don’t think it’s real but I know a chap who works for Cartier so I will ask an expert.

 

Look at both "r" in Cartier on caseback. They are not same font. I dont like it.