No matter who I talk to about the Cartier brand, absolutely everyone, without exception, confirms that it is a prestigious brand that perfectly combines tradition with modern trends. Cartier won its prestige not only through the creativity of its watches but also through the artistry of the jewelry that it creates.
As a rule, luxury brands prevail in a certain vector, the rest remaining somewhere in the shadows. But this rule does not apply to Cartier. This brand manages to develop all its vectors with absolute success: leather goods, fragrances, jewelry, and watches. I don’t know how it does it, but, it’s the brand that excels in everything it does.
In this article…
I will talk mainly about Cartier’s horological vector. Over the years, its ambition for perfection has never stopped. Thanks to its innovative spirit and thirst for competence, Cartier has become one of the most reputable watchmakers. Let’s not forget that the brand is first and foremost a loyal friend of royalty. In ancient times, it was known as “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.”
Today, the brand continues to maintain this status, confirming its horological excellence through each of its watches.
One of the watches that embodies all of Cartier’s craftsmanship is the Cartier Roadster model. This is a watch that combines absolute aesthetics with distinguished sophistication.
As much as I am captivated by the authentic model, I am also curious to see what a replica Roadster entails. Why? For the simple reason that the prices for an authentic watch are quite “biting” for the majority of the public. The industry offers the most mediocre Roadster model at an initial price of $4,000. And you realize that the price refers to the most feature-free model, from the most “basic” stainless steel. Imagine then how much a gold or platinum model costs.
Cartier knockoffs are usually much more affordable in terms of price. However, you must be vigilant about their quality. Today, I will analyze a Roadster knockoff in detail, so that you can get a general impression of what you are about to pay.
Close analysis between original and knockoff Cartier Roadster
In my experience, I have seen a lot of replica watches. Some are more qualitative, others less so. Also, some are very close to the authentic concept, others are very far. The Cartier Roadster replica watch refers to those knockoffs that have all obvious indications that it is a replica. The reason is that most of the differences are concentrated in the dial, which is the most visible component in a watch.
First things first. The watch has a black dial with some thin white stripes on it, on which the Roman hour markers are positioned. The center of the dial must be clean.
Comparing the 2 watches, I notice that the color, the finish, and the center of the dial are identical. But the problem lies in the stripes that serve as the background for the hour markers. The authentic watch has them in a square shape, with delicately rounded corners. In contrast, the replica manufacturers made them round.
Probably, the manufacturers took the easy way, because it is easier to make circles than squares with rounded corners. However, the problem is that this difference is very obvious for those who are familiar with Cartier watches. Probably, a watch lover with a modest knowledge of Cartier collections will forgive this error. But let’s see what we identify further.
Hour markers and dial indexes
The concept of the Roadster watch involves Roman numerals for the hour markers. In this context, both watches are identical. But, carefully analyzing their silhouettes, I notice that the replica watch has them shorter and slightly thicker. For this reason, the authentic watch seems to be slightly more elegant than the knockoff version, the latter seeming more sporty.
In the same context, the minute markers also contain differences between the 2 models. Conceptually, each index for every 5 minutes must be bolder and elongated, according to the genuine watch. But, I don’t see pronounced highlighting in the replica watch. All minute graduations are monotonous in length and thickness.
The dial hands of the replica watch look very nice in dark conditions. Only nice though, and not bright, as they should be. This is because the Luminor layer is applied only in the central part of the hands. However, they should have been applied along the entire surface of the hands, according to the authentic model.
What I appreciate about the replica watch is the date aperture. I like the cut of the frame, as well as its proportion. The Cartier Roadster benefits from a rather non-standard aperture, with an asymmetrical outline different from the traditional rectangular standard. The manufacturers performed this task very carefully and professionally, I would say.
However, they did not hesitate to produce an error this time too, changing the color of the background. The authentic watch benefits from a black backdrop, like the entire dial. In contrast, the knockoff date aperture is white, with black indexes. It doesn’t look bad, basically. But it is different from what it should be.
Other aspects
Fortunately, the differences between the replica watch and its original counterpart stop here. The other details of the knockoff seem to have good execution and are pretty similar to the authentic Roadster. I am glad to see that the crown of the imitation is fixed firmly and compactly in relation to the case of the watch. Also, its aesthetic is more or less identical.
Another aspect that impresses me is the execution of the bezel, which, by the way, has by no means simple architecture. The bezel has a multi-level structure with smooth and refined transitions from one level to another. Also, the manufacturers worked hard on the finish. The entire replica construction has a finish in which you can mirror yourself and which shines flawlessly under the sunlight.
What should you pay attention to when you get a Cartier Roadster replica?
#1#
Keep in mind that there are different replica manufacturers. Some of them execute the watches very well, while others leave room for the better. Different stores can offer you different watches, in terms of quality. For this reason, keep in mind that you must carefully inspect the imitation you find, to avoid potential unpleasantness.
The optimal option for the Roadster imitation is the one that has a 904l stainless steel construction. Obviously, these can be more expensive. Instead, the quality of the 904l stainless steel material is very promising, durable, and resistant. A budget-friendly alternative would be the Roadster watches made of 316l stainless steel. These are not much inferior compared to the 904l alternatives, but it is possible that the finish looks not so perfect.
#2#
Another equally important aspect is the type of crystal in the Roadster knockoff. I strongly suggest that you focus exclusively on sapphire crystals. First of all, they will give you resistance to impacts. Secondly, they provide better readability, thanks to impeccable transparency. Ideally, I recommend opting for a sapphire crystal with a double anti-reflective coating (AR for short).
This increases the visibility of the dial, eliminating any light reflection that impacts visibility. Try to avoid mineral alternatives. I know that these are very affordable for the price and you could fall prey to the temptation to save some money. But believe me, you will regret it later. Mineral crystals are more sensitive to scratches, and you will have to polish the crystal once every 2 months.
#3#
Probably the most important aspect that you have to take into account is the mechanism inside, which, by the way, is the “heart” of the replica watch. Of course, the original model works perfectly thanks to its ultra-innovative mechanism. It is unlikely that any replica watch will ever benefit from such a mechanism.
For your Roadster knockoff to perform decently, stably, and viably, it would be good to opt for either a good Japanese mechanism or a Swiss ETA. From the Japanese mechanisms, I recommend Myiota with 21 jewels. As for ETAs, they are much harder to find because they are no longer valid for third-party manufacturers. If you find a replica with a Swiss ETA movement with 25 jewels, consider yourself lucky. If not, a Japanese alternative is also ok. The watch does not have complex functions. Respectively, the Myiota will perform more than decently.
Final word
Never hesitate between buying a Cartier watch or not. These are a must-have for any watch lover. And by wearing a Cartier, you convey to the world around you the high level of your tastes and standards. The challenge consists only in finding a suitable model, from the point of view of quality.
I hope that the recent guide somehow helped you to identify the imitation worthy of your money and respect. In the end, I think that aesthetic errors in replica watches deserve to be forgiven, provided that the construction itself is of high quality, that is, the internal mechanism, as well as the quality degree of the material and the crystal.