Short answer
Cartier does not publish a reference 4046. The number appears on replica listings, not in Cartier catalogs, boutique records, or auction archives. Sellers attach it to a steel or gold-plated Cartier-style watch, most often a Tank, Santos, or Pasha case shape. Treat 4046 as a seller code, not a factory reference number.
How real Cartier references look
Genuine Cartier model codes follow set formats. Examples include W69012Z4 for a Ballon Bleu and 1564 for a Santos Galbée. A real reference ties to one case size, one metal, one dial, and one movement. It also matches the serial number stamped on the case back. A listing that shows "4046" with no serial, no caliber number, and no papers has no link to Cartier production records.
Parts that differ on a fake
- Glass. Cartier uses sapphire crystal. Most fakes use mineral glass. Sapphire sheds a scratch from a steel pin. Mineral glass takes one.
- Crown cabochon. Genuine Cartier crowns carry a blue spinel or sapphire bead set flush in the metal. Fakes use glass, dyed plastic, or a painted dome. Look for a glue seam at the base.
- Movement. Cartier fits in-house calibers such as the 1847 MC, or ETA bases in older models. Replicas run Chinese quartz or a 2813 automatic. An open case back shows unfinished plates and no caliber stamp.
- Case metal. Fakes use 316L steel with gold plating of roughly 2 to 5 microns. Plating wears through at the lugs and case back edges within months.
- Engraving. Cartier stamps the case back with a die. Letters have depth and sharp edges. Laser engraving on a fake looks shallow and gray.
- Weight. A solid gold or steel Cartier case is dense. A stamped shell with a hollow back feels light in the hand.
Price and paper checks
Steel Cartier watches retail in the range of about $3,000 to $10,000. Gold models run higher. A "4046" priced at $80 to $400 is a replica by definition, because no genuine Cartier sells at that level outside a theft or a broken movement. Boxes, booklets, and cards come from print shops that serve the replica trade, so papers alone prove nothing. Match the serial to a Cartier service record before you pay.
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What "first copy" means
"First copy" is a trade term for a high-grade replica. It does not mean the watch left the same line as a Cartier, and it does not mean the parts are shared. Cartier does not sell cases, dials, or movements to outside factories. A first copy is a copy, built to a higher finish than a cheap one.
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US law
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 lets US Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy merchandise that carries a counterfeit mark. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 sets criminal penalties of up to 10 years for a first offense of trafficking in counterfeit goods, and up to 20 years for a repeat. Buying one watch for personal use is not trafficking, but customs can still take the item at the border and you lose the money.