Counterfeit Cartier Earth and Moon Item: Short Answer
A counterfeit Cartier Earth and Moon item is a copy of the Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon, a Cartier watch that shows a moon phase on demand and holds a tourbillon. Cartier builds the movement in Switzerland. Copies use other movements and mimic the dial. They fail on three points: the pusher function, the tourbillon, and the paperwork.
Replica Cartier Earth and Moon Product Guide: Grades, Checks and Limits
What the genuine watch does
- A pusher on the case side moves a disc under the aperture at 12 o'clock and shows the moon phase. The display returns to its resting position by the movement.
- A tourbillon cage at 6 o'clock makes one full turn per minute.
- Cartier used natural stone for the moon disc on some versions. Lapis lazuli and meteorite carry grain, veins and inclusions. Two genuine discs do not look the same.
- Case size and reference number vary by version. Ask Cartier for the reference and the measurements before you compare.
Checks that fail on copies
- Pusher. On copies the pusher does nothing, shifts a printed disc, or runs a day and night wheel.
- Tourbillon. Copies show an open balance wheel or a printed cage. Time the cage with a stopwatch. A real tourbillon makes one turn in 60 seconds.
- Weight and metal. A 47 mm platinum or gold case has mass. Plated brass and steel copies feel light in the hand.
- Caseback. The genuine watch has a sapphire back with finished bridges, jewels and an engraved caliber and serial number. Copies use solid backs, stickers or rough plates.
- Dial print. Under a loupe, genuine printing has sharp edges. Copies show thick edges, wrong type and wrong spacing in the Cartier name.
- Numbers that match. The case, the movement and the certificate should carry the same number. Cartier boutiques check numbers on request.
Price and supply
Copies sell for a few hundred dollars on marketplaces and social media. Some sellers label them "first copy" or "1:1". Genuine production runs were small, so few dealers hold several examples at one time. A listing with many units in stock is a warning sign.
Legal status in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. Cartier and Richemont can bring civil claims under the Lanham Act. US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at import under 19 U.S.C. § 1526. Buyers can lose the item and the money.
Open points
Photos cannot confirm a tourbillon, a movement, or a serial number. A hands-on check with a watchmaker and a Cartier verification settles those points. Cartier does not publish production totals for limited versions.
Counterfeit Cartier Earth and Moon Watch: How to Tell a Fake