Short answer
A knockoff Cartier Santos 100 is a watch that copies the name, case shape and dial of the Cartier Santos 100. Cartier built the Santos 100 from 2004 to 2018. Copies still sell for $40 to $300 on marketplaces, at flea markets and through social media sellers. Real examples retailed from about $6,000 in steel to more than $50,000 for skeleton versions. US law bans import, sale and transport of these copies.
What the real Santos 100 is
Louis Cartier designed the first Santos in 1904 for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. Cartier released the Santos 100 in 2004 for the centennial of that line. The large case measured 38 mm by 51 mm. The mid-size case measured 33 mm by 44 mm. Both used caliber 049, a 21-jewel automatic built on an ETA 2892-A2 base with a 42-hour power reserve. Cartier ended the line in 2018 and replaced it with the Santos de Cartier.
Where the copies fail
- Crown cabochon: real watches use a faceted blue sapphire or spinel. Fakes use glass, plastic or a bead in a purple or black tone.
- Case back: eight screws on the real case. Fakes use four screws, glued backs or screws set at odd angles.
- Dial: the real dial has a silvered galvanic finish and a small "Cartier" mark hidden inside the VII numeral. Fakes print thick Roman numerals and drop the hidden mark.
- Movement: caliber 049 runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a smooth sweep. Fakes hold quartz modules or cheap automatics such as the DG2813 and the Sea-Gull ST6.
- Serial numbers: Cartier stamps a number on the back and matches it to papers. Fake batches repeat one number across hundreds of units.
Prices
Quartz fakes sell for $40 to $80. Sellers who claim a "Swiss movement" ask $150 to $300. That claim is false in most cases. Steel Santos 100 watches on the used market list between $4,000 and $7,000. Gold examples list between $12,000 and $25,000. A fake holds no resale value and cannot be sold in the US.
Legal risk
18 U.S.C. Section 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine for an individual. CBP officers seize and destroy counterfeit shipments at the border. A buyer who orders from abroad can lose the watch and the money, with no refund. Cartier service centers refuse to work on fakes, and some keep the item and do not return it.
Replica Cartier Santos 100 Watch: A Comprehensive Guide
Before you buy
Ask for a movement photo, a case back photo and the serial number. Check that the serial appears on the papers and the warranty card. Look at the crown stone under light. Real sapphire shows facets and holds a deep blue tone. Glass looks flat and cloudy. A price far under $4,000 for a steel Santos 100 signals a copy. No seller can supply Cartier service records for a counterfeit, because the brand does not service them.