Short answer
Cartier brought back the Panthère de Cartier watch in 2018 and added references in 2021. The genuine watch uses a quartz movement and comes in steel or 18k gold on a link bracelet. "Replica" and "first copy" are seller terms for counterfeit watches. A copy matches the look. It does not come from Cartier. Sale and import of counterfeit watches is illegal in the United States.
Timeline
The panther motif entered Cartier design in 1914. The Panthère de Cartier watch launched in 1983. Cartier stopped the line in the 2000s and relaunched it in 2018. The 2021 catalog added dial colors, case sizes, and diamond-set bezels.
2021 reference specs
- Movement: quartz, battery powered.
- Case: square, steel or 18k yellow, rose, or white gold. The medium model measures about 27 x 37 mm.
- Bezel: eight visible screws on most references. Sapphire cabochon set in the crown.
- Dial: Roman numerals, sword hands, chemin de fer minute track.
- Water resistance: 30 m on most references.
- Bracelet: polished links, folding clasp.
What the copy labels mean
"First copy," "AAA," and "super clone" are seller-made labels. No grading body stands behind them and no published standard defines them. Two sellers can use the same label for watches from different factories.
Where copies differ from the original
- Case metal: plated brass or 316L steel instead of 18k gold. Plating wears at the lugs and clasp.
- Movement: unnamed quartz. The genuine watch is quartz, so the movement is not the hard part to copy.
- Dial print: thin Roman numerals, wrong weight on the Cartier signature.
- Screws: slotted, uneven, or painted.
- Bracelet: gaps at the links, sharp edges, loose clasp.
- Photos: many listings use images of the genuine watch.
Legal status in the US
Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell or import in the United States. 18 U.S.C. 2320 sets criminal penalties for trafficking in counterfeit goods. 19 U.S.C. 1526 lets Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy shipments. A buyer gets no Cartier warranty, no service, and no resale value.
What is not known
Cartier does not publish 2021 production numbers. Replica listings do not state the factory, the movement maker, or the metal alloy. Claims of "1:1" accuracy cannot be checked from photos.