Quick answer
The 42mm figure on a Drive watch is the widest point of the cushion-shaped case, measured straight across the middle. Genuine Drive de Cartier models in the large size sit in that range, and replica listings quote the same number. One number is not enough to judge a case. You need three: width across the middle, height from lug tip to lug tip, and thickness through the caseback. Sellers who publish only the width are quoting the number that sells, not the number that fits.
Prerequisites
- Wrist measurement in millimeters, taken snug around the wrist bone.
- The reference you want to match: time and date, moon phase, or extra-flat.
- A caliper, or a ruler with millimeter marks.
- Awareness that first copy watches are unlicensed copies of a trademarked design. US Customs can seize them at import, and trafficking in counterfeits is a federal crime.
How to evaluate a 42mm Drive replica
- Measure your wrist. A 42mm cushion case suits a wrist of roughly 165mm and up. Below that, the lugs overhang the wrist edge and the watch looks borrowed.
- Request all three case numbers. Ask the seller for width, height, and thickness. Large Drive time-and-date models run about 7mm to 8mm thick. A replica past 10mm sits high on the wrist and reads as wrong in profile.
- Study the case flanks. The Drive has an unbroken line from lug to lug, with a crown recessed into a slot on the side of the case. Gaps, sharp corners, or a crown that floats outside the flank are the first tells.
- Inspect the crown stone. It should be a faceted blue cabochon seated in the crown. Glued glass domes and painted plastic show up under a phone flashlight.
- Read the dial under light. Check the guilloché center, the Roman numerals, the rail-track minute ring, and the blued sword hands. Printed indexes that drift off the track are common on low-tier builds.
- Confirm the movement. Genuine Drive time-and-date models use a Cartier 1904-PS MC automatic. Replicas typically run a Miyota 9015 or a clone of an ETA 2824. Ask for the calibre name and a photo of the rotor.
- Check the strap and clasp. Look at stitch density, edge paint, and how the spring bars seat in the lugs. A loose bar drops the watch.
- Assume no water resistance. Unless the seller pressure-tested the case, treat the watch as splash-only. Do not swim or shower in it.
What the 42mm number does not cover
Case width says nothing about lug curve, caseback thickness, or how the watch sits on the wrist bone. A 42mm cushion with a flat caseback wears larger than the same width with a domed one. Judge fit by thickness and lug shape, not by the headline figure.
Legal and import notes
Counterfeit watches can be seized and destroyed at the US border, and the buyer absorbs the loss. Selling or trafficking them carries criminal penalties. Budget for that risk before you compare prices.