Quick answer
A replica Must de Cartier Tank is a copy of the Cartier Tank Must, the steel quartz watch Cartier released in 2021. Sellers list it as "first copy," "1:1," or "AAA." Prices run from about $25 to $400. Case size, dial print, and the crown cabochon decide the tier. No replica carries a Cartier warranty. No replica uses a Cartier movement.
What the genuine Tank Must is
Cartier added the Tank Must in 2021 as the entry steel line. It replaced the Tank Solo. Cartier lists two sizes: small at 29.5 mm by 22 mm, large at 33.7 mm by 25.5 mm. Thickness is about 6.6 mm. The movement is quartz. The crystal is sapphire. The case is steel. The dial is lacquered with printed Roman numerals. The crown holds a blue synthetic spinel cabochon. Retail sits near $3,000 and moves with currency.
Replica price tiers
- Under $50: alloy case, flat printed dial, glued crown, stiff strap.
- $80 to $150: 316L steel case, generic quartz movement, mineral glass.
- $200 to $400: steel case, sapphire glass, tighter dial print, cabochon set into the crown.
Above $400 the price stops tracking visible quality. Caseback engraving and crown shape are the two spots where cheap copies fail.
What to measure on arrival
- Case length and width with calipers. Small should read 29.5 by 22 mm. Large should read 33.7 by 25.5 mm.
- Lug width against a factory strap chart. A wrong lug width means no strap fits.
- Weight on a scale. Steel cased copies land in a narrow range. Alloy copies read light.
- Crown cabochon color under daylight. Cheap stones read purple, not blue.
Movement and water resistance
The genuine watch uses a Cartier quartz calibre. Replicas use generic quartz, often unbranded. Water resistance on a replica is untested by the seller. Do not swim with one. Do not shower with one. Gasket quality is unknown.
Legal and practical notes
In the US, selling a counterfeit watch as genuine falls under 18 U.S.C. 2320. CBP seizes counterfeit shipments at the border. Personal-use purchases carry less exposure than resale, but the parcel can still be held and destroyed. A replica holds no resale value and no service network. Repair shops often refuse to open them.
What replicas do not match
Lacquer depth on the dial, hand finish, cabochon cut, caseback screw detail, and the printed reference numbers. Boxes and papers from replica sellers are copies too. Serial numbers do not trace to Cartier.