Cartier Santos--is it a fake

[LittleWatchShop]

This belongs to my father-in-law and I am to inherit it.  Frankly, from what I have researched, it looks like a fake.  I cannot open it up now, but I may have the opportunity later this year, when I will know for sure.

Thoughts?

[Kalanag]

Why do you think it might be a fake?

[LittleWatchShop]

1 minute ago, Kalanag said:

Why do you think it might be a fake?

I just cannot match it up with anything I find on the interweb.

[Kalanag]

What‘s about this?

https://www.dorotheum.com/en/l/7515028/

Edited July 1, 2022 by Kalanag

[LittleWatchShop]

7 minutes ago, Kalanag said:

What‘s about this?

Quite close.  Also scratched up similar to the one I show. Notice the different engraving on the back.  Maybe that means something...maybe not.

[grsnovi]

Seems to have been quite a lot of variations. I usually use a Google images search and having done that see quite a few that match yours. You might look here: https://threequarterplate.com/blog/a-visual-history-of-the-cartier-santos/

[Kalanag]

You can find both back engravings on originals: „Cartier“ and „Santos by Cartier“. The link in the above post shows an example.

Edited July 1, 2022 by Kalanag

[Marc]

2 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

it looks like a fake

I'm inclined to be a little suspicious too.

On all of the Santos dials that I have looked at one of the strokes of one of the numerals is the word "Cartier". It's not always in the same place, on yours it's on the thin arm of the V in VII, and on yours it appears to be very smudged. I can't imagine that a genuine dial would be anything other than crystal clear. Check images on the www and you'll see what I mean.

[LittleWatchShop]

The watch is now in my possession.  Have not opened it yet.  Here is a picture under a microscope of the cartier numeral.

[grsnovi]

Have you opened it yet?

The only movement on Ranfft that vaguely looks like that case is this:

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk&Cartier_87.06

...which is quartz.

[LittleWatchShop]

4 hours ago, grsnovi said:

Have you opened it yet?

The only movement on Ranfft that vaguely looks like that case is this:

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk&Cartier_87.06

...which is quartz.

Mine is an automatic. I have not opened yet.but

[grsnovi]

Well, they also show Cartier using ETA 2892-2 automatic as well as the Frederic Piguet 1185 automatic.

[LittleWatchShop]

Mystery revealed.  ETA 2671 signed Cartier

[LittleWatchShop]

I found this comment on Chrono24 about the Cartier ETA 2671

Movement complete, for the Cartier Santos ladies Automatic. This is a complete movement, without it's hour wheel, but the caliber is unknown. As this movement needs a hour wheel, that has a reduced size, kindly check if your hour wheel replacement is available before ordering this item. How to know it is a Cartier caliber? Simple.. LOOK at the regulator portion of the balance bridge, the regulator will be left handed, ie: the reverse of all ETA 2671 calibers. This is a normal Cartier trait, to have a left handed movement, it simply cannot be replicated!

I do not understand the "left handed" comment.

[Karon]

Do you think this is fake?

[LittleWatchShop]

58 minutes ago, Karon said:

Do you think this is fake?

??