To look up the steel ligter serial number is very easy ,I specialize in buying and selling Cartier watches. I've seen fakes with
all the correct marks and a serial number, but that doesn't mean they
are legitimate. If the watch was registered by Cartier when it was sold
or if it has been sent in to Cartier for service Cartier will be able to
verify it is authentic, but be aware that if the watch was not
originally sold in North America or was not registered when sold (fairly
common) it can still be authentic. Some sellers offer the Cartier
quartz model for sale and only state that the watch has a quartz
movement, but fail to mention if it has a
Cartier quartz
movement. If it has a replacement movement in it the watch is
technically authentic, but not original and is not worth as much as one
with an original or a genuine Cartier replacement movement. The biggest
mistake I've seen amateur Cartier buyers make is using the Cartier
micro-script signature on the Roman numeral to verify authenticity.
Indeed this is a good indicator, but not the best indicator as there
were many Cartier watches produced prior to the technology required to
make the micro-script possible and not all Cartier watches have Roman
numerals for the dial to have the micro-script signature. Furthermore,
the micro-script is not always located at the same place and if the dial
has been refinished it may not appear at all. Another common problem is
actually caused by language differences, i.e. "all original versus
"authentic". A watch can be authentic without being all original. Unless
someone has owned the watch since it was new and it has never left
their sight it is impossible for them to state the watch is "all
original" as a part could have been replaced at some point in time --
even without their knowledge. Your best bet is to buy from a reputable
seller even if you have to pay slightly more money. --
Cartier_Specialist
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