What Is a Cartier Tank Cintrée Clone?
A Cartier Tank Cintrée clone is a replica of the arched Tank that Cartier introduced in 1921. The case bends along its length so it wraps the wrist, which separates it from flat Tanks like the Solo or the Must. Clones copy that curve, the brancard lugs, and the Roman numeral dial at a fraction of the price of an original.
Cartier Tank Cintrée Clone Watch: The Ultimate Guide
The Cintrée is one of the rarest shapes in the Tank family. Cartier built it in small batches for most of its history, so originals trade at auction for five figures and up. That scarcity drives most searches for a clone.
Counterfeit Cartier Tank Cintrée: How to Tell a Fake From the Real Thing
Why the Curve Makes Cloning Hard
A flat watch case is easy to machine. A curved one is not. The Cintrée case bends in one plane from lug to lug, and the movement inside has to sit in a matching arc.
Buy Fake Cartier Tank Cintrée Replicas: Your Ultimate Guide
Many factories skip that step. They build a case with a mild bend and drop a flat movement inside, which leaves gaps and a thick profile. You can spot this on the wrist in seconds.
- A true Cintrée hugs the arm with no daylight under the case.
- A bent-case clone shows a gap at the lugs and sits tall.
- The dial on a correct curve catches light along its length instead of flat.
Which Details Matter Most on a Clone?
Case Shape and Thickness
The case should measure about 46 mm from lug to lug and about 23 mm wide on the standard size. Vintage versions run smaller, closer to 43 mm by 21 mm. Thickness matters just as much: an original sits low, and a copy that bulges past 8 mm looks wrong from the side.
Dial and Numerals
Cartier uses a specific Roman numeral design where the VII and VIII sit at an angle and the X is unsplit. Replica dials often use standard fonts pulled from a computer. Look at the X and the minute track: thick print and uneven spacing are the giveaways.
The dial finish differs too. Originals use a matte silvered opaline with printed numerals. Cheap clones use a glossy paper dial that reflects light.
Crown, Cabochon, and Lugs
The crown carries a blue sapphire or blue spinel cabochon. On clones, that stone is glass or dyed plastic, and it looks cloudy. Brancard lugs, the bar-shaped pieces that hold the strap, should be straight, polished, and soldered clean, not stamped and hollow.
Movement
Originals use hand-wound mechanical movements, most of them thin. Clones come in three types: quartz, a thin hand-wound copy, and a Japanese or Swiss automatic that adds thickness. A hand-wound clone with a decent finish gets you closest to the feel.
Which Cintrée Versions Get Copied Most?
- Yellow gold with a white dial: the classic look and the easiest to copy.
- Platinum or white gold with a silver dial: harder to finish because plating shows wear.
- Rose gold with a cream dial: popular for the warm tone.
- Steel or two-tone: less common, since the Cintrée was a precious-metal watch in most cases.
- Smaller 1920s-style sizes: sold as vintage-styled pieces for smaller wrists.
What Do Tank Cintrée Clones Cost?
Prices split into three bands. Entry quartz copies run from about $60 to $120. Mid-range hand-wound copies with a sapphire crystal land between $150 and $350. Top-tier builds with a custom curved case and a Swiss or high-grade Japanese movement reach $400 to $800.
Above that range, you are paying for gold content, not for better finishing. A clone with solid 18k gold exists but costs close to a used original.
Common Flaws to Check Before You Buy
- Flat case disguised by a domed crystal.
- Oversized crown that sits proud of the case.
- Blurry sapphire cabochon, or a plastic one with a seam.
- Minute track printed too close to the numerals.
- Strap pins that do not line up with the brancard lugs.
- A caseback engraved with the wrong reference number.
How Does the Cintrée Compare to Other Tank Clones?
The Tank Solo and Tank Must are flat and rectangular, so clones of those watches sell for less and fit more predictably. The Cintrée is longer and narrower, which makes it read as a dress watch and sit differently under a cuff. If you want a Tank clone for daily wear, the flat models are the safer pick. The Cintrée is the one for a collection.
Tank Cintrée Clone FAQ
Does a clone fit the same as an original?
Close, if the case curve is built on the correct radius. A flat or shallow bend will rotate on the wrist. Ask the seller for a side profile photo and a measurement of the case height.
Can I fit a genuine Cartier strap?
Lug widths on the Cintrée run narrow, and clone makers often use a non-standard pin size. Measure the lug gap and the spring bar diameter before you order a strap. Aftermarket straps in 16 mm to 18 mm are common on this model.
Are gold clones made of real gold?
Almost never. Most gold-tone Cintrée clones use gold plating or PVD over steel. Plated cases wear through at the lugs and caseback edges within a year of daily wear. Solid gold replicas exist but are rare and priced near genuine secondhand levels.
How do I spot a clone in photos?
Check the curve from the side, the cabochon color, and the numeral font. A flat case profile and a milky blue stone are the two fastest tells.
How to Choose a Seller
Ask three questions: what movement, what case material, and what the return window is. A seller who cannot name the movement is reselling from a catalog. Request a photo of the actual watch, not a stock image, and confirm the case profile from the side.
Look for sellers who list lug-to-lug size, thickness, and lug width. Those numbers tell you whether the case is curved to a real radius or just bent. A return policy matters more on the Cintrée than on any flat Tank, because the curve is the one thing photos hide.