Short answer

A fake Pasha de Cartier is a watch that copies the Pasha case and was not made or sold by Cartier. Cartier launched the Pasha in 1985 and relaunched it in 2020 in 41 mm and 35 mm cases. Fakes copy those two sizes. Genuine models list in the thousands of US dollars. Fake listings ask tens to low hundreds of dollars.

Case and lug screws

The Pasha case is round with a wide bezel and four screws set into the lugs. On a genuine watch those screws work and have slots. On a fake they are molded, glued, or cut as hex sockets. Check the screw heads with a loupe. Gaps, rough threads, and uneven slot depth point to a copy.

Crown cap and chain

The crown sits under a screw-down cap. A short chain links the cap to the case. On a genuine Pasha the cap threads into the case and seals. On a fake the cap spins free, the chain is stamped from one piece of metal, and the link has no solder joint.

Cabochon

Genuine Pasha crowns carry a blue spinel or sapphire cabochon. Copies use glass or plastic. Glass shows bubbles under a loupe. Plastic marks with a fingernail.

Dial and hands

Most Pasha dials use large Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9, with baton markers between them. Fakes print the text thick, sit the date window off center, and leave the hands uneven at 12 o'clock. Genuine hands have polished bevels. Fake hands look flat and gray.

Movement

The 2020 Pasha uses Cartier's 1847 MC automatic in most sizes. Fakes use unmarked Chinese automatic movements, or quartz movements with a ticking seconds hand. A rotor with no engraving, no jewel count, and no maker mark is a copy part.

Case back, marks, and serials

Genuine case backs carry a reference number, a case serial, and a Swiss Made mark. The engraving is cut into the metal to a consistent depth. Fakes laser print the text or cut it shallow. Cartier does not run a public serial lookup. A Cartier boutique can inspect the watch and quote a service. Gold Pasha cases carry a precious metal hallmark. Swiss law requires hallmarks on gold and platinum. Steel cases have no hallmark.

Weight and finish

A fake steel Pasha weighs less than a genuine one. Case flanks on a fake show polishing swirls. Inner lug edges are sharp. Bracelet screws on a genuine Pasha thread in and hold with the SmartLink system. Fake bracelet pins press in and loosen.

Swiss Made

The Swiss Made label requires a Swiss movement cased in Switzerland and at least 60 percent of production costs spent in Switzerland. A fake can print the words on the dial. The words do not prove origin.

Checks before you buy

• Ask for the reference number and compare it with the Cartier catalog.
• Ask for photos of the case back, crown, and lug screws.
• Ask for the weight of the watch with its bracelet.
• Ask for the box, papers, and a service record.
• Compare the asking price with Cartier list prices. A new Pasha at a deep discount is a copy.

Where fakes sell

Fake Pasha listings appear on marketplaces, chat apps, and classified sites. Genuine Pasha watches sell through Cartier boutiques, authorized dealers, and auction houses. Cartier does not sell through discount sites.