A replica Cartier Santos 100 is a counterfeit copy of a watch Cartier sold from 2005 to about 2018. Cartier replaced the Santos 100 with the Santos de Cartier in 2018. There is no legitimate remake. Any "new" Santos 100 in a replica listing is a copy, not old stock.
What the Santos 100 was
Cartier launched the Santos 100 in 2005. The large steel version measures about 38 mm wide and 51 mm from lug to lug. Straps came in leather or steel. The automatic caliber 049 uses an ETA 2892-A2 base. Steel models sold for around $5,000 at launch. Cartier's current catalog lists the Santos de Cartier and does not list the Santos 100.
What "replica" means in this market
Sellers use "replica," "copy," "clone," and "1:1" for the same object: an unauthorized watch that carries the Cartier name, the logo, and the case shape. These words describe nothing about quality. Two watches sold under the same phrase can differ in case finish, movement, and dial print by a wide margin.
Price bands
- $40 to $120: quartz or low-grade automatic, chromed brass or low-grade steel case, printed dials with wrong fonts.
- $150 to $400: steel case, automatic movement from a Chinese maker, sapphire crystal on some listings.
- $450 to $900: case closer to 38 mm, better bracelet finishing, movement that copies the 049 layout.
These bands come from seller listings and buyer reports. No published survey covers the full market.
Points that separate copies from the original
- Caseback engraving depth and font.
- Print thickness on "CARTIER" and the Roman numerals.
- Bracelet screw heads: slotted on the original, Phillips on many copies.
- Movement finish. The 049 has Geneva stripes and a signed rotor.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell in the US. Trafficking carries up to 10 years in prison for a first offense under 18 U.S.C. 2320. The Lanham Act gives Cartier civil remedies. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments of counterfeit goods, including single-item personal imports. A seized watch is not returned, and the seller refunds nothing in most cases.
Risks a buyer takes
No Cartier service. No parts. No warranty. No resale value. Payment methods on replica sites often block chargebacks. Some sites take card numbers and ship nothing.
What the keyword does not tell you
A search for "replica Cartier Santos 100" returns sites, not factories. Seller claims about which workshop built a watch cannot be checked. Treat workshop names as marketing until independent evidence exists.