The pick worth your money is the hand-wound 1701-tier build with a carriage that actually rotates at the center of the dial. That version comes closest to what a real Cartier Astrotourbillon does, and it is the only tier where the watch reads as a complication instead of a printed dial with something spinning behind it. I judged the options on four criteria: whether the carriage is a genuine rotating cage or a static decoration, whether the movement is hand-wound and decorated for a display back, whether the case and bezel proportions follow the Calibre de Cartier Astrotourbillon, and whether the seller describes the item honestly instead of inventing an official Cartier reference number.

What "1701" actually means

Cartier's own Astrotourbillon references are tied to specific case metals and dial variants, and 1701 is not one of them. In the replica market the number works as a build code, a shorthand a factory or seller uses to label a particular version of the watch. Two listings that both say 1701 can ship completely different internals, so treat the number as a starting point for questions, not as proof of anything.

  • Ask the seller to confirm which movement is inside, not just the version code.
  • Ask for a photo of the caseback so you can see the movement before you pay.
  • Treat any claim that 1701 is a Cartier reference as a sign the seller is guessing.

What the genuine watch does, and why it matters

The Astrotourbillon sits in Cartier's Calibre de Cartier line and is a high-complication piece. Its defining feature is a tourbillon carriage placed at the center of the dial rather than at six o'clock, with the seconds hand carried on the rotating assembly. Because the architecture is unusual, a replica cannot fake it with a standard movement and a sticker. Either the carriage turns, or you are looking at a dial aperture with a decorative cage resting in it. Knowing this one detail separates the tiers below faster than any spec sheet.

Tier 1: quartz look-alike

The cheapest version of the fake Cartier Astrotourbillon 1701 uses a quartz movement with a fixed cage under the dial opening. It runs on a battery, so there is no balance wheel to see and no carriage rotation to track.

Pros

  • Low cost, so the risk is small if the watch disappoints.
  • Keeps time without winding and needs little attention.

Cons

  • The center aperture is a static decoration and never rotates.
  • Movement is wrong for the model, and the caseback usually hides it.
  • Dial printing, hands, and case finishing are the roughest of the three tiers.

Tier 2: decorated automatic

This tier steps up to a mechanical automatic movement with a rotor, often with a fake bridge plate added so the back looks busier than it is. The dial aperture is still usually a static cage, though some builds add a slowly moving ring to imply motion.

Pros

  • Mechanical movement gives the watch some substance on the wrist.
  • Case and bezel proportions are often closer to the genuine silhouette.
  • Better dial printing and hand finishing than tier one.

Cons

  • An automatic winding system does not match the genuine hand-wound architecture.
  • Decorative bridges can look obviously bolted on under a loupe or a phone camera.
  • Carriage motion, if present, is usually a small ring rather than a true rotating cage.

Tier 3: hand-wound with a working central carriage

This is the top pick. A hand-wound movement drives a cage that completes a rotation at the center of the dial, and the seconds hand rides on that assembly the way it does on the genuine watch. It is the only tier where the complication is the point of the piece.

Pros

  • Real rotation at dial center, which is the entire reason to buy this model.
  • Hand-wound movement matches the architecture of the genuine calibre.
  • Display back is worth looking at, with finishing meant to be seen.

Cons

  • Highest price of the three tiers by a wide margin.
  • Needs winding and more careful handling than a quartz or automatic watch.
  • Supply is limited, so waiting for the right example is common.

Checks to run before you pay

  1. Ask for a short video, not a still photo, so you can confirm the carriage rotates.
  2. Confirm the movement type in writing, including whether it is hand-wound.
  3. Check the dial printing for crisp lettering and even spacing around the aperture.
  4. Look at the crystal edges and the bezel profile in a side-on shot.
  5. Request the exact case diameter and thickness, then compare with the genuine dimensions you can find from the brand.
  6. Read the return terms before sending money, and keep the conversation in writing.

Red flags

  • A seller who quotes an official-sounding Cartier reference for a 1701 build.
  • Photos that only show the dial and never the back or the side of the case.
  • Claims of a genuine tourbillon at a price that cannot cover one.
  • Pressure to pay outside a trackable method.

Which tier fits which buyer

If you want the look for casual wear and do not care about mechanics, tier one covers that at low risk. If you want a mechanical watch that feels solid and looks right across a table, tier two is the reasonable middle. If the rotating carriage is the reason you want this model at all, skip the first two tiers and put the budget into a hand-wound build with a working central cage, because nothing else reproduces the feature that defines the Astrotourbillon.