Quick answer

A fake Cartier Tank Must 28mm is a counterfeit watch that copies the Cartier Tank Must design. Genuine Cartier Tank Must cases come in two sizes: 29.5mm by 22mm and 33.7mm by 25.5mm. Cartier does not make a 28mm Tank Must. Replicas with a 28mm case are not based on an official model. They use a quartz movement. Prices range from $50 to $300.

Genuine Cartier Tank Must specs

The Cartier Tank Must launched in 2021. It replaced the Tank Solo. The case is steel. The crystal is sapphire. The movement is quartz. The small model measures 29.5mm wide and 22mm tall. The large model measures 33.7mm wide and 25.5mm tall. The dial has Roman numerals. The crown has a blue spinel. The strap is leather or steel. Water resistance is 30 meters.

What a 28mm fake looks like

A 28mm fake Tank Must has a case width of 28mm. This is 1.5mm smaller than the genuine small model. The case thickness is often 7mm to 8mm. Genuine small model thickness is 6.6mm. The fake uses a mineral glass crystal. Mineral glass scratches easier than sapphire. The dial printing is blurry. Roman numerals are too thick or too thin. The crown spinel is plastic or glass. The caseback engraving is shallow. The strap feels stiff. Stitching is uneven.

Movement and accuracy

Fake Tank Must watches use a Chinese quartz movement. Common movements are the Miyota 2035 or a clone. These movements keep time within 15 seconds per month. Genuine Cartier quartz movements are thermocompensated. They keep time within 10 seconds per year. The fake movement has a battery life of 1 to 2 years. The genuine battery lasts 3 to 4 years. The fake second hand ticks once per second. The genuine second hand ticks once per second too. Both are quartz.

Case and dial details

The fake case is 316L stainless steel. Genuine case is also 316L steel. But the fake case has sharp edges. The genuine case has polished and brushed surfaces. The fake dial has a printed Cartier logo. The logo is often off-center. The genuine logo is applied or printed with precision. The fake date window is small. The genuine Tank Must has no date window. The fake has a date at 3 o'clock. That is a clear sign. Genuine Tank Must has no date.

Bracelet and strap

Fake Tank Must often comes with a leather strap. The leather is split grain. It cracks in 6 months. The genuine strap is calfskin or alligator. The fake steel bracelet has hollow links. The genuine bracelet has solid links. The fake clasp is stamped. The genuine clasp is engraved. The fake clasp has no Cartier logo. The genuine clasp has a logo.

Where fakes are sold

Fake Cartier Tank Must 28mm watches sell on marketplaces. Examples include DHgate, AliExpress, and Reddit. Prices range from $50 to $300. Sellers use terms like "Tank Must 28mm" or "Tank Solo 28mm". Some sellers claim the watch is "1:1" or "mirror quality". These terms have no standard meaning. No fake matches genuine specs.

Risks

Buying a fake watch carries legal risk. In the US, trafficking counterfeit goods is illegal. Penalties include fines and prison. The watch has no warranty. No service center will repair it. The watch has no resale value. The materials may contain lead or nickel. Nickel causes skin irritation. The watch is not water resistant. Water damages the movement.