The replica Cartier Astrotourbillon sold under the reference "1701" is the version worth asking about, because it attempts the orbiting carriage layout instead of dropping a decorative cage into a dial. No replica of this watch is a true copy, and the 1701 is no exception. Judge it on four things: whether the carriage actually travels around the dial, whether the case matches the Calibre de Cartier proportions, how the dial furniture is finished, and what the seller will show you on video before shipping.

What the Astrotourbillon complication actually is

On the genuine Cartier, the tourbillon cage is not parked in a window at six o'clock. It is mounted at the centre of the dial and orbits once per minute, carrying the balance wheel at the rim of the carriage. Cartier builds this on its in-house 9451 MC movement in the Calibre de Cartier line. That single fact separates a real Astrotourbillon from a standard tourbillon dressed up to look like one. A static cage with a balance spinning inside it is a different, simpler mechanism.

Criterion 1: Carriage and movement behaviour

This is the first thing to verify, and the easiest to fake in still photos.

Pros

• The carriage sweeps the full dial, so the moving mass is visible from every angle rather than hidden at six o'clock.
• A display back on better examples lets you see the gear train driving the carriage arm.
• Hand-wound or automatic versions exist; both are plausible, since the genuine movement is hand-wound.

Cons

• Low-cost examples slow or stall when the carriage reaches the top of its orbit, because the arm is under-tensioned.
• Rate accuracy is unpredictable; you are buying the look, not chronometric performance.
• Few sellers can service the carriage assembly, so any fault means a return to the seller or a dead watch.

Ask for a continuous, unedited clip of at least one full minute with the watch running. A still image proves nothing here.

Criterion 2: Case, crystal and dial finishing

The genuine Calibre de Cartier Astrotourbillon is a large, thick watch, commonly listed at roughly 47 mm across. Replicas that shrink the case to a 42 mm mould change the character of the piece entirely.

Pros

• A faithful case profile, with the same pronounced bezel and thick lugs, reads correctly on the wrist.
• Sapphire front crystals are standard on the better builds and resist the scratching that mineral glass does not.
• Applied Roman numerals and a properly finished flange separate a serious build from a printed-dial one.

Cons

• Case thickness is often reduced to fit a generic movement, which flattens the side profile.
• Printed indices and flat, glossy dials appear on cheaper batches of the same reference number.
• Water resistance claims on replicas are marketing, not tested ratings. Treat the watch as splash-resistant at best.

Criterion 3: Seller documentation and QC

• Pros: sellers who send dated photographs of your specific unit, including the movement, remove most of the guesswork. A stated return window matters more than any specification sheet.
• Cons: reference numbers such as 1701 are seller-side labels, not factory designations, so two sellers can ship visibly different watches under the same number. Stock photos are routinely reused across batches.

Legal and ownership reality

Selling counterfeit branded goods is a federal offence in the United States under 18 U.S.C. § 2320, and shipments are subject to customs seizure. Ownership also carries practical costs: Cartier will not service or supply parts for a counterfeit, and no independent watchmaker will warranty work on a movement they cannot source components for. Budget for the watch as a disposable item, not an heirloom.

Which version to pick, and for whom

If you want the orbiting carriage as a visual experience and accept the servicing risk, the 1701 build with a display back and a full-motion video before purchase is the sensible choice. If you want a watch you can wear daily, get wet, and hand to a watchmaker in five years, a replica Astrotourbillon is the wrong purchase at any price. And if the appeal is specifically the Cartier name on the dial, understand that this is the one part of the watch the seller cannot guarantee on your behalf.