Member-only story

The Cartier Conundrum: Real or Replica?

Why I’m Eyeing the Superclone Santos and Loving Every Second of the Debate

Embracing Discomfort.
3 min readJan 6, 2025
Photo by Keyur Jadav on Unsplash

Love at first wrist.

The Cartier Santos: a watch so effortlessly iconic it practically whispers, “I’m better than you,” every time it catches the light. Sleek, timeless, oozing luxury – it’s the kind of accessory that makes you want to cancel your meetings just to admire your wrist in peace. But at £7,000 and up, it’s also the kind of indulgence that leaves your wallet gasping for air.

Which is why I’m staring down the barrel of an existential crisis: the real deal or the superclone?

What’s a Superclone, Anyway?

Think of a superclone as the Michelin-starred chef of replica watches. This isn’t your dodgy street vendor knockoff that screams “fake!” from a mile away. These things are absurdly detailed, down to the weight, movement, and finish. At a tenth of the price, they’re engineered to fool even the snobbiest of watch aficionados – until, of course, someone flips it over and realizes it doesn’t come with Cartier’s warranty of smugness.

Why I’m Tempted

First off, the numbers: a superclone costs a fraction of the real thing. We’re talking £400 for a piece that delivers 90% of…

--

--

No responses yet