Every Cartier Love bracelet is stamped with a “hallmark” that indicates the metal quality. Love Bracelets made out of 18K gold are stamped with 18K, 750 or sometimes both numbers. Platinum Love Bracelets, meanwhile, are marked with the numerals 950. If those hallmarks are not impressed on your bracelet, it’s definitely a warning sign.

That being said, when Aldo Cipullo first designed the Cartier Love bracelets in the 1970’s, the bracelets did not include these hallmarks nor did they include serial numbers. This made it easy for counterfeiters to go ahead and flood the market with fakes. It is likely that almost 50% of the Love bracelets from the 70’s are fakes.

These replicas only loosely resemble the Cartier stamps. Below is the first example of how to spot a counterfeited Cartier Love bracelet.

When you look at the stamps, these are not the same, the fake often has a smudged Cartier logo and uses an 18kt stamp rather than the Cartier’s “750”. Also, the fake’s stamp is not precise and is done quite carelessly. The real Cartier love bracelet’s markings should be readable, even, and smooth.

Take a look at this example of a white gold 6 diamond love bangle:

The 6 diamond white gold Love Bangle Has a different Cartier S.A. stamp.

Another tip is to take a look at the spelling and font of the Cartier name and other hallmarks. If you catch a misspelling or it’s not in the cursive font, the Love bracelet is definitely a fake.

Here you can see that the engravings on the diamond bangle are in the wrong place.

Each of these knock-offs have a different font from the next – and from the authentic bracelet – for the “750” stamp.

Cartier’s brand was built on using only the highest quality of gold and platinum so one of the biggest hints of a fake is the weight of the bracelet. The bracelet should weigh between 30-38 grams (about five to six US quarters), this of course depends on the exact model you’ve selected. When you compare the genuine Love bracelet to a forgery, the fake will be lighter.

You must also be aware of the color of the metal. Obvious issues are chipping or discoloration.

When looking at the screws, there have been recent updates to the design. The screws are now attached to the bracelet.

Real Cartier Love bracelets are very precise and the screws perfectly stamped into the metal. The screw stamps on the replicas are not properly aligned, uneven, and not a smooth surface.

On this fake love bangle, the screws slightly overlap into the other side – remember that any sign of the smallest imperfection means you very well might be looking at a fake. Also, the all diamond bangle’s screw axes are too wide. Notice how much thinner they are on the authentic Love bangle below.

Since Cartier is known for their quality, the screws will always be flawless.

When you review the authentic Cartier Love bangle, the edges are crisp and precise. The screws should turn easily with the screwdriver. When you see a fake Cartier Love bracelet, the sides have a curvature that makes it appear more round. The screws are also much more difficult to open.

Another notable difference is the price. If you seem to be getting a too good to be true deal, you’re probably right. A new gold Cartier Love Bracelet retails for $6,300 and hold their value so the price you’re paying shouldn’t be too far off from this figure. One exception is the Charles Revson Love Bracelet that was made in the 1970’s.

This was a special edition that Cartier partnered with the founder of Revlon Cosmetics, with the enscription of “Carles Revson”. This was a less expensive model and the bracelets were electroplated and unscrewed only on one side. These vintage pieces are still on the market, but you should be notified and the bracelet be priced properly.