In short: GrecoWatch sells pre-owned Cartier in Athens: Tank, Santos, Ballon Bleu and Panthère. Our selection is small and changes constantly, and every piece is checked in our workshop before it is offered, including the hidden signature and whether each stone is original. View privately by appointment at Spyrou Merkouri 4, or buy with insured worldwide shipping.
The Tank was designed in 1917 and has been copied ever since. That is the first thing to understand about buying a pre-owned Cartier: the design is so familiar that recognising it proves nothing. Anyone can spot a Tank across a room. Telling a genuine one from a good copy, or an original case from one that has been reworked, is a different skill, and it is the one you are paying a specialist for.
This page covers the Cartier lines we handle, the checks that matter for this brand in particular, and what to know before you buy, from us or anyone else.
Which Cartier models are worth buying pre-owned?
- Tank. Must, Solo, Louis Cartier, Française and Américaine: the rectangular watch every other rectangular watch is measured against. Our write-up of the Tank Solo XL ref. 3515 shows how much the details matter within a single family.
- Santos. The square sports Cartier with the screwed bezel, first made for an aviator in 1904. Current models use the QuickSwitch strap system and SmartLink bracelet sizing, both worth testing on any example you are offered.
- Ballon Bleu. The easiest Cartier to wear every day, recognisable by the blue cabochon crown sitting inside a guard on the side of the case.
- Panthère. More jewellery than instrument, and wanted for exactly that reason. On a Panthère, the condition of the bracelet is most of the story.
Our collection changes constantly, and with Cartier we hold a few carefully chosen pieces rather than a wall of them. Viewings are private and by appointment at Spyrou Merkouri 4. See a Cartier on the wrist before you decide: proportions that look right in a photograph can wear very differently in person.
What should you check on a pre-owned Cartier?
Every watch passes through our workshop before it is offered. Our master watchmaker has more than 50 years at the bench, and on a Cartier these are the points that decide things:
- The hidden signature. Many Cartier dials hide the word CARTIER inside one of the Roman numerals, in lettering small enough to need a loupe. Copies often leave it out or get it wrong. Not every model has one, so its absence proves nothing on its own, but on the models that should carry it, it is one of the first things we look at.
- The crown cabochon. It should sit tight and unchipped. Cartier has used synthetic spinel or sapphire depending on the model and era, and the wrong stone, or a loose one, points to a replacement crown.
- Quartz or automatic. Many Cartier watches, especially the smaller Tanks and the Panthère, are quartz. That is normal for the brand and not a flaw, but you should know which one you are buying, because it changes the servicing and it should change the price.
- Aftermarket diamonds. Stones added after a watch left Cartier don’t add value; they usually take it away. A factory-set piece and a customised one are priced very differently, so we check whether every stone is original to the watch.
- Bracelet and clasp. On the Santos and the Panthère, the bracelet is half the watch. We check for stretch, worn pins and the authenticity of each link. Our guide to bracelet stretch explains what to look for.
If a watch needs work before it is sold, it is done in our own workshop, with original parts only and a written 2-year warranty on every service.
Buying from outside Athens
We ship fully insured worldwide and will answer questions about the specific watch, with photographs, before you commit. Import duties and taxes depend on your country, so check them first. We are not tax advisers. If you are visiting Athens, arrange a viewing in advance and give yourself time; a Cartier is an easy watch to fall for in a hurry.
Trading or selling a Cartier
A Cartier you no longer wear can be sold outright or put towards another piece. How we value one, including why quartz movements and aftermarket stones change the figure, is covered on our page about selling a Cartier in Athens.
Frequently asked questions
How common are fake Cartiers?
More common than most buyers expect. The design is simple and the Tank has been copied for a century, which is exactly why every Cartier we sell is inspected at movement level, not only by eye.
Is a quartz Cartier worth buying?
Yes, at the right price and with your eyes open. A quartz Tank is every bit as genuine a Cartier as an automatic one. It is a different watch, with cheaper servicing and a lower cost of entry, and it should be priced that way.
Do you service Cartier watches?
Yes, in our own workshop, with original parts only and a written 2-year warranty. We are an independent specialist, not an authorised Cartier service centre, so a watch still under factory warranty is best sent to Cartier’s own network first.
Can you find a specific model?
Usually. Tell us the exact reference, size and dial you want, and we’ll tell you honestly what is realistic.
Viewings and enquiries: browse the collection, or send us the model you have in mind. If you are also considering Rolex, our page on buying a used Rolex in Athens covers the checks for that brand.
Call or WhatsApp +30 697 546 1445. Every day, 09:00–18:00, Spyrou Merkouri 4, Athens.
GrecoWatch is an Athens-based luxury watch specialist and a Chrono24 Trusted Seller with a 5.0 rating from 54 reviews. Every watch is personally inspected and authenticated, with insured worldwide shipping and private viewings by appointment.