The fake Ballon Bleu 33708 mens watch is a replica of the 42mm Cartier Ballon Bleu automatic, a steel dress watch with a domed crystal, a blue cabochon crown, and a date window at 3 o'clock. Sellers use "33708" as the case back number for that size, so the term points to the large men's model rather than the 33mm or 36mm versions. A good replica copies the case profile, the guilloché dial, and the crown guard. A bad one gets the dial pattern, the printing, or the crown shape wrong.
What Is the Ballon Bleu 33708?
33708 is a number stamped on the case back, not a retail code. Cartier lists the 42mm steel automatic under a code such as W69012Z4, and the case back carries its own reference. Buyers who search "33708" are hunting the 42mm men's automatic, the size that dominates the replica market.
Fake Ballon Bleu 33708 Replica: What You Need to Know
Ask the seller for a photo of the case back before you pay. If the stamped number, the font, and the engraving depth do not match photos of the real watch, walk away.
fake ballon bleu 33708 mens watch
What Should a 33708 Replica Get Right?
- Case: 42mm across, steel, with the rounded profile that flows into the lugs.
- Crystal: domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating. Flat mineral glass is a downgrade.
- Crown: fluted crown set with a blue synthetic spinel under a domed cap.
- Crown guard: the steel bridge that wraps the crown, with the cabochon sitting proud of it.
- Dial: guilloché pattern that radiates from the center, plus a date window at 3.
- Hands: blued sword hands of the right length, with clean edges.
- Strap: leather with an alligator grain and a deployant clasp, or a steel bracelet with screwed links.
How Do Replica Grades Differ?
Entry grade
Entry grade units run a quartz movement or a low-beat automatic behind a printed dial. The glass is mineral, the cabochon is painted plastic, and the case feels light in the hand. Case back engraving sits shallow, and the date font is wrong.
Mid grade
Mid grade uses a Japanese automatic, most often a Miyota 9015 or a Seagull copy. The dial gets a stamped guilloché pattern, the crystal turns to sapphire, and the crown guard shape improves. These are the units most wholesalers stock because they balance cost and looks.
High grade
High grade copies fit a Swiss automatic such as an ETA 2892-A2 or a Sellita SW300, a cut guilloché dial, and a cabochon set by hand. Case finishing moves to brushed and polished transitions that track the real watch. Expect to pay several times the mid grade price.
What Gives a Bad Fake Away?
- A cabochon that sits too high, too flat, or in the wrong shade of blue.
- Guilloché lines stamped too deep, or running the wrong way.
- Printed brand text that is too thick, too thin, or spaced wrong.
- A date window with no bevel, or a date font that differs from the real dial.
- Case back engraving that looks laser etched, with soft edges.
- A crown guard that sits square instead of curving into the case.
- Bracelet screws that sit proud or need a different driver size.
Compare the watch against high-resolution photos of the real 42mm at the same angle. A side-by-side shot shows flaws that a straight-on photo hides.
Which Movement Should You Pick?
Quartz
Quartz is thin and cheap, but the seconds hand ticks once per second. Anyone who knows watches will spot the tick against the smooth sweep of the real automatic. Skip it unless the price is the only concern.
Japanese automatic
A Miyota 9015 runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers hacking and hand-winding, just like the real watch. Parts are common, so any watchmaker can service it. This is the best value in the 33708 range.
Swiss automatic
An ETA 2892-A2 or Sellita SW300 matches the beat rate and finishing of the movement inside the real watch. You pay more up front and more at service time, and you get the closest feel on the wrist.
Does Size and Fit Matter?
The 42mm Ballon Bleu wears large because of the domed case and short lugs. On a 6.5 inch wrist it reads oversized, and the 36mm version fits better. Measure your wrist before you order, not after.
Check the lug width before you buy a spare strap. Most 42mm models take a band close to 20mm, so a 22mm strap will not fit. Ask the seller to measure the lugs on the actual watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a fake Ballon Bleu 33708 cost?
Price tracks the movement and the dial work, not the name on the box. Quartz units sit at the bottom of the range, Japanese automatic units in the middle, and Swiss automatic units with a cut guilloché dial at the top. Ask for a current quote and a movement photo before you compare sellers.
Is a fake Ballon Bleu 33708 water resistant?
Treat any water resistance claim as unverified unless the seller has pressure tested the watch. Gaskets are the first part to fail, and a 30m rating on paper means splash resistance at best. Take the watch off before you swim.
Does it come with a box and papers?
Replica boxes and booklets are easy to source, but they carry no warranty and no service value. Judge the watch, the movement, and the dial work. Packaging adds shipping weight and cost, nothing more.
Quick Checklist Before You Buy
- Ask for photos of the case back, the crown, and the dial at an angle.
- Confirm the movement model and request a photo of the rotor.
- Check case diameter and lug width against your wrist.
- Ask what happens if the watch arrives with a fault.
- Check the rules where you live. Importing replica watches is restricted in many countries, and selling counterfeits is illegal in the US.