A fake Ballon Bleu 33708 is a copy of the Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier 36 mm automatic, the steel model stamped 33708 on the caseback. The genuine watch uses Cartier calibre 049, measures 36.6 mm across, and carries a blue cabochon in a fluted crown. Copies run from $80 quartz builds to $400 or more for Swiss-movement versions, and the gap shows in three places: the crown, the dial texture, and the caseback engraving.
What Is the Cartier Ballon Bleu 33708?
The number 33708 is the case reference stamped inside the caseback of the 36 mm steel Ballon Bleu automatic, sold at retail as W69012Z4. It sits between the 33 mm quartz model and the 42 mm automatic, and it became the volume seller of the family.
- Case: stainless steel, 36.6 mm wide, about 12 mm thick
- Movement: Cartier calibre 049, an ETA 2892-A2 base, automatic, 42-hour power reserve
- Dial: flinqué guilloché with Roman numerals, blued steel sword hands, date window at 3 o'clock
- Crown: fluted steel set with a blue cabochon, shielded by a curved guard that flows into the case
- Glass: sapphire crystal front and back
- Water resistance: 30 m
Cartier launched the Ballon Bleu line in 2007, and the rounded case with the protected crown is the shape that made it recognizable.
Why Does This Reference Get Copied So Much?
The Ballon Bleu reads as a luxury watch from across a room. The curved case, the exposed cabochon, and the guilloché dial are all visible at arm's length, which is what a replica maker wants.
fake ballon bleu 33708 stainless steel
The 36.6 mm case also fits a wide range of wrists, so one mold serves a large pool of buyers. Add a secondary-market price in the low thousands and the incentive is plain.
How Do You Spot a Fake Ballon Bleu 33708?
Genuine versus fake comes down to details a camera can hide. Check these five areas in order.
The Crown and Cabochon
The cabochon on a real 33708 is a smooth blue dome with a soft glow. Cheap copies use plastic or dyed glass that looks flat under light, and the fluting around it feels sharp instead of polished.
The Dial
Real guilloché is cut into the metal, so the pattern catches light at different angles as the wrist moves. Printed or stamped copies show a flat pattern with no depth, and the Roman numerals lose their crisp edges.
The Caseback Stamp
Cartier engraves the reference, the serial, the model name, and "Swiss Made" with a fine laser. Replicas often show shallow, uneven lettering, or a 33708 stamp paired with a serial that does not match the case shape.
The Movement
An open caseback shows the rotor and bridges. Genuine calibre 049 runs at 28,800 beats per hour and sweeps smooth; many cheap copies tick at 21,600 or use a quartz module that steps once per second.
The Bracelet and Clasp
Steel bracelets on the 33708 use solid links with tight tolerances and a signed deployant clasp. Copies rattle, show gaps at the end links, and use stamped clasps with soft engraving.
What Specs Should a Replica Match?
Use this list when you compare a listing against the real watch.
- Case width: 36.6 mm, not 36 mm or 38 mm
- Case thickness: about 12 mm, so it slips under a cuff
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Beat rate: 28,800 vph, or 8 beats per second
- Power reserve: close to 42 hours
- Crystal: sapphire with a slight dome
- Date: at 3 o'clock, matched to the dial color
What Do Fake Ballon Bleu 33708 Watches Cost?
Price tracks movement and finishing more than anything else.
- Under $100: quartz or a low-grade automatic, printed dial, mineral glass, plastic cabochon
- $150 to $250: Asian automatic such as a Miyota or a clone, real sapphire, better dial texture, weak bracelet
- $300 to $500: Swiss ETA or Sellita inside, correct thickness, closer engraving, solid bracelet
Above $500 the returns flatten. At that point the money goes into plating and hand finishing that most buyers never see.
Red Flags in a Listing
- Photos that avoid the crown side or the caseback
- A "Swiss made" claim with no movement photo
- Case width listed as 38 mm or 40 mm while the text says 33708
- A price under $60 with sapphire in the description
- Stock photos lifted from Cartier's own site
FAQ
Is a Fake Ballon Bleu 33708 the Same Size as the Real One?
Good copies land within 0.5 mm of the 36.6 mm case. Cheap ones run 1 to 2 mm wide and sit taller on the wrist.
Do Replicas Use a Swiss Movement?
Some do. Sellers list ETA 2892-A2 or Sellita SW300 movements in the top tier, and both sit in the same family as calibre 049.
Can a Jeweler Tell a Fake Ballon Bleu 33708?
Yes, and fast. A trained eye checks the crown cabochon, the dial texture, and the caseback engraving in under a minute, then confirms with the movement.
Is It Legal to Buy a Replica Watch in the US?
Selling or importing counterfeit watches is illegal in the United States under trademark law. A personal order can still be seized by Customs, and the FTC notes that counterfeit goods carry no warranty and no consumer recourse.
What Matters Most When You Shop
Focus on the crown, the dial depth, and the movement beat rate. Those three checks separate a wearable copy from a throwaway one, and they take less than five minutes with the right photos. Everything else, box, papers, and '1:1' labels, is marketing.