A replica Baignoire 2020 is a copy of the small oval Cartier dress watch from that model year, and nearly all of them run quartz movements. That last part matters less than it sounds, because the genuine watch is quartz too. The case shape is the whole game. The Baignoire is a shape first and a watch second, so if the oval is wrong, nothing else rescues it. Expect to pay $120 to $400 for the common versions, more for two-tone or stone-set bezels. In the US these are counterfeit goods, and that has real consequences for buyers, not just sellers.
What the 2020 Baignoire actually is
Cartier's Baignoire is an elongated oval with a thin bezel, Roman numerals, blued steel sword hands, and a sapphire cabochon set into the crown. The case curves gently so it sits on the wrist like a bracelet. The 2020 lineup included the classic small oval, a medium size, the stretched Baignoire Allongée, and the tiny Baignoire Mini. Case metal options ran from steel to yellow gold to rose gold, with diamond bezels on the higher references. Straps are alligator with a pin buckle or a folding clasp depending on the model.
One detail worth knowing before you shop: the classic Baignoire is a quartz watch, rated for a few years of battery life. A replica that ticks once per second is behaving correctly. A replica with a smooth sweeping seconds hand is wrong for this reference.
Which replica versions show up under this search
The 2020 keyword pulls in a mixed bag, and sellers rarely label things precisely. In practice you will see:
- Small steel oval, silvered dial, Roman numerals, black or brown strap. The most common version by far.
- Two-tone steel and gold-plated cases, usually yellow gold tone.
- Diamond bezel copies, almost always cubic zirconia rather than real stones.
- Baignoire Allongée, the long narrow oval that wears like a cuff.
- Baignoire Mini, roughly the size of a cocktail ring.
For Cartier case work, the factory names cited most often in replica circles are BVF and 3K. Treat those as starting points for comparison, not a guarantee. A lot of listings reuse the same stock photos across different quality tiers.
What separates a good copy from a bad one
I look at the case profile first, then the cabochon, then the dial print. That order saves time.
- Case profile. The genuine oval is slim through the middle with a bezel that rises just enough to hold the crystal. Cheap copies look flat and slightly egg-shaped, and the bezel is too thick. Check the length-to-width ratio and how the lugs curve down.
- Cabochon. Genuine crowns carry a blue sapphire cabochon. Replicas use glass, dyed plastic, or synthetic spinel. Look for a smooth dome with visible depth. A flat blue dot with a seam is a bad sign.
- Dial print. Roman numerals should have consistent stroke weight and clean corners. The Cartier signature should be sharp under magnification, not fuzzy or double-struck.
- Hands. Blued steel has a deep, almost matte blue. Painted replica hands flash purple under direct light.
- Crystal. Sapphire with a slight dome. If it scratches easily or shows a heavy blue tint at angles, it is mineral glass.
- Strap and buckle. Most 2020-era replicas shipped with stiff embossed leather. The strap is the cheapest thing to upgrade and the fastest way to make the watch look right.
Sizing notes
An oval reads smaller on paper than it does on the wrist, because the long axis runs with your arm. A small Baignoire at roughly 31 mm across sits closer to a 34 mm round watch in presence. The Allongée is a different animal: it covers a lot of wrist and looks best on people with a flatter forearm. If you have a small wrist, measure before you commit to the long version.
What to ask a seller before paying
- Fresh photos with a ruler or a coin next to the case.
- Case dimensions in millimeters, including lug to lug.
- The movement name. Ronda and Miyota quartz calibers are standard here.
- Whether the cabochon is set into the crown or glued on top.
- Strap material and buckle type, pin or deployant.
- Return policy in writing, and whether the photos are of the actual unit.
Skip any seller who answers with catalog renders or claims to include original box and papers. Those papers are forged, and they add nothing except legal exposure if a package gets opened in transit.
Price bands and what you get
Under $160 buys a functional quartz watch with a mediocre oval and a glass cabochon. Around $180 to $300 gets better case finishing and sharper dial printing, which is where most of the value sits. Above $320 you are paying for closer case proportions and a better crown. Stone-set bezels add $50 to $100 and rarely look convincing in daylight.
The legal side
In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and that covers selling, not just manufacturing. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments, and a seized package means you lose the watch and the money with no recourse. Reselling a replica is where buyers turn into defendants. Cartier's trademarks are actively enforced, so treat this as a personal purchase with real risk attached, not a deal you can pass along.
Bottom line
Pay for the oval. A $150 copy with a correct case silhouette and a clean dial beats a $350 copy with a fat bezel and a plastic-looking stone every time. Buy the shape, upgrade the strap, and go in knowing the legal reality on the US side.