Short answer
A replica Ballon Bleu 33660 is a copy of the Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier in the 36 mm steel automatic size. The number 33660 shows up on case backs and in second-hand listings for that model. Cartier does not print it in catalogs, so the number alone does not prove a size. Measure the case: 36 mm across, about 12 mm thick, crown at 3 o'clock with a blue cabochon.
Prices run from $60 for quartz to $450 for a top automatic build. The money buys case finishing, dial texture, and a movement with a sweep seconds hand.
Genuine specs to match
- Case: steel, 36.6 mm diameter
- Thickness: about 12 mm
- Crystal: sapphire, domed
- Crown: fluted, set with a blue synthetic spinel cabochon
- Dial: silvered, guilloche, Roman numerals, date at 3
- Hands: steel sword hands
- Movement: Cartier caliber 049, an ETA 2892 base, 28,800 vph, 42-hour power reserve
- Water resistance: 30 m
- Bracelet: steel with a butterfly clasp, or leather
Movement choices
Three movement types show up in replicas.
- Quartz. Ticks once per second. Cheapest. The case is often thinner than the real watch.
- Asian 2824 or 2892 clone. 28,800 vph. Sweep seconds. The 2892 clone matches the genuine layout best.
- Miyota 9015. 28,800 vph, 42-hour reserve, made in Japan. Quiet rotor.
Ask for the movement name in writing. A seller who cannot name it is reselling quartz.
Case and crown checks
The crown is the tell. Genuine crowns have fine fluting and a translucent blue cabochon that passes light. Replicas use glass or plastic that looks flat and dark. Check the cabochon under a lamp.
Case profile: the Ballon Bleu case is a rounded pebble shape with no sharp edges. Run a finger along the flank. A ridge means poor polishing.
Case back: look at engraving depth, the reference digits, and the serial. Shallow laser etching is a low-tier sign.
Dial and hands
The genuine dial has a guilloche pattern cut into metal, not printed. Tilt the watch. Real texture shifts with light. Printed texture stays flat.
Check the "CARTIER" print under magnification. Blurred edges, uneven spacing, or a wrong font weight show up at 10x. The date window sits at 3 o'clock with clean corners and no white border ring.
Bracelet and clasp
Steel bracelets have screw links on better builds and pin links on cheaper ones. Check the clasp engraving and the fit between links. Loose links rattle.
Strap versions need a matching buckle. Measure lug width on your own case before you order any strap.
Price bands
- $60 to $120: quartz, printed dial, mineral glass
- $180 to $280: automatic clone, sapphire, decent case
- $300 to $450: A2892 or Miyota 9015, textured dial, tight bracelet
What buyers get wrong
- Trusting the 33660 number as proof of size. Measure the case.
- Ignoring thickness. Thin quartz cases sit wrong on the wrist.
- Skipping the cabochon check. It is the first thing a watch person sees.
- Buying from a seller who lists no movement name and no case measurements.