Short answer
People search the phrase "replica Ballon Bleu 33704" with several words that mean the same thing. The common synonyms are: Ballon Bleu clone, 1:1 Ballon Bleu, super clone Ballon Bleu, Swiss replica Ballon Bleu, mirror Ballon Bleu, AAA Ballon Bleu, and Ballon Bleu copy. All of them describe a watch that copies a Cartier Ballon Bleu. One term sits apart: "homage." A homage keeps the shape and drops the Cartier name.
Replica Ballon Bleu 33704 Commercial Guide
What the number 33704 means
33704 is a case number. It is engraved on the back of some Ballon Bleu de Cartier watches. It is not the retail model number. Cartier retail references look like W6920046 or W69012Z4. Cartier does not publish a table that maps case numbers to retail references. Confirm any mapping with Cartier or a watchmaker before you rely on it.
Replica Ballon Bleu 33704 Longtail: The Ultimate Guide
A case number ties to a case size and a movement family. Ballon Bleu cases come in 28 mm, 33 mm, 36 mm, 40 mm and 42 mm. Ask the seller for the case size in millimeters and a photo of the case back. If the seller cannot name the size, treat the listing as unknown.
Replica Ballon Bleu 33704 En US: The Ultimate Guide
Synonym list and what each word claims
- Replica: a copy that carries the brand name on the dial. This is the counterfeiting case under most trademark laws.
- Clone or super clone: seller words for a replica built to sit next to a genuine watch. The words carry no standard.
- 1:1: a claim that case, dial and bracelet match the original in size. No body tests the claim.
- Swiss replica: a claim about where parts were made. No certificate backs it.
- AAA, AAAAA, grade A, mirror: seller grades. Each shop sets its own scale.
- Copy, mirror image, OEM: other words in listing titles. In this market they mean replica.
- Homage: a watch with the same shape and a different brand name. Legal in the U.S. when no protected logo is used.
Where the words differ
The brand name is the line between a homage and a counterfeit. A watch with "Cartier" on the dial and no Cartier authorization is a counterfeit in the U.S., the EU and the UK. A watch with a blank dial or a house name is not.
Replica Ballon Bleu 33704: What to Check Before You Buy
The words also track price. Genuine Ballon Bleu steel automatics sell new for several thousand U.S. dollars. Replica listings run from about 100 USD to about 1,000 USD. A high price does not prove high quality. Ask for photos of the case back, the crown and the movement.
What to check on a Ballon Bleu listing, in order
- Case number and serial. Both should appear, and the seller should show them in one photo.
- Case size in millimeters. 36 mm and 42 mm are the two most copied sizes.
- Crown. The Ballon Bleu crown sits inside a metal guard and carries a blue synthetic spinel.
- Dial text. Check the gap between the "CARTIER" line and the "Automatic" line.
- Movement. Many genuine automatics use Cartier calibre 049. Ask for a photo of the rotor.
- Papers. A box and a card are easy to fake. A Cartier service receipt is harder.
Legal note
U.S. law bans the sale of counterfeit goods. CBP can seize a shipment at the border. The buyer can lose the watch and the money. The FTC treats counterfeit sales as a trademark violation. Check the rules in your country before you buy.