What a fake Cartier Ballont Bleu is

A fake Cartier Ballon Bleu is a watch built by a third party to copy the Cartier model of the same name. Cartier launched the Ballon Bleu in 2007. The case comes in 28, 33, 36, 40 and 42 mm. The steel 42 mm automatic is reference W69012Z4. A counterfeit carries the Cartier name, logo and reference number. It does not come from Cartier. Searches for "ballont bleu" use a misspelling. Cartier spells the model Ballon Bleu.

Six checks settle most cases. They are the caseback numbers, the crown cabochon, the dial print, the movement, the crystal and case, and the paperwork.

1. Caseback numbers

Genuine Ballon Bleu casebacks carry a reference number and a serial number. Both are engraved. The two numbers sit on the same caseback. Cartier does not repeat serials. A seller who lists the same serial on two watches has a problem. Ask for a macro photo of the caseback at 10x. Engraving depth and edge quality show up at that size. Fakes use shallow etching that looks grey under a loupe.

2. Crown and cabochon

The Ballon Bleu crown sits inside a metal guard and carries a blue synthetic spinel cabochon. The stone is smooth, domed and set flush. Fakes use glass or plastic, cut too flat, with a visible glue line. The crown guard on the genuine watch is part of the case. Run a fingernail along the joint. A ridge means a fake. Genuine cases show one continuous surface.

3. Dial and hands

The genuine dial carries a guilloche pattern, Roman numerals and blued steel sword hands. Print on a fake is thicker. The Cartier script on a fake sits too low or too high against the VII numeral. Many genuine dials hide a small Cartier signature inside the VII. Use a loupe. On a fake the mark is missing or printed with visible dots.

4. Movement

The 42 mm automatic uses Cartier caliber 049, based on the ETA 2892-A2. It runs at 28,800 vph with a power reserve of about 42 hours. Look at the rotor finish and the engraving. Cartier marks the rotor with the caliber number and the Cartier name. A fake uses a clone with no caliber engraving, or an engraving that sits on a sticker. Shake the watch near the ear. A loose rotor sound on a new watch is a warning.

5. Crystal, case and bracelet

Genuine watches use sapphire with anti-reflective coating on one side. A water drop beads on sapphire. On mineral glass it spreads. Steel bracelet screws on the genuine watch sit flush and take a 1.4 mm driver. Fake screws sit proud or use pins. Lug width on the 42 mm case is 20 mm. Measure it. A 21 mm lug on a 42 mm case is a fake.

6. Price and paperwork

Cartier lists the steel 42 mm Ballon Bleu above $6,000. A full set with box and papers adds value. A price far below that floor, from a private seller, with no service history, carries risk. Check the warranty card number against the caseback serial. A Cartier service center can confirm a serial and a service record. In the US the sale of counterfeit goods is illegal, and the FTC handles it as a consumer fraud matter.

Replica grade labels

Sellers label replica Ballon Bleu watches as 1:1 or AAAA. Those labels have no formal standard. Ask for the movement name, case metal, crystal type and lug width. A seller who answers with a caseback photo and a movement shot gives you data to check. A seller who answers with adjectives does not.