The replica Ballon Bleu 33704 is a copy of Cartier's mid-size Ballon Bleu automatic, the round steel watch with a fluted crown capped by a blue synthetic spinel. Good copies sell for $180 to $400 and match the original on case width, dial layout, and crown detail. Budget copies under $80 show the gap in the stone, the weak printing, and the cheap movement.
What does reference 33704 mean on a Ballon Bleu?
Cartier stamps a reference number on the caseback, and 33704 appears on Ballon Bleu cases from the late 2000s and early 2010s. Sellers reuse that number as a listing code for steel Ballon Bleu copies in more than one size. The number tells you the model family and the case shape, not the movement inside.
Two sizes carry it most: 36.6 mm and 42 mm. If a listing shows 33704 with no size, ask the seller to measure the case with calipers before you pay.
Ballon Bleu 33704 specs at a glance
Copies aim at these numbers. Small gaps between a copy and the genuine watch are normal, and a few are worth checking on the listing photos.
- Case: stainless steel, 36.6 mm or 42 mm wide, 12 to 13 mm thick
- Lugs: about 20 mm on the 42 mm version, 18 mm on the smaller one
- Crystal: sapphire on mid and high tiers, mineral glass on the cheapest
- Crown: fluted, set with a blue synthetic spinel cabochon at 3 o'clock
- Dial: guilloche texture, Roman numerals, blued sword hands
- Movement: quartz, Miyota 9015, or a 2824 clone, depending on the tier
- Bracelet: steel with a deployant clasp, or leather on some listings
How do I check a 33704 copy before I buy?
- Crown stone. The cabochon should sit deep blue and flush in the fluted crown. Pale plastic or a visible glue line points to the lowest tier.
- Dial texture. The guilloche rings radiate from the center and catch light as you tilt the watch. A flat printed pattern is a tell.
- Printing. Roman numerals need sharp serifs and thin lines. Blurry or thick lettering shows a cheap dial.
- Hands. Sword hands with a clean blue finish and a straight sweep. Bent or blunt tips are a fail.
- Bracelet. Solid links with screws beat folded links with pins. Feel for rattle.
- Caseback. Engraved text has depth. Printed text sits on the surface and wears off.
- Movement. Ask for the caliber name and a photo of the rotor. A quartz tick at one beat per second is easy to spot.
- Weight. A steel 42 mm copy feels heavy in the hand. A light one points to a hollow case.
Quartz or automatic: which one should you pick?
Quartz copies cost less and keep time better out of the box. The second hand jumps once per second, which anyone who knows watches will notice.
Automatic copies use a Miyota 9015 or a 2824 clone, and both sweep. The Miyota 9015 runs at 28,800 beats per hour, carries 24 jewels, and holds a 42-hour power reserve, which puts it close to the genuine watch on feel. That tier costs $100 to $200 more, and the money buys the look on the wrist.
Price tiers for a replica Ballon Bleu 33704
- $60 to $90: quartz, mineral glass, hollow links, printed caseback. Fine for a costume look.
- $130 to $200: automatic Miyota or 2824 clone, sapphire crystal, solid bracelet, engraved caseback.
- $250 to $450: 904L steel option, better dial texture, sharper crown stone, tighter tolerances, closer date font.
Anything above $450 for a steel Ballon Bleu copy is hard to justify. Gold-plated copies sit in a different price band.
Flaws you should expect on any copy
- The cabochon reads too bright or too flat next to a real sapphire.
- The date font differs by a hair, and the window edge may be thicker.
- Water resistance is untested. Assume splash resistance at best.
- Rotor noise on the cheapest automatics.
- Bracelet end links that sit a fraction off the case.
Common questions
Is a replica Ballon Bleu 33704 waterproof?
Treat it as splash resistant. Gaskets on copies are not tested to the 30 meters the genuine watch carries, so keep it out of the pool and the shower.
Does it use a real Cartier movement?
No. Genuine Ballon Bleu watches run Cartier calibers, and no copy uses one. Copies run quartz, Miyota, Seiko, or an ETA 2824 clone.
How do I size the bracelet?
Most copies use screw links, so a 1.6 mm screwdriver handles the job. Take out one link at a time and keep the removed links in the box.
How long will a copy last?
A quartz tier runs three to five years on a battery. An automatic copy with a Miyota 9015 runs for years with a service every five to seven, though service can cost more than the watch.
Care tips that keep a copy looking sharp
- Wipe the case with a soft cloth after wear to cut skin oils.
- Keep the crown pushed in and never set the date between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
- Store it off a winder if you wear it twice a month.
- Check the bracelet screws every few months and add a touch of thread lock.
Buy from a seller who posts real photos of the actual unit, not catalog shots. Ask for a video of the second hand and the crown stone, and confirm the return window in writing before you send money.