The best pick in the fake Ballon Bleu 33680 category is the 33mm stainless-steel build with a correctly fluted crown guard, a blue cabochon set deep into the crown, applied Roman numerals, and a Swiss-parts or high-grade Japanese movement. The 33680 tag almost always points to the 33mm Ballon Bleu case, so judge every listing on four things: case geometry, crown construction, dial printing, and movement quality. Get the crown guard wrong and the watch fails at arm's length, no matter how clean the rest of it looks.
What the 33680 Number Actually Refers To
Cartier's own Ballon Bleu references run in the W69xxx format, so 33680 is not an official model number. In practice it appears as a catalog or SKU code on replica listings, and it maps to the 33mm case that sits between the 28mm size and the 36mm and 42mm versions. Treat the digits as a listing label, not a specification sheet. Before you compare two watches, ask the seller for the real case diameter, lug width, movement type, crystal material, and caseback style.
Criterion 1: Case Shape and Crown Guard
The Ballon Bleu is defined by a crown nested inside a fluted, arc-shaped guard that flows out of the caseband. A strong fake keeps that guard flush with the case, seats the cabochon low, and blends brushed and polished surfaces along the flanks. A weak one shows a guard attached as a separate piece, a cabochon riding too high, or a caseback that sits proud of the midcase.
fake ballon bleu 33680 comparison
- Pros of a well-machined guard: it reads correctly from across a table, sits smooth against the wrist, and lets the crown turn without snagging.
- Cons: this is the most expensive part of the case to machine, so it is the first place budget factories cut corners.
Best for: buyers who wear short sleeves and keep the watch visible all day, where the profile gets the most scrutiny.
fake ballon bleu 33680 imitation
Criterion 2: Dial Printing and Hands
Check the Roman numerals for weight and even spacing, the printed signature for a crisp serif, and the minute track for consistent gaps. The sword hands should be dark blue with a mirror polish rather than flat navy paint, and the inner railroad track on the 33mm dial should sit close to the numerals without crowding them.
- Pros of a clean dial: it is the cheapest part of the watch to get right, so a sloppy dial usually signals a sloppy movement inside.
- Cons: macro photos hide printing flaws; ask for a straight-on shot in natural light before you commit.
Best for: anyone who spends time near people who know the model, since the dial is what gets checked first.
Option A: Quartz 33mm Builds
Quartz versions keep the case thin and the sweep of the seconds hand is the giveaway.
- Pros: lower cost, thinner profile, fewer service issues, and the case dimensions often match the genuine 33mm more closely.
- Cons: the ticking seconds hand is obvious to anyone who knows watches, and quartz builds rarely get the decorated caseback.
Best for: occasional wear and buyers who want the look without maintenance.
Option B: Automatic 33mm Builds
An automatic movement gives the smooth sweep and the correct case thickness.
- Pros: sweeping seconds, a rotor visible through a display caseback, and a heavier feel on the wrist.
- Cons: higher cost, thicker case, and service or replacement is difficult if the movement fails.
Best for: daily wear and buyers who take the caseback off or handle the watch often.
Option C: Mixed-Parts Builds Sold as Swiss
Some listings claim Swiss parts with an Asian-assembled case.
- Pros: better finishing on the visible parts, and sometimes a genuine-grade crystal and crown.
- Cons: the claim is hard to verify, and mixed sourcing makes returns and service messy.
Best for: experienced buyers who can inspect the movement finish and keyless works themselves.
Fit, Sizing, and Daily Wear
The 33mm case wears larger than the number suggests because the crown guard adds width on the wrist. Measure your wrist and check the lug-to-lug figure before ordering, since the curved lugs limit how a bracelet drapes. Ask whether the bracelet uses screws or pin links, and confirm that spare links are available. On leather, check that the strap thickness matches the lug gap so the case does not look pinched.
Legal and Shipping Reality in the US
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments of counterfeit goods, and a buyer whose parcel is stopped typically has no way to recover the money. Selling counterfeits exposes a seller to trademark liability. A listing that promises branded boxes, papers, and a certificate is raising the risk, not lowering it. Pay with a method that offers dispute rights, and keep the listing text and photos.
How to Decide
If the watch will be worn daily, spend the extra on the automatic with a well-finished crown guard. If it is a once-a-month piece, a thin quartz build in the correct 33mm case is the better use of money. In both cases, reject any listing that will not show a straight-on dial photo, a side profile of the crown, and the caseback. Those three images answer most of the questions that decide whether a fake Ballon Bleu 33680 looks right on the wrist.