The pick inside the 33708 v5 family is the 42 mm steel-on-steel Ballon Bleu with an automatic movement and a screw-link bracelet, because that configuration is where the batch gets the case flank, fluted crown and domed crystal right. The 36 mm quartz build is the cheaper fallback for a smaller wrist. Judging any 33708 v5 comes down to four things: whether the case thickness matches the genuine size it copies, whether the blue cabochon sits domed inside a properly fluted crown, whether the crystal has the right dome and edge clarity, and whether the bracelet uses screws rather than friction pins. Everything else, including the box and papers, is packaging.
What "33708 v5" actually means
33708 is not a Cartier reference. Cartier catalogues the Ballon Bleu under alphanumeric codes such as W69012Z4 or WSBB00xx, so a five-digit number like 33708 is factory or seller shorthand for a production batch. The v5 suffix means fifth revision of that batch. In practice each revision responds to a flaw list from the previous one: crystal height, date font, cabochon colour, end-link fit, clasp engraving. Treat v5 as a version marker, not a quality guarantee, and ask the seller which flaws the revision addressed.
Criterion 1: case dimensions and thickness
The Ballon Bleu is a rounded case with a domed profile, and the replica lives or dies on that curve. A case that is a millimetre too thick sits high on the wrist and reads wrong from the side, which is the angle people actually see.
- Pros: v5 batches generally correct the slab-sided look of earlier versions, and the 42 mm build keeps the crown guard integrated into the flank rather than bolted on.
- Cons: thickness figures in listings are often rounded or copied from the previous version. Confirm with a caliper photo, not a spec sheet.
Criterion 2: crown and blue cabochon
The fluted crown set with a blue cabochon is the signature of the line. On weak builds the stone is flat, purple in daylight, or glued slightly off-centre inside the flutes.
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- Pros: good v5 examples show a domed cabochon with a deep blue tone, set inside clean flutes, and the crown turns smoothly when winding and setting.
- Cons: cabochon colour varies between batches, and photos taken under warm shop lighting hide a purple cast. Ask for a daylight photo.
Criterion 3: crystal and dial
The genuine crystal has a slight dome and stays clear at the edges. Flat mineral glass is the fastest tell on a cheap build.
- Pros: sapphire with an anti-reflective coating gives the dial depth, and the guilloché texture on the dial reads as engraved rather than printed.
- Cons: date font and window position are the most common leftovers. Check magnification and alignment against a reference photo of the same size.
Criterion 4: movement and bracelet
Most 33708 v5 builds ship with a Chinese automatic of the 2824 type, a Miyota 9015, or a quartz option at the bottom of the range. The bracelet is where daily wear shows up first.
- Pros: automatic versions give a sweeping seconds hand and a proper crown operation; a screw-link bracelet lets you size it at home without pin punches.
- Cons: friction pins work loose, and stamped clasps with shallow engraving are common. Ask for a close-up of the clasp and the end links.
Who should buy the 33708 v5
Buy the 42 mm automatic if you want the Ballon Bleu silhouette on a larger wrist and you are willing to request caliper, daylight and clasp photos before paying. Choose the 36 mm if the watch is for a smaller wrist and you accept a quartz movement as the trade-off for a lower price. Skip this batch if you need a closed case back with correct engraving down to the serial format, or if you expect a replica to pass a jeweller's loupe. Ask the seller for current pricing and which movement is fitted, since that changes between listings more than the batch number suggests.