Short answer
"Fake Ballon Bleu 33688" is a search phrase for replica Cartier Ballon Bleu watches. The number 33688 is not a Cartier reference. Cartier reference numbers for the Ballon Bleu look like W69012Z4 or W6920071. Sellers use 33688 as an internal listing code on marketplace sites and chat channels. The same code can point to different sizes, dials, and movements from different sellers.
What the Ballon Bleu is
Cartier released the Ballon Bleu in 2007. The case is round. A blue cabochon sits in a crown guard on the right side. The dial carries Roman numerals and a guilloché pattern. Cartier sells the model in 28mm, 33mm, 36mm, 40mm, and 42mm cases. Richemont, a Swiss group, owns Cartier.
How sellers label replicas
Labels vary. "First copy" means the top grade in most listings. Other labels include AAA, 1:1, mirror, and super clone. No standard exists. A first copy from one seller can be the same factory output as an AAA from another. Movement options fall into three groups.
- Quartz: $40 to $90
- Automatic: $120 to $400
- Gold-plated: $200 to $500
Genuine steel Ballon Bleu watches run $4,500 to $8,000 at retail. Gold models run $15,000 to $40,000.
How to spot a fake
- Cabochon. Genuine crowns hold a blue sapphire or spinel. Copies use glass or plastic. Glass scratches and dulls.
- Caseback text. Genuine engraving is deep and sharp. Copies show shallow laser marks.
- Dial printing. Genuine Cartier text has even stroke width. Fakes show thick or uneven letters.
- Weight. A steel 42mm genuine weighs about 120 grams. Plated brass copies weigh less.
- Movement. Look through the caseback window. Genuine automatic movements carry a signed rotor and Geneva stripes. Copies show plain rotors or a battery.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell or import in the United States. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison. Repeat offenses carry up to 20 years. The Lanham Act lets trademark owners sue for damages. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry. CBP states the personal-use exemption does not cover goods with counterfeit trademarks. A seized watch is destroyed. The buyer gets no refund and no return. Buying a fake for personal use is not a federal crime in most cases, but the shipment can be stopped at any point.
What is not known
No public data shows which factory builds the watch sold under code 33688. Replica sellers do not publish factory names, serial numbers, or movement sources. Any claim about one specific factory is unverified.