Short answer
A replica Ballon Bleu 33708 is an aftermarket copy of a Cartier Ballon Bleu wristwatch built to match the case reference 33708. The number 33708 is a Cartier case reference tied to a mid-size stainless steel version of the Ballon Bleu, and copy makers use it to point to one specific size, case profile and dial layout. It is not a Cartier product, and Cartier does not make, sell or service it.
What the reference number tells you
Cartier files each Ballon Bleu variant under a case reference, which is stamped on the caseback and printed on the paperwork. Reference 33708 is usually listed as a mid-size steel automatic, and listings place it in the 33 mm to 36 mm range depending on the seller. Because the reference points to one configuration, buyers searching for a replica Ballon Bleu 33708 are looking for a copy of that same case size and dial design rather than the smaller or larger versions of the same family.
What the genuine watch looks like
The Ballon Bleu family is built around a rounded case with a domed sapphire crystal, which gives the watch its balloon-like silhouette. Familiar design points include:
- A fluted crown set with a blue synthetic spinel cabochon, partly recessed into a crown guard
- A guilloché dial with Roman numerals and a hidden signature inside one of the numerals
- Sword-shaped hands, blued in the steel and gold versions
- A rounded case that flows into the lugs, with no sharp transitions
Copies aim at these same features because they are the parts people recognize first from across a room.
How the copy market groups these watches
Sellers split replicas into rough tiers, and the tier decides which details hold up under close inspection.
- Entry tier: quartz movement, printed dial texture instead of real guilloché, flat or cloudy crystal, cabochon that reads bright and plastic-like.
- Mid tier: automatic movement, better case polishing, sapphire crystal, dial with a stamped or etched pattern, correct crown shape.
- Upper tier: cloned automatic movement, engraved caseback with reference and serial stamping, closer guilloché depth, cabochon with a domed top and deeper color, and case proportions matched by caliper.
Price gaps between tiers come from the movement, the dial work and the finishing, not from the shape of the case.
Details worth checking on any copy
- Measure the case with calipers, since stated sizes run wide or narrow.
- Turn the watch over and inspect the guilloché pattern for a flat print.
- Look at the cabochon under light for a flat plastic look instead of a domed stone.
- Check the date window alignment and whether the font matches the catalog.
- Wind and set the movement, then listen for a rough rotor or a grinding crown.
- Compare bracelet end links to the case, since loose gaps are the most visible flaw.
Legal and practical points
Cartier is a registered trademark, and counterfeit watches are illegal to import or sell in the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments of counterfeit goods, and sellers face civil and criminal exposure. Beyond the legal side, a copy carries no manufacturer warranty, no service network and no resale value, and water resistance claims on replicas are often unverified. Treat the reference number as a label for a copy, not as a Cartier product code.