Quick answer
A replica Cartier Baignoire 2717 is an unauthorized copy of a small oval Cartier dress watch. The number 2717 is a Cartier case code stamped on some Baignoire casebacks made in the 1990s and 2000s. It is not a catalog model name. Replica sellers reuse the code as a listing label.
What the Baignoire is
Cartier introduced the Baignoire shape in 1912. The case is an elongated oval, close to the form of a bathtub, which gives the line its name. Current Cartier listings show cases in several sizes. The smallest measures under 20 mm wide. Metals include yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and steel. Strap options include leather and gold bracelets. Small gold versions run on quartz. Larger versions use manual or automatic movements.
The 2717 case code
Cartier stamped four-digit codes on casebacks before 2010. The code tracks case size, metal, and dial type. One code can cover several variants, so two watches with 2717 on the back can differ in dial and bracelet. Cartier does not publish a public lookup table for these codes. A Cartier boutique or a watchmaker with movement records can match a code to a serial number. In short, 2717 identifies a case family, not a single watch.
How replicas differ from the original
- Metal: originals use 18k gold. Copies use plated brass or steel. Weight differs by several grams.
- Movement: originals carry Cartier-signed calibers. Copies carry generic quartz or low-grade automatic movements.
- Dial: originals use lacquer and printed or applied numerals. Copies show uneven print and a flat finish.
- Cabochon: originals set a sapphire cabochon in the crown. Copies use glass or a synthetic stone.
- Engraving: caseback fonts, depth, and serial format differ. Serial numbers on copies repeat across batches.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches infringe registered trademarks. US law bars import of such goods under 19 U.S.C. 1526, and trafficking carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2320. CBP seizes counterfeit watch shipments at ports of entry. Cartier holds US trademark registrations for the Baignoire name.
Checks before buying any Baignoire
- Read the reference and serial on the caseback.
- Ask for service papers and the original invoice.
- Have a watchmaker open the case and identify the movement.
- Confirm the code and serial with a Cartier boutique.