Quick answer
33680 is not a Cartier reference number. Cartier marks the Ballon Bleu de Cartier with codes such as W69012Z4 for the 36 mm steel automatic. The number 33680 appears in replica listings and forum posts, where sellers use it as an internal SKU. It does not fix a size, a movement, or a dial color.
What the 33680 listings describe
Listings that carry the code 33680 point to a Ballon Bleu in the 33 mm to 36 mm size range. Some offer a quartz movement. Some offer an automatic. Case metal, dial color, and bracelet type change from one seller to another under the same code. Two listings with the same number can be two different watches.
Genuine Ballon Bleu specs
Cartier launched the Ballon Bleu in 2007. Traits shared across sizes:
- Sapphire crystal, domed
- Crown guard with a synthetic blue spinel cabochon
- Guilloche dial, Roman numerals, sword hands
- Water resistance 30 m (3 bar)
- Steel, 18k yellow gold, or 18k rose gold case
The 36 mm steel automatic runs Cartier caliber 049. That caliber is automatic, beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, and carries a 42 hour power reserve. Case thickness sits near 12 mm.
Where replicas differ from the real watch
- Cabochon color and seat: genuine stones sit flush in a polished ring around the crown.
- Dial texture: copy guilloche lines run shallow and uneven under a loupe.
- Date window: the genuine frame has a basket shape at 3 o'clock.
- Case back engraving: depth, font, and spacing of the reference and serial numbers.
- Bracelet and clasp: link gaps, screw heads, and the stamped logo inside the clasp.
- Crown action: genuine crowns wind with light resistance and click at each position.
Movements found in 33680 replicas
Replica Ballon Bleu watches use Miyota 9015, Seagull ST2130, or ETA 2824 clones. All three run at 28,800 vibrations per hour, the same rate as Cartier caliber 049. Beat rate is a weak test. Rotor engraving, winding feel, date change timing, and hand alignment show more.
Price range
Cartier list prices for a steel 36 mm Ballon Bleu sit in the four figure USD range. Replica listings under the 33680 code run from about $60 to $400. That gap is the main signal. No seller can deliver a sapphire crystal, a Swiss automatic, and a gold case at the low end of that band.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. section 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments that carry counterfeit marks. A watch stamped Cartier without Cartier authorization is a counterfeit under that statute, even when the buyer knows it is a copy.
Checklist before you pay
- Ask for the exact case diameter in mm.
- Ask for the movement name and beat rate.
- Ask for a photo of the case back with the numbers readable.
- Ask for a macro photo of the cabochon and crown guard.
- Ask about the return window in writing.
- Compare the quoted price against current Cartier retail.
Unverified claims
No Cartier catalog, service document, or press release uses 33680. Claims that the number maps to one factory, one grade, or one version come from sellers. Public records do not confirm them.