Short answer
"Fake Ballon Bleu 33688" is a search phrase used on replica marketplaces. The number 33688 is not a Cartier reference. Cartier publishes Ballon Bleu references in a W-prefix format, for example W69012Z4. Code 33688 functions as a seller SKU or a marketplace listing number. A watch sold under that code copies the Ballon Bleu de Cartier shape, not one specific catalog reference.
In the US, importing or selling a counterfeit watch is illegal. CBP can seize the shipment at the border. Federal criminal law targets trafficking, not personal possession.
What the 33688 code usually points to
Listings with this code describe a 42 mm steel Ballon Bleu in most cases. Stated specs:
- Case: 42 mm wide, about 13 mm thick, 316L stainless steel
- Crystal: sapphire on higher grades, mineral glass under $100
- Crown: fluted, set with a blue cabochon of glass, resin, or synthetic spinel
- Dial: guilloché pattern, Roman numerals, blue-tone hands
- Movement: Seagull ST2130, Miyota 9015, or an ETA 2824 clone
- Bracelet: steel with a butterfly clasp, or a leather strap copy
Numbers change between listings. Sellers reuse one code across builds with different parts.
Price bands
Asking prices run from about $80 to $500. Under $100 buys mineral glass and a quartz or low-grade automatic movement. From $150 to $300 buys a 316L case and a Seagull or Miyota movement. Above $400, sellers advertise sapphire, tighter tolerances, and a Swiss or Swiss-parts movement. Movement claims cannot be checked from photos.
Grade labels
Terms such as "AAA," "1:1," and "super clone" are marketing. No standards body defines them. Two sellers can use "1:1" for watches from different factories with different parts inside.
Legal status in the US
18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison. CBP seizes counterfeit watches at import under 19 U.S.C. § 1526. Cartier is owned by Richemont and holds trademark and design rights. The company can file civil claims under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114.
How a copy differs from the real watch
- Cabochon: the genuine stone is cut and polished; copies use glass or resin with flat faces
- Caseback: genuine engraving is laser-etched at consistent depth; copies show shallow or uneven text
- Dial print: letter spacing on "Cartier" and "Swiss Made" is a common fault on copies
- Movement: the genuine 42 mm automatic uses Cartier calibre 049, based on the ETA 2892-A2. Copies do not use it
What is not known
No public record ties code 33688 to one factory, one batch, or one specification sheet. Listing photos get reused across sellers. Serial numbers engraved on the caseback of a copy do not match any Cartier service record.