Short answer
33687 is a Cartier case reference. It appears on the back of Ballon Bleu de Cartier 36 mm automatic watches. A listing that sells a "fake Ballon Bleu 33687" sells a counterfeit copy of that model. The full model number for the steel 36 mm automatic is W69010Z4. Case references and model numbers are two separate fields. Fake sellers use both to sound official.
What 33687 covers
The case number identifies case size and shape. It does not identify dial color, bracelet, or metal. Cartier made the 36 mm Ballon Bleu in steel, two-tone, and gold, with silver, white, and pink dials. One case number can sit under several genuine variants. Ask a seller which full model number the watch matches. Most fake listings cannot name one.
Genuine specs, 36 mm steel automatic
- Case: 36.6 mm wide, about 11.5 mm thick, steel
- Crystal: sapphire, front and back
- Crown: fluted, set with a blue synthetic spinel cabochon
- Movement: Cartier caliber 049, automatic, built on an ETA 2892-A2
- Rate: 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz
- Power reserve: about 42 hours
- Water resistance: 30 m, 3 bar
- Dial: "CARTIER" under 12, "AUTOMATIC" and "SWISS MADE" near 6
Cartier does not publish a public archive of every case number. The figures above come from dealer spec sheets. Treat the thickness number as approximate. Sources differ by a few tenths of a millimeter.
Where copies show the gaps
- Crown stone. Genuine stones are domed and sit in a metal setting. Copies use glass or plastic, sit flat, and come loose.
- Dial print. Genuine print is thin and sharp under 10x magnification. Copy print is thick and letters merge.
- Caseback. Genuine engraving has sharp edges and a serial. Copy engraving is shallow, and the same serial repeats across units.
- Movement. Caliber 049 carries a signed rotor and Geneva stripes. Copies use a Chinese automatic, often with a plain rotor.
- Bracelet. Genuine links use screws. Many copies use push pins and a folded clasp.
- Weight. A steel 36 mm Ballon Bleu on a bracelet weighs about 115 to 125 grams. Copies run 90 to 110 grams.
Price bands
Steel 36 mm automatics listed near $5,900 at US retail in 2023. Cartier has raised prices since. Pre-owned steel examples trade near $3,600 to $4,900. Counterfeit copies sell from about $80 to $600, with "super clone" listings at the top of that range. Check current listings before you compare. Prices move.
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. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments at ports, and the buyer loses the money. Cartier service centers do not service counterfeit watches. No parts, no warranty, no resale value.
How to check one watch
- Ask for the full model number and the serial. Compare both against a dealer quote.
- Weigh the watch on a kitchen scale.
- Inspect the crown stone under a loupe. Check the setting and the color.
- Have a watchmaker open the caseback. Look at the rotor signature and the balance rate.
- Ask for the box, papers, and service history.
Unknown: the production years tied to case number 33687. Cartier does not publish that. An authorized dealer can confirm a specific serial.