Short answer
33665 is a case-back code, not a Cartier model name. Listings that sell a replica Ballon Bleu 33665 use the number to mark a steel Ballon Bleu case. Most of those listings show a 42 mm case with an automatic movement. Cartier's own catalog uses codes such as W69012Z4 for the 42 mm steel automatic. If a seller cannot state the case diameter in millimeters, treat the code as noise.
What the Ballon Bleu is
Cartier released the Ballon Bleu de Cartier in 2007. The case is round. The crown sits inside a metal guard that also holds the blue cabochon. Steel cases come in 28 mm, 33 mm, 36 mm, 40 mm, 42 mm and 44 mm. The dial is silvered opaline on most steel references. The crystal is sapphire. Cartier rates the steel automatic at 30 m of water resistance.
The 42 mm steel reference
The 42 mm steel automatic runs Cartier caliber 049. Caliber 049 is an ETA 2892-A2 base. It beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and holds about 42 hours of power reserve. The 36 mm automatic uses caliber 076.
What replica listings mean by 33665
Replica sellers copy numbers from case backs. Some factories stamp 33665 inside the case back of a 42 mm copy. Other sellers put the same code on a 36 mm copy. The number tells you nothing about the movement, the factory, or the grade. Ask for four things:
- Case diameter in millimeters, measured with a caliper, not read off the listing title.
- Movement name and a photo of the movement. Most copies use a Sea-Gull ST2130, a Hangzhou 6300, or a Miyota 9015. Quartz versions cost less.
- Photos of the case back engraving, the crown cabochon, and the dial printing.
- Weight on a scale, in grams, with the bracelet fitted.
Signs of a low-grade copy
- Dial text that sits above the surface or flakes off. Genuine Cartier dial text is applied.
- A cabochon made of glass or plastic. Genuine steel models use a blue synthetic spinel.
- Mineral glass in place of sapphire. A sapphire crystal shrugs off a steel key.
- Case back engraving that is shallow or spread out.
- A rotor that spins with noise and winds little.
- Water resistance claims above 30 m with no test record.
Price bands
Quartz copies sell for $80 to $150. Automatic copies with a Sea-Gull or Hangzhou movement sell for $200 to $350. Copies with a Miyota 9015 or a claimed ETA base run $350 to $600. Cartier's US list price for the 42 mm steel automatic sits in the $7,000 range, and used examples sell below that. Prices move, so check a current listing before you compare.
Legal note for US buyers
Replica watches are counterfeit goods. Import into the United States is prohibited under 19 U.S.C. 1526. US Customs and Border Protection can seize the parcel, and seized goods are not returned. Selling a copy that carries the Cartier name is trademark infringement under the Lanham Act. A personal purchase carries lower risk than resale, but the item can still be seized.
What is not known
No public Cartier document defines 33665. Cartier does not publish a code in that format. Watch forums show the number on case backs of copies, and the size shifts from seller to seller. Measure the case before you pay.