Short answer
"Fake Ballon Bleu 33680" is a search phrase, not a Cartier reference. Cartier Ballon Bleu references start with W and use six characters, such as W69012Z4. The digits 33680 come from sellers. They stand for a stock code, a marketplace listing ID, a price, or a version tag. No Cartier catalog or service record uses 33680. Treat it as a vendor label.
What the watch it copies looks like
Cartier released the Ballon Bleu de Cartier in 2007. The case is round and the crown sits inside a guard that curves into the case flank. A blue synthetic spinel cabochon tops the crown. Dials use Roman numerals, a guilloche pattern, and blued steel sword hands. Case sizes include 28 mm, 33 mm, 36 mm, 40 mm, and 42 mm. A steel 33 mm model measures about 10 mm thick. Cartier fits caliber 076 to small and mid sizes and caliber 049 to the 42 mm.
How seller codes behave
- Stock code. One reseller numbers its batches. The same digits appear across that seller's listings and nowhere else.
- Listing ID. Marketplaces assign numeric IDs. The ID changes when the seller relists.
- Price. Some shops use the asking price as the code. 336.80 dollars is one reading of 33680.
- Version tag. Factories label production runs with short codes. Public lists of those codes do not include 33680.
Checks for any Ballon Bleu
Case and crown
Measure the case across the bezel with calipers. A 33 mm case reads 33 mm. The crown guard meets the case with no step or gap. The cabochon has a domed top and a metal seat. Poor copies use a flat blue stone and show adhesive at the edge.
Dial and hands
Guilloche lines spiral out from the center. Numeral print stays sharp under 10x magnification. The Cartier script sits inside the track of the Roman numerals. Copies show soft print, uneven spacing, and hands with burrs at the edges.
Caseback and movement
The caseback lists the reference, the serial, the metal, and the Swiss Made mark. A serial that repeats across many listings has no factory record. A quartz movement inside a case sold as automatic is a mismatch. Cartier service can check a serial against its records. A watch with no papers and no verifiable serial is a counterfeit or a watch of unknown origin.
Legal status in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit watches is a federal crime. 18 U.S.C. 2320 carries a first-offense prison term of up to 10 years. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes incoming shipments of counterfeit goods and destroys them. A buyer who pays for a seized watch has no claim on the goods and no refund from customs.
What the number 33680 does not cover
The code says nothing about the movement, the case metal, the factory, or the age of the watch. It does not match a Cartier reference and it does not appear in Cartier service records. A seller who presents 33680 as a model name is using a shop label. Ask for the caliper width, the movement name, photos of the caseback, and the serial. If the seller sends none of these, the listing has no verifiable content.