A fake Ballon Bleu Extra Large is a counterfeit copy of the Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier 42 mm, and it usually reveals itself in four places: the crown guard, the blue cabochon, the dial finish, and the case back engraving. The genuine Extra Large is a self-winding watch sold with matched serial numbers and Cartier paperwork, while counterfeits typically run on a quartz or unbranded automatic movement and sell for a small fraction of retail price.
What is the Ballon Bleu Extra Large?
The Ballon Bleu de Cartier is a round watch built around an oversized, curved crown guard that looks like a balloon floating beside the case. The Extra Large version measures 42 mm across and is the largest model in the line, bigger than the mid-size references that dominate the collection. Cartier offers it in steel and in precious metals with an automatic movement, a blue cabochon set into the crown, and a silvered dial with Roman numerals.
How do you tell a fake Ballon Bleu Extra Large from a genuine one?
Counterfeiters copy the silhouette well from a distance. Up close, the small parts and the hand finishing are where a copy falls apart.
Does the crown guard flow into the case as one continuous curve?
On a genuine watch, the rounded crown guard blends into the case as a single piece of polished metal with no seam and no sharp edge. Fakes often show a visible join, uneven polishing, or a guard that sits slightly too thick or too flat. Run a fingernail along the transition: genuine Cartier finishing glides, a copy catches.
Is the blue cabochon a real stone?
Genuine crowns hold a deep royal blue stone, sapphire on gold models and synthetic spinel on steel, cut with a faceted dome that catches light evenly. Counterfeits use plastic, glass, or dyed resin that looks cloudy, purple, or flat in daylight. Tilt the watch: a real cabochon keeps clarity and a sharp facet edge.
What should the dial and Roman numerals look like?
Genuine dials carry crisp guilloche texture, sharply printed Roman numerals, and a hidden Cartier signature worked into the numeral VII. Fakes show blurry numerals, a logo in the wrong position or the wrong font, and a shallow or sloppy dial pattern. If the secret signature is easy to read with the naked eye, inspect every other detail with suspicion.
Are the hands and crystal correct?
Genuine sword hands are blued steel, so they shift from near black to deep blue as the angle changes. Copies are usually painted blue and stay uniformly flat. Genuine sapphire crystals add almost no distortion at the edges, while cheap mineral glass warps the dial when viewed from the side.
What do the case back markings say?
A genuine case back is deeply engraved with the reference number, the serial number, the model name, and Swiss Made in clean, evenly spaced type. Counterfeits use shallow laser etching, wrong fonts, or serials that do not match the card. Ask for the serial and compare it with the warranty card and any service history.
What movement should be inside?
The Extra Large is an automatic watch, so the seconds hand sweeps smoothly rather than ticking once per second. Many fakes use quartz movements, which produce a distinct one-step-per-second tick and a crown that sets with a thin, gritty feel. A sweeping hand does not prove authenticity by itself, since cheap automatic copies exist too.
Why do fake listings look so convincing online?
Most counterfeit listings reuse photos taken from genuine auctions and boutiques, so the images never match the watch that ships. Sellers also avoid close-ups of the crown, the case back, and the clasp, which are exactly the areas where a copy fails. Missing macro photos are a warning sign on their own.
What does a genuine Ballon Bleu Extra Large cost?
New, a steel Extra Large sells in the high four figures in US dollars, and gold versions cost considerably more, with pre-owned prices staying in the thousands. A new Extra Large advertised for a few hundred dollars is not a bargain, it is a counterfeit. Price is one of the fastest filters when you screen a listing.
Is it legal to buy or sell a fake Ballon Bleu Extra Large?
In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. Section 2320, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit watches at the border. Trademark owners such as Cartier can also pursue civil claims against sellers and, in some cases, buyers. Counterfeit watches cannot be serviced by the brand, so the money spent is gone with no resale value.
Quick authentication checklist
- Check the crown guard for a seamless curve and even polish.
- Inspect the cabochon for clarity, correct color, and a faceted dome.
- Read the Roman numerals and look for the hidden signature in the VII.
- Confirm the hands are blued steel, not painted.
- Match the case back serial, reference number, and paperwork.
- Verify the seconds hand sweeps and the asking price matches the market.
What should you do if you already bought a fake?
Report the seller to the marketplace, keep screenshots of the listing and your payment records, and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. If you paid by credit card and the watch was described as genuine, dispute the charge. Buying a counterfeit is not a shortcut into luxury watch ownership, it is a loss of money on an item nobody will repair.