The top pick for the replica Ballon Bleu 33687 listing is the 42mm automatic version on a steel bracelet, built around a Miyota 9015 class automatic movement, a flat sapphire crystal, and a synthetic blue cabochon seated in the crown guard. That mix gets the proportions, the wrist presence, and the signature detail right. Every section below judges a candidate on six criteria: case and bezel geometry, crown and cabochon quality, movement type, crystal material, dial printing and hands, and bracelet or strap finishing.
What the 33687 Code Actually Means
Numbers like 33687 come from seller catalogs and factory batch naming, not from Cartier's reference system. Treat it as a listing code that points to a family of Ballon Bleu style watches, usually offered in 33mm quartz, 36mm automatic, and 42mm automatic builds. Two sellers can use the same code and ship different watches, so the code alone tells you almost nothing.
Before you commit, ask the seller three direct questions: what case diameter is in stock under this code, what movement sits inside, and what the crystal is made of. A seller who answers with photos and specifics is worth dealing with. A seller who replies with a generic catalog image is not.
Top Pick: 42mm Automatic on Steel
- Pros: catches the curved case profile and the wide dial layout best; automatic sweep looks natural; steel bracelet hides caseback and lug flaws; easiest to service later because the movement is a common pattern.
- Cons: larger on the wrist than the original mid-size references; heavier, so a poor bracelet finish shows more; costs more than the quartz builds.
Recommended use case: daily wear for someone with a 6.75 inch wrist or larger who wants the watch to read as a dress sports piece and does not mind a little extra weight.
Second Pick: 33mm Quartz
- Pros: closest to the small classic proportions many buyers actually want; lighter and thinner; quartz keeps the hands aligned with the printed tracks; usually the most affordable build under this listing code.
- Cons: ticking seconds hand is an instant tell if anyone looks closely; no automatic feel on the wrist; quartz movements vary more in quality than the automatic options.
Recommended use case: a gift, a first replica purchase, or a watch worn a few times a month where low maintenance matters more than mechanical realism.
Case and Crown: Where Replicas Fail First
The Ballon Bleu design lives or dies on the crown assembly. The crown on the original is guarded and topped with a blue cabochon that sits inside a rounded housing at three o'clock. Common flaws on copies include a cabochon that reads purple or flat plastic rather than deep blue, a crown guard that looks stamped rather than polished, and a caseback that is too thick, which pushes the watch off the wrist.
- Check the cabochon in daylight, outdoors. Studio lighting hides color shifts.
- Check that the crown turns smoothly and screws down if it is meant to.
- Check case thickness against the listed size. Ask for a photo of the watch on a ruler or calipers.
Movement: Automatic vs Quartz
Most mid tier copies run on a Miyota 9015 pattern automatic or a Chinese automatic equivalent. That movement family offers hand winding, hacking, and roughly a two day power reserve, which makes it a reasonable daily choice. Cheaper builds run quartz, which is accurate and cheap to replace.
- Automatic pros: proper sweep, no battery changes, holds value better inside the replica market. Cons: needs servicing eventually, can run fast or slow out of the box, and rotor noise varies.
- Quartz pros: accurate, light, cheap to swap. Cons: ticking hand, less convincing caseback, and you are paying for the case rather than the mechanism.
Use case call: pick automatic if you wear the watch weekly. Pick quartz if it lives in a drawer.
Crystal, Dial, and Hands
Sapphire is worth the upgrade. Mineral glass scratches within months and shows swirl marks under light. On the dial, check the Roman numeral print, the inner chapter ring, and the blued steel style hands. On cheap copies the numerals thicken at the edges, the balloon motif print around the crown looks muddy, and the hands turn purple instead of blue.
Bracelet, Strap, and Fit
Ask for the lug width and whether extra links are included. A steel bracelet with solid end links and a signed style clasp is the strongest option, but leather straps in the correct taper also look appropriate and hide bracelet flaws. If your wrist is under 6.5 inches, budget for link removal or ask the seller to size it before shipping.
Water Resistance Reality
A stated 30m rating on a replica means splash resistance at best. Do not swim, shower, or wash dishes with it, and have a watchmaker pressure test it if the caseback gasket matters to you. ISO 22810 defines how water resistance ratings are applied to watches, and budget copies rarely meet that standard in practice.
QC Checklist Before You Pay
- Request timestamped photos of the exact watch, not a stock image.
- Confirm case diameter, movement type, and crystal material in writing.
- Ask for a short video showing the seconds hand and the date change.
- Look at the cabochon color in daylight photos.
- Confirm the return window and what counts as a defect.
- Pay with a method that offers dispute rights.
Care and Longevity
Wipe the case with a soft cloth after wear, keep it away from perfume and chlorine, and have an automatic serviced every three to five years if it runs erratically. Store it on a soft surface so the cabochon and crystal stay unmarked.
Legal Note
Cartier owns the Ballon Bleu trademark and design rights, and U.S. law prohibits the import and sale of goods that infringe registered trademarks. Buy with that risk in mind, and understand that resale and shipping outcomes are not guaranteed.
Bottom Line
If you are buying under the 33687 code, get the seller to confirm size, movement, and crystal before anything else. The 42mm automatic on steel is the build that holds up best in daily wear. The 33mm quartz is the better call for a gift or a light rotation. Skip any listing where the seller cannot show you the actual watch.