The Cartier Ballon Bleu is a round watch collection introduced in 2007. Its domed case, integrated crown cap and blue cabochon create a continuous circular profile, but the name covers very different watches: a 28 mm quartz steel model is a materially different purchase from a 42 mm automatic or a 40 mm yellow-gold example. For collecting, the reference number matters more than the collection name.
What defines the Ballon Bleu
Cartier describes the Ballon Bleu as a new vision of roundness. The case is domed on both the front and back, and the crown cap is incorporated into the case rather than projecting as a conventional crown. A blue cabochon or synthetic spinel sits inside that protective case curve, producing the collection’s most recognizable asymmetry without breaking its circular outline.
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The design language continues across the dial: a rail-track minute scale, Roman numerals, sword-shaped hands and a domed sapphire crystal. The crystal’s curvature contributes to the optical illusion that the case, crown guard and dial flow into one volume. Cartier characterizes the result as “a singular vision of roundness, all curves and harmony.”
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These examples show why a buyer should identify the exact reference before comparing price, wearability or mechanical value.
#1 Best Overall
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| Reference | Size and movement | Materials and notable features | Collector checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSBB0073 | 28 mm, quartz; listed dimensions 28.6 mm diameter and 9.35 mm thick | Stainless steel, silvered opaline dial, Roman numerals, blue sword hands and interchangeable steel bracelet | Fit on a small wrist, quartz convenience, bracelet condition and reference authenticity |
| W4BB0021 | 33 mm, automatic; caliber not stated on the cited specification | Steel case, 11 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.05 carat, guilloché dial and interchangeable steel bracelet | Diamond-set dial, automatic service history and complete bracelet |
| WSBB0027 | 42 mm, automatic Cartier caliber 1847 MC; 13 mm thick | Steel, blue guilloché dial, blue alligator strap, date aperture | Wrist presence, strap versus bracelet, date layout and case thickness |
| WSBB0049 | 42 mm, automatic Cartier caliber 1847 MC; 13 mm thick; 40-hour power reserve listed by Cartier in 2026 | Steel bracelet, silver guilloché dial and date aperture | Bracelet sizing, date function, service documentation and the stated reserve |
| WGBB0063 | 40 mm, automatic Cartier caliber 1847 MC; 12.4 mm thick | 18-karat yellow gold, blue sunray dial and dark-blue alligator strap | Gold condition, hallmarks, strap and clasp condition, and insurance documentation |
Choosing between 28, 33, 40 and 42 mm
28 mm: compact and quartz-powered
The 28 mm WSBB0073 prioritizes a smaller footprint and low-maintenance timekeeping. Its listed 9.35 mm thickness and steel bracelet make it the straightforward choice when a discreet case and quartz operation matter more than a mechanical movement.
33 mm: middle-sized with a gem-set option
The 33 mm W4BB0021 occupies the middle of the range and adds a diamond-set, guilloché-dial configuration. Because its cited specification does not state a caliber or thickness, confirm those details on the watch and its documentation rather than assuming that every 33 mm Ballon Bleu shares the same movement.
Rank #2
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40 mm: substantial case with precious metal
The 40 mm WGBB0063 combines an automatic movement with an 18-karat yellow-gold case. At 12.4 mm thick, it offers a large presence without being the thickest example in this group. Inspect the hallmarks, polished surfaces, clasp and strap closely because gold wear and replacement components materially affect a pre-owned example.
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The 42 mm references are the largest examples listed here. Both WSBB0027 and WSBB0049 use Cartier caliber 1847 MC and show the date, but one is supplied on a blue alligator strap while the other uses a steel bracelet. The 13 mm case thickness is part of the wearing experience, so measure the lug-to-lug spread and try the watch on rather than choosing by diameter alone.
Rank #3
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Quartz and automatic Ballon Bleu movements
A Ballon Bleu can be quartz or automatic. Quartz is represented by the 28 mm WSBB0073 and is suited to a wearer who wants the watch ready to wear without setting a mechanical movement after it stops. Automatic examples require the usual mechanical-watch considerations: winding or wearing after the reserve is exhausted, and documented servicing over the life of the watch.
Automatic does not mean that every reference is mechanically identical. Cartier identifies caliber 1847 MC in the 42 mm WSBB0027 and WSBB0049 and in the 40 mm gold WGBB0063. The WSBB0049 specification lists a 40-hour power reserve; that figure belongs to that cited configuration and should not be generalized to every Ballon Bleu reference.
Rank #4
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Water resistance and everyday care
The cited Ballon Bleu references are rated at 3 bar, approximately 30 metres or 100 feet. Treat that as protection for ordinary daily splashes within the manufacturer’s rating, not as a swimming or diving specification.
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- Do not swim, dive or deliberately submerge the watch on the basis of the 3-bar rating.
- On an older or pre-owned watch, do not rely on the original rating without a current pressure test by Cartier or a qualified watchmaker.
- Keep the crown and crystal free of impacts and have any loss of water resistance investigated before moisture reaches the movement.
How to check a pre-owned Ballon Bleu reference
Use the following sequence before committing funds. It separates the identity of the watch from its condition and provenance.
Best Value
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- Start with the reference number. Record the exact code and compare it with the stated diameter, thickness, movement, metal, dial and bracelet or strap. A collection name alone is not specific enough.
- Request detailed photographs. Ask for straight-on images of the dial printing, blue crown cabochon, case edges, case back, clasp, reference and serial information. Request photographs of any replacement parts or non-original components.
- Match the configuration. Check that the date aperture, dial color, guilloché or sunray treatment, diamond count, case metal and bracelet or strap correspond to the reference.
- Review service evidence. Ask for dated invoices, the servicing watchmaker’s identity and a description of work performed. For an automatic model, service history is especially important; for a quartz model, ask what maintenance has been carried out.
- Inspect wear and completeness. Examine softened case edges, over-polishing, deep scratches, stretched bracelet links, worn clasp components and an incorrect strap. For the gold WGBB0063, verify hallmarks and record the condition for insurance.
- Use independent verification. Have an independent specialist examine the watch before payment becomes irreversible. This is particularly important when serial information, parts replacement or seller provenance is unclear.
A practical comparison checklist
When evaluating two Ballon Bleu examples, record these fields side by side:
- Exact reference number
- Case diameter and thickness
- Quartz or automatic movement, including caliber when stated
- Case metal and any hallmarks
- Dial treatment, color, numerals and stone setting
- Date or other calendar function
- Bracelet or strap, clasp and completeness of links
- Case, crystal, crown cabochon and dial condition
- Service records, box, papers, seller identity and warranty terms
Cartier’s published specifications demonstrate that each of these variables can change across the range. Comparing only diameter or the word “automatic” can therefore produce a misleading match.
What is not established by the available specifications
There is no reliable, complete production-count history, reference-by-reference launch chronology or current secondary-market price series established for the collection in the cited material. Treat seller asking prices and claimed rarity as separate assertions that require their own evidence; do not infer scarcity or value from a reference number alone.
Bottom line for collectors
The Ballon Bleu is best understood as a design family, not one uniform watch. Choose the exact reference first, then judge size, movement, metal, dial, strap or bracelet, condition and service history together. The 28 mm quartz steel model, 33 mm diamond-set automatic, 42 mm date automatics and 40 mm yellow-gold automatic deliver distinctly different ownership experiences despite sharing the same rounded identity.
Quick Recap
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