About the Ballon Bleu de Cartier
Introduced by Cartier in 2007, the Ballon Bleu quickly became the brand's best-selling watch family, celebrated for its architectural innovation of tucking the winding crown beneath a floating sapphire-set bubble on the side of the case. The design draws on Cartier's long heritage of blending jewelry-house artistry with horological precision, giving the watch a sculptural quality that sets it apart from conventional round-case dress watches. Available in 33mm, 36mm, 40mm, and 42mm case sizes, the collection covers everything from slim quartz references favored as women's watches to larger automatic models marketed to men, including the rose gold 42mm automatic such as reference WGBB0017 with its silver dial and alligator leather strap. This breadth makes the Ballon Bleu one of the most collected Cartier lines on the pre-owned and new luxury watch market today.
What to Look For
Buyers shopping for a Ballon Bleu de Cartier should pay close attention to case size, case material, dial color, and whether the movement is automatic or quartz, as these factors significantly influence both wearability and resale value. Rose gold references in the larger 42mm automatic configuration, like WGBB0017, tend to command a premium over comparable steel or quartz pieces, while dial variations such as silver, blue, or guilloché can further differentiate references within the same size family. Condition of the alligator or bracelet strap, presence of original box and papers, and an authenticated Cartier serial number are the key factors that protect value when buying pre-owned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ballon Bleu de Cartier a good investment watch?
The Ballon Bleu de Cartier holds its value reliably among luxury dress watches, particularly in rose gold and larger automatic references which see consistent demand on the secondary market. While it is not typically viewed as a speculative investment in the way sports watches are, its enduring design and strong brand recognition mean well-maintained examples with box and papers retain value well over time.
What is the difference between the 40mm and 42mm Ballon Bleu?
The 40mm Ballon Bleu is offered in both automatic and quartz versions and sits as a versatile mid-size option comfortable on a range of wrist sizes, while the 42mm is generally positioned as the larger men's automatic configuration with a slightly more substantial presence on the wrist. Both share the same signature domed crown guard and sword hands, so the choice largely comes down to personal fit preference and the specific material and dial combination available in each size.
Does the Ballon Bleu de Cartier come with an alligator strap or a bracelet?
The Ballon Bleu de Cartier is offered in both configurations depending on the reference: many rose gold and yellow gold models ship on an alligator leather strap, as seen on the 42mm rose gold automatic reference WGBB0017, while steel versions are frequently available on an integrated steel bracelet. Cartier also produces interchangeable strap options, so buyers can often switch between leather and bracelet configurations after purchase through an authorized service point.
Browse also: Cartier collection.
Buy, trade, or sell. Contact Bizak & Co. for pricing and availability on any reference in this collection.
