Cartier Ballon bleu de cartier...

[cybee]

My online translator said the english translation is Blue Ball, so I guess the official name is the Blue Ball of Cartier. My two years of French fails me at the moment but maybe it refers to the sapphire cabochon ...any clarification is appreciated..

Anyway it's been a while since ordering a watch so I decided to go with Andrew for old times sake. I think I spoke with 3 Andrew's on this transaction :?

I'm a Cartier nut so decided to order the BB. The size is perfect for me, 42mm. The best thing about this watch for me is the dial. I think they did a great job on it. Here's a pic.

I decided to go ahead and order the watch with the DG 2813 to keep cost down, plus I have extra movements. There are still good deals to be had and for $125.00 the watch came with a inner and outer box set. So in the days of high priced reps not too bad.

It has a unique crown guard to say the least, either you think it's ugly or you like it.

On the watch I received the crown is not aligned directly in the center, so it makes it very difficult to wind. I can wind it, but it's not easy. Also the bracelet is a bit flimsy and the plating is a little funky compared to the other Cartier's I have, but I can live with it. I may change out the bracelet at some point. With a better quality bracelet the watch would be great.

All in all I really like the style of the watch and it makes for a very nice dress watch.

 

[jkwhyd]

Hi Cybee:

Where are the pictures?

Let us know how you like it when you've received it.

jk

 

[cybee]

Hi Cybee:

Where are the pictures?

Let us know how you like it when you've received it.

jk

jk you can't see the photos??? I can see them. :?

 

[Klink]

if i would only open my eyes..

maybe then

pictures would appear..

ol cartier watch dude gotta be upset.. is a very nice piece

of work!

now, how many brands of watches got branded with Cartier?

hmmmm

Life is Good!

Klink

 

[guanaco]

Wow, I never thought the Ballon would look so nice! I'm definitely getting one, very sporty and dressy! Cybee can I bother you with a picture of the caseback?

 

[tenacious_b]

@ Klink,

I know I don't chime in often, but I thought you might like to know that lately when I read your posts, for some reason I hear them in the voice of Christopher Walken in my head. I don't know how or why this started happening, but it sure is entertaining. Thanks, I guess.

Bryan

 

[cybee]

Cybee can I bother you with a picture of the caseback?

no bother at all. I can take a better pic of the caseback after I get back from the dreaded DMV..ugh...I loathe the DMV.

Thought I would add too that the watch is quite comfy.

 

[guanaco]

Thanks Cybee! :mrgreen:

Very nice, now I'm definitely getting one.

 

[seanf]

Cybee, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only member of the Cartier Appreciation Club. I got one of the mid-size Ballon Bleus the week it came out. I've gotten more compliments on this watch than any other that I own (including all my Rollies, Omeeeegas, HBB, etc. put together). In fact, it's because of this watch that I've gotten at least three separate people into replica collecting. And I've been forced to order five-- FIVE, count 'em-- of these watches for friends and family.

Since I've handled five of the 42mm Ballon Bleu reps, let me give everyone just a bit of warning. This watch is beautiful, but it may be the single worst model I've ever seen for quality control. Of the five watches I've ordered, I've had to send back four. Two of them had the same problem with the crown that Cybee talked about. Specifically, the crown is so poorly constructed on the rep that if you set the time counter-clockwise, you'll unscrew the crown itself. And once the crown falls off, you will NEVER be able to get it back due to the closed half-moon crown guard.

The other two that I had to send back had a different problem-- they would work for about two hours and then stop. You could get them to work again if you shook them, but they would stop again. Weird problem, and the fact that I've seen it twice leads me to believe it could be a problem with the model.

Fortunately, all the replacements are working fine so far, although I've told everyone to be very careful when winding the crown.

 

[seanf]

Oh, and just a side note on the Ballon Bleu. Ellen DeGeneres, of all people, wears the 42mm SS version of this watch all the time. Looks big and silly on her, but it's still a cool watch.

 

[seanf]

One more thing. Watch Quote has a pretty cool article on the Ballon Bleu, along with the original comic book that was commissioned by Cartier to announce the "origin" of the Ballon Bleu:

http://www.thewatchquote.com/Ballon-Ble ... o_6172.htm

 

[cybee]

seanf: yep that's what I figured regarding the crown. If anyone wants to order this watch, specifically tell the dealer to get one with a centered crown, maybe that will help. Sean I am a big Cartier fan. In my opinion they wrote the book on watch style, but you know to each his own. Now I have a Roadster, Seatimer, Santos 100, La Dona (wife) and now the Ballon.

If only Ellen didnt wear one.

 

[jkwhyd]

jk you can't see the photos??? I can see them. :?

I still can't see them. Does it have to do with the fact that Photobucket is down?

jk

 

[cybee]

jk you can't see the photos??? I can see them. :?

I still can't see them. Does it have to do with the fact that Photobucket is down?

jk

jk you might be having the same problem H_U was having earlier...here is that thread in case you missed it.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40961

 

[jkwhyd]

jk you might be having the same problem H_U was having earlier...here is that thread in case you missed it.

Photobucket is back in business. I can see the photos now.

Thanks,

jk

 

[seanf]

seanf: yep that's what I figured regarding the crown. If anyone wants to order this watch, specifically tell the dealer to get one with a centered crown, maybe that will help. Sean I am a big Cartier fan. In my opinion they wrote the book on watch style, but you know to each his own. Now I have a Roadster, Seatimer, Santos 100, La Dona (wife) and now the Ballon.

If only Ellen didnt wear one.

Cartier is really what got me interested in reps in the first place. One of the first watches I bought was a $45 Quartz Tank Francaise from Silix. Great, great watch. Very underrated and understated. Then I got a manual wind Tortue, another Tank Francaise (with diamonds for the Mrs.), a Santos Dumont (given to my brother), and the new Ballon Bleu. Of all the brands out there, I've always thought the Cartier reps were some of the best. Elegant watches, but pretty simple to rep.

Cybee-- how do you like your Roadster? I've been kind of hot and cold on those. They just appear too bulky and thick. Plus, I haven't seen one that is really all that close to a gen.

 

[cybee]

[Cybee-- how do you like your Roadster? I've been kind of hot and cold on those. They just appear too bulky and thick. Plus, I haven't seen one that is really all that close to a gen.

I actually like the Roadster although there are some small inaccuracies but they don't bother me. Someone one said the word 'automatic' is wrong, but I've seen it on the Roadster XL so I don't know. The case is definitely thick but still seems comfortable to me.

The Santos 100 for me is the one that feels bulkiest and the two little release buttons for the clasp always digs into the wrist. I wish someone would come up with a fix for that cause it is very uncomfortable. I think if I get another Cartier it would be a Tortue, they are very stylish.

 

[seanf]

What I love about the Tortue is that it has the same basic shape of the Roadster, but without the bulkiness. Also, it looks great with a leather strap. The only thing that I wish I could change about the Tortue is that I haven't been able to find a good metal band for it. Alas, the one I have (which is a SS manual wind with seconds at six) isn't available anymore.