Cartier Ballon Bleu De
26 % below RRP
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ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
What if you had bought back then …
What would a purchase at the median market price back then have become — at today's level of $6,645. A pure return calculation, excluding insurance, servicing and transaction costs.
Data from an aggregated median time series (watch_market_daily). CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate, normalized to 365 days. Not an investment recommendation.
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Technical data
Cartier Ref. WSBB0026 — Variants and collector names
Known as: BB42 Steel Leather, Ballon Bleu 42 Acier Cuir
Production phases and changes
- 2015: Introduction of Caliber 1847 MC (in-house); WSBB0026 receives its own reference number as the leather strap version of the 42mm Ballon Bleu
Movement variants
- 1847 MC (?–today) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- WSBB0026-Bezel-Steel-Smooth
Dial variants
- WSBB0026-Dial-Silver-Guilloche-Roman — Roman numerals black lacquered, date at 3 o'clock, guilloché opaline surface
Crystal variants
- Saphirglas-BallonBleu-42
Bracelet variants
- Schwarzes Alligatorleder-Armband mit Stahl-Faltschließe Ref. WSBB0026-Strap-BlackAlligator-DeployantSteel
- Blaues Krokodilleder-Armband mit Stahl-Faltschließe Ref. WSBB0026-Strap-BlueAlligator-DeployantSteel
Serial numbers
- 2835xxxx – ? (2019–2022) — Observed serial number prefixes from dealer and auction listings; Cartier does not publish an official serial number lookup. Precise year-to-serial mapping cannot be reliably verified.
Since 2015, the Cartier Ballon Bleu 42 Reference WSBB0026 has run on the in-house Manufacture Caliber 1847 MC. That's the clean break from its predecessor, the W69012Z4, which still relied on a bought-in base movement. Cartier gave the leather-strap model its own reference number, while the bracelet version continued in parallel — for a while, both versions sat side by side in the catalog.
## Silvered Guilloché Instead of a Standard Dial
42 millimeters of stainless steel, a smooth bezel with no fluting, and a silvered guilloché dial with Roman numerals. Collectors know this combination as the BB42 Steel Leather, and in French-speaking markets it goes by Ballon Bleu 42 Acier Cuir. The crown, set with a blue cabochon sapphire, sits at 3 o'clock, protected by Cartier's signature curved guard.
## Why 2015 Is the Pivot Year for Valuation
Anyone who needs to tell a W69012Z4 apart from a WSBB0026 when buying has a hard-and-fast test right there in the caliber swap: outsourced movement before 2015, in-house Caliber 1847 MC from 2015 on. That distinction carries more weight in a market valuation than any amount of scrutinizing the case for scratches — a different movement can shift the price by several hundred euros in an instant.
## What an Appraisal Actually Checks on the WSBB0026
The guilloché pattern can be reproduced; the typography of the Roman numerals is harder to fake convincingly. Before a WSBB0026 leaves our workshop with an appraisal, we cross-check the dial code and caliber engraving against reference data. With a reference that has two possible predecessor movements, a glance at the case-back isn't enough — the movement itself has to check out.
Brand profile: Cartier
Cartier watches (Santos, Tank, Ballon Bleu) are popular targets for counterfeiters. The distinctive design (Roman numerals, blue sword hands) is recognizable — but also easy to copy.
- Sapphire cabochon crown: on genuine pieces it's SET INTO THE METAL (bezel-set); on fakes it's usually GLUED. Test: loupe — adhesive residue around the edge = fake.
- Bracelet screws: genuine Cartier bracelets ALWAYS have visible screw slots. Pins instead = fake.
- 'Swiss Made' at 6 o'clock: MICROPRINTED directly beneath the 6 o'clock marker. Fakes often omit it or print it crooked.
- Guilloché pattern: under 10x magnification, EXACTLY parallel and uniformly deep. Irregularities = fake.
Serial number format: Cartier serial numbers: alphanumeric, on the case back. Older models: number located between the crystal ring and the case. New purchases come with a Cartier passport.
Further sources
Buying guide: Cartier Ballon Bleu De
Entry into Cartier
At $6,645 this reference is one of the more affordable ways to wear a Cartier on your wrist. That is precisely why many pieces have already passed through several hands — condition varies accordingly. Buyers here should pay particular attention to service history and honest photos from the seller.
Where the price stands
Barely any movement over the past four months (+4.3%). The market for this reference is calm, with no pressure in either direction. Good for buyers who want to compare at their leisure.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 67.7 percent. In concrete terms: the price can move by several hundred euros within a few weeks. Check the current value before buying or selling — old listings or auction results from two months ago are of little help.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Cartier Ballon Bleu De reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Ballon Bleu De.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
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