Cartier Ballon Bleu 42mm
7 % 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 $8,304. 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
Lift angle 52° — important for timing-machine diagnosis: with this value a watchmaker can correctly measure rate deviation, amplitude and beat error. ChronoCheck verifies such technical details directly from the manufacturers' factory specifications.
Cartier Ref. WSBB0049 — Variants and collector names
Known as: BB42 Steel, Ballon Bleu 42
Production phases and changes
- 2021: Reference change W69012Z4 → WSBB0049 with transition to in-house caliber 1847 MC
Movement variants
- 1847 MC (?–today) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- WSBB0049-Bezel-Steel-Smooth
Dial variants
- WSBB0049-Dial-Silver-Guilloche-Roman-Date — Silver guilloché dial, black Roman numerals, date display at 3 o'clock, CARTIER signature, no luminous material
Crystal variants
- Saphir-BallonBleu-42
Bracelet variants
- Ballon Bleu 42mm Stahlarmband 20mm Ref. BallonBleu-42-Steel-Safety-Clasp
The Cartier Ballon Bleu 42mm in steel has run under reference WSBB0049 since 2021 — and the switch from the W69012Z4 amounts to more than a new string of characters in the catalog. Behind it sits caliber 1847 MC, a manufacture movement built entirely in-house, drawing a line under decades of reliance on the ETA 2892-A2 (Cartier's internal caliber 049). The silver guilloche dial with Roman numerals and date window stayed put, as did the smooth polished steel bezel.
## What the 1847 MC Means for the Pre-Owned Market
Anyone shopping for a BB42 on the pre-owned market needs to treat 2021 as a hard dividing line. Examples of the predecessor reference W69012Z4 carry the ETA-based caliber, which runs well — but it is not an in-house movement. From the WSBB0049 onward, that changes. On the German market, the price gap between the two generations currently runs to around 600 to 900 euros, depending on condition and papers. Buyers with a long horizon should reach for the WSBB0049. A W69012Z4 in solid condition, meanwhile, can be found in the 4,200 to 5,000 euro range.
## The Case Cartier Has Left Untouched for Nearly Two Decades
The dial of the WSBB0049 carries silver guilloche with Roman numerals and a date window at 3 o'clock — unchanged since the original launch. The smooth steel bezel and the signature crown ball that has defined the entire Ballon Bleu line since 2007 have both been left in place. Cartier has held the case design firm for nearly two decades, putting its investment into the movement where it actually matters to collectors.
Brand profile: Cartier
Cartier watches (Santos, Tank, Ballon Bleu) are popular counterfeiting targets. The characteristic design (Roman numerals, blue sword hands) is recognizable, but also replicable.
- Sapphire cabochon crown: on genuine pieces SET IN METAL (bezel setting), on fakes usually GLUED. Test: loupe — adhesive residue around the edge = fake.
- Bracelet screws: genuine Cartier ALWAYS has visible screw slots. Pins = fake.
- 'Swiss Made' at 6 o'clock: MICROPRINT directly below the 6 o'clock marker. Fakes often omit it or print it crooked.
- Guilloché pattern: under 10x loupe EXACTLY parallel and uniformly deep. Irregularities = fake.
Serial number format: Cartier serial numbers: alphanumeric on the case back. Older models: number between the crystal ring and case. Cartier Passport included with new purchase.
Further sources
Buying guide: Cartier Ballon Bleu 42mm
Entry into Cartier
At $8,304 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
The price of the Ballon Bleu 42mm has risen by +23.1% over the past four months. Anyone selling now hits a good window. If you want to buy: no need to wait — the market is currently more hot than cold, and a clear end to the trend is not in sight.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 118.2 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 42mm 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 42mm.
- 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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