Cartier
Ballon Bleu 42 Steel
WSBB0049
The Ballon Bleu's enduring silhouette in full-size steel.
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Overview
The Cartier Ballon Bleu 42 in stainless steel (ref. WSBB0049) presents the line's signature rounded case at its most wearable full-size expression. A silvered guilloché dial with Roman numerals and the characteristic sapphire-set crown guard reinforce the model's identity as a refined dress watch. Powering the piece is Cartier's in-house Calibre 1847 MC, a movement developed to meet the brand's standards for reliability and finishing.
History
The Ballon Bleu de Cartier was introduced in the mid-2000s and quickly became one of the maison's most recognisable contemporary references, distinguished by its domed crystal and the distinctive crown nestled within a curved lug. The 42 mm case size was established to serve collectors who prefer a more assertive wrist presence without departing from the line's inherently dressy character. Reference WSBB0049, in production from 2021, represents the current steel iteration of this diameter, pairing the house's guilloché craft with the accessible versatility of stainless steel.
Notable points
- 42 mm stainless steel case with the Ballon Bleu's hallmark integrated crown guard set with a synthetic cabochon sapphire.
- Silvered guilloché dial features hand-engraved decorative patterning, a traditional haute horlogerie finishing technique.
- Roman numeral hour markers maintain Cartier's classical typographic identity across the dial.
- Calibre 1847 MC is an in-house movement, reflecting Cartier's broader strategy of developing proprietary manufacture calibres.
- The reference sits within a long-running line that spans multiple case sizes, metals, and complication levels.
Specifications
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