The short answer
If you are shopping for a fake Cartier Baignoire 2717, the advice is simple: do not send money for one. The Baignoire is a small, curved, solid-gold dress watch, and the details that make it convincing are exactly the details a counterfeit cannot deliver at a discount. The oval case profile, the cabochon crown, the dial printing, and the fit and finish of a case that curves to the wrist all cost money to make. What you get instead is a plated case that wears through, a glued stone, and a movement with no service path. You also get no warranty, no resale value, and in the United States a real chance the parcel is seized at the border. The same budget buys a genuine vintage Baignoire, a pre-owned example from a dealer with papers, or a well-made dress watch from a brand that will still service it in ten years.
Fake Cartier Baignoire 2717: Which Is Best
What the Baignoire 2717 actually is
The Baignoire takes its name from the French word for bathtub, a nod to the elongated oval case that Cartier has used since the early twentieth century. The 2717 designation appears on Baignoire models produced in the 1990s and 2000s. Those watches are typically 18k yellow or white gold, small in diameter, fitted with a quartz movement, and offered on a leather strap or a gold bracelet. Many have a silvered dial with Roman numerals, blued steel hands, and a sapphire cabochon set into the crown.
fake cartier baignoire 2717 longtail
That combination matters when you evaluate a replica. A thin gold case with a compound curve is one of the harder shapes to produce cheaply. The result is usually a case that is thicker than the original, with softer edges and a crown that sits proud of the case band.
Fake Cartier Baignoire 2717 Replica Buying Guide
Why small gold dress watches are hard to copy well
- Case metal. Genuine examples are 18k gold and carry the 750 hallmark plus Swiss assay marks. Counterfeits use brass or steel with gold plating, which is why the caseback engravings look shallow and the weight feels light for the size.
- The curve. The Baignoire case bends along the wrist. Replicas often flatten the profile or add thickness to fit a generic movement.
- The cabochon. A real sapphire cabochon is cut and polished, with a consistent dome and a deep color. Fakes use glass or dyed synthetic with a flat top and a visible glue line.
- Dial printing. Roman numerals on a genuine dial are crisp and evenly spaced. On a counterfeit the numerals are often too heavy, the minute track drifts, and the signature sits slightly off center.
- Service. Cartier will not service a counterfeit, and independent watchmakers will not touch a case with no legitimate parts supply.
The legal side in the US
Importing merchandise that carries a counterfeit trademark is prohibited under the Tariff Act, and Customs and Border Protection seizes and destroys those shipments. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is also a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 2320, with penalties that scale with the value of the goods. In practice this means a seized parcel is usually a total loss. Sellers who promise to reship or to refund a customs seizure rarely do either, and you have no practical way to enforce the promise from another country.
fake cartier baignoire 2717 longtail vintage
What to check on a genuine example
- Caseback engravings: reference number, serial number, gold hallmark, and maker's mark should be crisp and consistent with the era.
- Crown: the cabochon should be a smooth dome with no chip and no glue line at the base.
- Dial: check that the printing is sharp under a loupe and that the hands are the correct blued steel shape.
- Papers and history: a Cartier service invoice or extract from the archives answers more questions than any photo.
- Movement: many small Baignoire models use a Cartier quartz caliber. Ask for a photo of the movement and confirm the battery hatch and holder look factory.
- Seller: a dealer with a physical address, a return window, and a written description of condition.
Parameter bands for the real thing
- Case width: roughly 18 mm to 24 mm depending on size and era
- Lug to lug: roughly 28 mm to 32 mm on small models
- Thickness: roughly 7 mm to 9 mm
- Case metal: 18k gold, hallmarked 750
- Crystal: sapphire on most examples from this period
- Water resistance: 30 m at most, so treat it as a dress watch
- Strap width: roughly 14 mm to 16 mm
Anything outside those bands deserves a question, and a case that measures noticeably thicker than 9 mm is a warning sign.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Listings that use factory photos of a genuine watch and ship something else.
- Claims of mirror quality, 1:1 construction, or Swiss parts on a watch at a fraction of gold value.
- Sellers who only communicate through messaging apps and take payment by transfer.
- Review pages with dozens of five-star posts in the same week.
- Any offer to declare a parcel as a gift or at a low value to clear customs.
FAQ
Is a replica Baignoire worth the money?
No. You lose the gold value, the warranty, the service path, and the resale market in one purchase. A pre-owned genuine example holds value and can be repaired.
Will Cartier service a counterfeit?
No. Cartier and authorized service centers refuse counterfeits, and many independent watchmakers will not work on them either because parts are not available.
Can I spot a fake from photos?
Sometimes. Look at case thickness, the cabochon, the sharpness of the dial printing, and the depth of the caseback engraving. A photo cannot confirm the movement, so ask for one.
What does 2717 mean?
It is a Cartier reference designation used on Baignoire models from the 1990s and 2000s, generally small gold pieces with quartz movements. Reference numbers change with case size, metal, and bracelet type.
What is the better use of the budget?
A pre-owned Baignoire with papers, a vintage example from an established dealer, or a new dress watch from a brand with a real service network.