A replica Baignoire Allongée is a copy of Cartier's elongated bathtub watch, a case that stretches the classic Baignoire oval into a long, low shape with rounded ends. Strong copies match the case curve, the Roman numeral dial, and the blue cabochon crown. Weak copies miss the proportions, and the watch sits flat and wide on the wrist.
Cartier drew the first Baignoire in 1912, and the Allongée is the stretched version of that same outline. Most buyers come to the replica market for one of two reasons: they want the look without a five-figure price, or they want a daily wearer that they can scratch without a repair bill.
What Defines the Baignoire Allongée Shape?
The Baignoire Allongée keeps the bathtub oval and pulls it sideways. The result is a case that runs long from lug to lug but stays thin from top to bottom, with a curved crystal that follows the case bend.
That curve is the whole point. A flat case with an oval bezel is not an Allongée, it is a round watch in disguise.
Case Sizes
- Small: about 30 mm across, quartz, leather strap.
- Medium: about 34 mm across, quartz or automatic.
- Large: close to 40 mm across, automatic, sometimes on a steel bracelet.
Cartier lists these sizes in its own catalog, so a replica maker who claims a single one-size product is guessing.
Which Movement Sits Inside a Replica Baignoire Allongée?
Movement choice drives price and service life. Genuine small Baignoire watches run on quartz, so a quartz copy is not a poor copy by default. It can match the original behavior, including a battery change every two to three years.
Automatic replicas use one of three common movements.
- Japanese automatic (Miyota 9015 and similar): reliable, cheap to replace, around 40 hours of power reserve.
- Swiss ETA 2824 clone or Sellita SW200 clone: smoother winding feel, better finishing under the case back.
- Decorated Chinese automatic: looks busy through a display back but holds time less well.
Ask the seller which movement is inside, and ask for a photo of the case back. A vague answer is a warning sign.
Materials and Finish: What Separates Price Tiers?
Case steel is the first tell. Good replicas use 316L stainless steel, which takes a polish and holds a brushed edge. Cheap copies use a zinc alloy that pits and flakes after a few months of sweat and hand washing.
Coating matters on gold versions. PVD plating is thin and wears through at the lugs. Gold-wrapped cases hold color longer, though the tone can run warm next to solid gold.
Crystal is the second tell. Sapphire resists scratches and gives a clean edge over the dial. Mineral glass scratches within a year and shows a soft, wavy reflection.
Dial and Crown Details to Inspect
The dial carries most of the visual identity, so small errors stand out.
- Roman numerals: crisp and thin, with the correct Cartier form of the VII and X.
- Rail track: an even minute ring that meets the numerals without touching them.
- Hands: blued steel or black, shaped to match the model year you are copying.
- Cabochon crown: a blue synthetic spinel set in a round crown, not a painted dome.
- Secret signature: some models hide a Cartier mark inside a numeral stroke. Cheap dials skip it or print it too bold.
Replica Baignoire Allongée Buying Checklist
- Confirm the case length and width in millimeters before you pay.
- Ask for the movement brand and model, not just the word Swiss.
- Request side photos to check the case curve.
- Check lug width, since straps for this case are not standard.
- Confirm crystal type, sapphire or mineral.
- Read the return policy. A curved case is hard to photograph, so returns matter.
- Pay with a method that offers buyer protection.
How the Elongated Case Wears on the Wrist
The Allongée covers more wrist than the millimeter number suggests because the case runs long. A 34 mm Allongée can read like a 38 mm round watch in visual footprint.
Measure your wrist width at the top, flat across. If that span is under about 50 mm, the large size will overhang and the lugs will float off the skin.
Alligator straps suit the dress look, but they age fast in humid climates. Satin and calf straps cost less and hold shape longer. A steel bracelet version wears heavier and needs a snug fit so the clasp stops sliding.
Common Flaws in Cheap Copies
- Flat crystal over a curved case, which kills the side profile.
- Wrong numeral weight, so the dial looks heavy.
- Gold tone that reads orange next to real gold jewelry.
- Crown that sits too tall and catches on a sleeve.
- Case back engraving with wrong text or a mismatched serial.
Is a Replica Baignoire Allongée Worth It?
It depends on what you want from the watch. If you want the shape and the dial on a budget, a mid-tier copy with a Japanese automatic or quartz movement delivers that. If you want service history and resale value, a replica gives you neither.
Can a jeweler spot a replica Baignoire Allongée?
Yes, in hand. A jeweler checks case weight, crown action, dial printing under a loupe, and the movement. Across a table, a good copy passes. On a bench with a loupe, it does not.
Does a replica hold value?
No. Used copies sell at a discount to what you paid, and the buyer pool is thin. Treat the purchase as a cost, not an investment.
Is the replica water resistant?
Treat most copies as splash resistant. Seals and gaskets are the first parts a factory cuts to hit a price, so keep the watch away from pools and showers unless a seller has pressure tested it.
Legal Note for U.S. Buyers
Counterfeit watches that carry a brand name are illegal to import into the United States and illegal to sell. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments and destroy them. Buying a replica for personal use carries risk, and reselling one carries more.