Which factory is better for Cartier Ballon Bleu? V6 Factory or AF?

The Cartier Ballon Bleu model is produced by AF Factory with a solid stainless steel case, 42 mm diameter and ETA 2824-2 caliber in accordance with Swiss norms architecture. It is among the most successful 1:1 super clone watch reviews on the market, with its sapphire crystal AR coating glass, original case tolerances and detailed workmanship.

V6 Factory's Ballon Bleu model range is extremely wide. Moreover, V6 Factory, the most established and quality factory, still has a shipment volume that beats other brands today. So how did AF gain a share of this market?

Before introducing the AF, let me point out that the average price of the Ballon Bleu models of the AF is more expensive than that of the V6. The first thing that comes to mind is whether the casework is better if it is more expensive. In fact, the Cartier Ballon Bleu series has evolved so far and has already solved some small details in the appearance; Moreover, the structure of this series is simple, and even if we take the original as a basis, the workmanship is not very extraordinary. In other words, the two factories are really close to each other in terms of chassis, there is no need to compete for superiority over narrow differences. The price difference between them is mainly on the movement and leather strap side. The standard version of the V6 uses the Seagull 2824 movement, while the V9 uses the Seagull 2892 movement. In terms of colors, both factories offer white, blue, black and leather strap/steel bracelet options. These are the colors in the image below. Since Ballon Bleu has a closed back design, I think there is no need to choose the more expensive AF Factory for the sake of the 2892 movement; Most people don't really care whether the date is set up or down anyway. In summary: for the 42 mm steel bracelet version, the V6 is completely sufficient, cheap and plentiful; AF may be an option for friends on a budget.

Strap, Buckle and Comfort

The leather strap version is slightly different. AF Factory comes standard with crocodile leather and a matte closure buckle. These two points are better than the V6 Factory. If you're planning on upgrading to crocodile skin from the start, I'd recommend going straight for AF Factory; because when you also add a crocodile skin to the V6 the price is already approaching AF, so isn't it better to just finish it from the beginning? Of course, if you think calfskin is enough for you, there is no harm in choosing V6 Factory.

Dial and Hand Details

If you like the blue dial, you should choose V6 Factory. Why? Because there is easily a color difference between the specially made blue crocodile skin and the dial. The V6's crocodile leather is produced in large batches and its color is much closer to the dial color than the leather you would buy yourself.

As for the 33 mm size, this size is extremely suitable for the wrists of Asian ladies. There are two movement options in this size: the Japanese Citizen series or the original conversion of the Swiss ETA 2671, namely caliber 076. If you're on a tight budget, I recommend the V7 version of the V6; both cheap and abundant. AF also offers the Citizen movement option, but it costs a few hundred more; Again, my personal opinion is that the price-performance is slightly weaker. If you want more precise operation and would prefer the version with the original movement, I recommend choosing the V6 Factory; Because V6 Factory made changes to the ETA 2671 movement and eliminated the date phase problem of this movement. So, when you pull the crown, you can directly set the time; You do not have to pull the crown two steps to set the time, as in the old ETA 2671 movement.

Case and Body Workmanship

I'm attaching here an image of the V6's original 42mm movement; The processing is very nice, even if you open the case, the difference is almost negligible. If your budget is sufficient, you will definitely be satisfied when you choose this version.

If you like Chinese red, you can just choose AF; Because there is a slight color difference in V6's Chinese red, it is too bright. AF Factory's Chinese red tone is perfect, there are no deviations.

Movement and Caliber Performance

As for the quartz side, AF claims to use a higher-end movement. But quartz movements have one feature: they are sensitive! Even if you use a crappy quartz movement, it works much more precisely than your hundreds of thousands of lira mechanical watch! Therefore, there is no need to worry too much about the mechanism when choosing a quartz watch; As long as it's not too bad, there's no problem. The quartz version of the AF costs a third more than the V6, so if you're going to buy a quartz Ballon Bleu, I think the V6 Factory's is perfectly adequate.

Many people ask if there is a Swiss movement version for 42 mm; The answer is that it can be upgraded at will. However, when the Swiss mechanism is added to the watch, the whole watch becomes very expensive and its acceptance rate in the market is relatively low; That's why no factory puts an ETA mechanism as standard. For those who like Swiss movements, I recommend buying the V6 Ballon Bleu and upgrading to the ETA 2824 or 2892 movement; Its performance is stable, the power reserve is good, this is also an option. After reading this article, don't ask us which is better, V6 or AF!