The short answer
Cartier's Baignoire is the oval "bathtub" watch, and 2717 is a case reference stamped on the back of a whole generation of them, not the name of one single model. Most of those watches are small, quartz, 18k gold, roughly 22 by 31 mm, with a silvered dial, Roman numerals and a sapphire cabochon in the crown. A replica worth wearing has to get three things right: the curve of the case against the wrist, the printing on the dial, and the crown. Nail those and the watch reads correctly from arm's length. Miss them and no amount of box and papers saves it.
What 2717 actually refers to
Cartier engraves a case number inside the caseback, and 2717 is one of those numbers. The commercial reference on the guarantee is a longer code, so a seller who calls it "the 2717 model" is being loose rather than wrong. This matters when you compare photos: two watches with the same 2717 stamp can differ in strap, dial color and movement because the number covers a production run, not a spec sheet. Ask for a photo of the caseback engraving and the guarantee page together.
Proportions and case shape
The Baignoire is an elongated oval that bends to follow the wrist bone. That curve is the hard part to copy. Cheap replicas machine a flat oval and bolt straight lugs on, so the watch sits like a coin on a tabletop. Look at a side profile shot before anything else. A quartz original is thin, close to 7 mm including the crystal. If a replica comes in at 9 mm or more, it is likely a mechanical movement stuffed into a case designed for a battery, and it will wear top heavy.
Size matters as much. Small Baignoire cases run about 22 mm wide by 31 mm long. Replicas often stretch to 24 or 25 mm to fit a stock movement, which changes the whole look on a narrow wrist. Ask for calipers, not adjectives.
Dial, numerals and hands
Dial printing is where mid-tier replicas fall apart. Zoom in on a straight-on photo and check these:
- Roman numerals with crisp hairlines and no filler between strokes, XII and VI sitting on the vertical axis
- Silvered finish that looks matte, not glittery under a phone flash
- Sword hands with a clean bevel down the center, blued or gold tone depending on the version
- "Swiss Made" at 6 o'clock sized to the minute track, not floating in empty space
- Cartier's secret signature, a word hidden inside a numeral on some dials. Confirm whether the version you are copying has one before treating its absence as a fault
Crown and cabochon
The cabochon should be a smooth blue dome, polished, sitting slightly proud of the crown without a visible glue line. Glass and dyed plastic both give themselves away by shifting hue as you tilt the watch. The crown itself is small on this generation and sits tucked into the oval. Grabbing it should feel solid. A springy, wobbly crown on a quartz watch is a bad sign, since there is no winding action to justify any play.
Movement: quartz is the honest choice
Most genuine 2717 Baignoires are quartz, which is a gift to anyone buying a replica. A Swiss or Japanese quartz caliber in a thin case copies the original behavior exactly, including the thinness. A hand-wound mechanical movement is a preference, not an upgrade, and it usually brings a thicker case with it. Ask which movement is inside and expect a name: Ronda, ETA, Miyota. "High quality movement" is not an answer.
Caseback, hallmarks and serials
Engraving depth tells you a lot. Laser etching looks shallow and grey under a loupe; proper stamping or deep engraving has shadow and edge. On gold originals you will see Swiss hallmarks and a serial number, and those marks sit in specific places. Replicas are usually gold plated steel, and at the top end solid 18k. Plating wears first at the lug tips and the caseback rim, often within a year of daily wear. Solid gold costs more and weighs more, so a kitchen scale is a fair test against a published weight.
Strap and clasp
These watches live on thin straps, so the strap is not an afterthought. Alligator or calf, tapering to a small pin buckle or a hidden deployant. Good stitching is tight and even, the lining is leather rather than synthetic, and the keeper holds its shape. A floppy strap makes even a decent case look cheap, and swapping it costs more than people expect at this size.
Red flags to walk away from
- Studio photos only, no wrist shot in daylight
- No caseback picture and no movement name
- "1:1" claims with nothing behind them
- A price far below the tier that gets you a sapphire crystal and a Swiss quartz
- Gold plating described simply as "gold"
Living with it
Quartz means a battery every couple of years and nothing else. Water resistance is minimal on an oval case with a push-in crown, so keep it away from swimming and dishes. Wipe the caseback and strap with a soft cloth after wear, and store it flat. One honest note: selling a replica as genuine is illegal in the US and most of Europe, and customs seizures happen. Buy it as a watch you like the look of, not as an investment.