The Cartier Baignoire reference 2717 is an oval-case dress watch from the 1990s and early 2000s catalog period. Cartier built the line in 18k yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and on some versions steel. Replica versions of this reference exist in volume. A genuine 2717 carries a Swiss precious-metal hallmark, a stamped caseback with matching numbers, a crown cabochon, and a Cartier-signed movement. Most copies fail at least two of those four points.

What the number 2717 covers

Cartier does not publish an open archive of four-digit references. The 2717 number is confirmed through dealer records, service paperwork, and auction listings, not a factory database. That limits what the number can tell you.

The constant is the case shape: an elongated oval with curved sides that sit against the wrist. Cartier dates the oval Baignoire case to 1912. Small versions measure about 22 mm to 25 mm across. Larger Allongée versions run longer and narrower. Cartier used quartz calibers in many small cases from this era and mechanical movements in others, so a claimed reference number alone does not fix the movement inside.

Why the Baignoire is a replica target

Cartier ranks among the most copied watch brands. The Baignoire case is simple to mold, the dial has few complications, and the gold case can be replaced with plated brass at a fraction of the cost. A copy that photographs well sells for $80 to $400 against a genuine piece that trades in the thousands.

Checks on a watch sold as a 2717

• Caseback engraving. Genuine Cartier backs carry the reference number, a serial number, the metal content, and country-of-origin marks. Real stamps and laser engraving cut into the metal. Fakes often cast the text, so edges look soft and shallow.
• Swiss hallmark. Gold Cartier cases carry a Swiss official hallmark plus a fineness stamp such as 750 or OR 750. Copies stamp 18K in a font that does not match the rest of the engraving.
• Crown cabochon. The crown holds a blue spinel or sapphire cabochon with depth and a faceted surface. Copies use plastic or flat blue glass. On many fakes the crown sits too tall.
• Dial. Check numeral weight, the position of the Cartier signature, and Swiss Made at 6 o'clock. Several Cartier dials hide the word Cartier inside the VII numeral. Copies miss the hidden signature or print it too heavy.
• Movement. Open the caseback. Genuine quartz and mechanical calibers carry Cartier markings and a caliber number. Fakes use unbranded quartz with no signature.
• Weight. A solid gold case weighs more than plated brass at the same size. A kitchen scale and a stated case dimension give one data point.

Where photo checks fail

A photo hides case thickness, crown height, cabochon surface, and the movement. Ask for a caseback shot, a side shot of the crown, and a movement shot with the back removed. If the seller refuses any of the three, treat the watch as unverified.

Legal status in the United States

Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches and destroys them. Personal use does not make an imported copy legal.

Bottom line

Reference 2717 describes a case shape and a production era, not one fixed specification. Two genuine examples can differ in metal, movement, and dial. Sellers of copies use that variation as cover. Verify the caseback stamps, the hallmark, the crown, the dial signature, and the movement before you accept any claim about a Baignoire.