A fake Breguet 7787BB is a copy of the Breguet Classique 7787 in white gold, the metal the "BB" suffix stands for in Breguet reference codes. The real watch pairs a hand-turned guilloché dial with a moon-phase display, a power-reserve indicator, and Breguet's own caliber 591 DRL. Copies run from cheap quartz lookalikes to high-grade automatic replicas, and each level has its own tells.
What Is the Breguet 7787BB?
The Classique 7787 sits in Breguet's dress line and carries two complications on one dial. The reference code tells you the case metal: BA is yellow gold, BB is white gold, BR is rose gold, PT is platinum.
- Case: white gold, about 39 mm across, slim dress profile.
- Dial: silver with engine-turned guilloché, Roman numerals, Breguet's secret signature.
- Hands: blued steel with the eccentric Breguet tip.
- Movement: caliber 591 DRL, self-winding, roughly 38 hours of reserve.
- Complications: moon phase and power reserve.
- Caseback: sapphire, with engraved reference and serial numbers.
Why the 7787BB Gets Copied
Breguet dress watches trade in the five figures, so the gap between a genuine 7787BB and a copy is wide. Engine-turned dials and moon-phase modules are hard to make, which is why most fakes fail at the dial and the movement rather than the overall look. A buyer who knows the reference can spot the difference fast.
How to Spot a Fake Breguet 7787BB
Start at the dial, then work toward the movement. The caseback is where cheap copies give up first.
Dial and Guilloché
- Genuine: lines cut into metal by hand, sharp edges, even spacing, real depth under raking light.
- Fake: printed or stamped pattern, flat surface, lines that blur at the edges.
- Genuine: Breguet's secret signature etched into the dial, visible only from an angle.
- Fake: logo painted with fuzzy edges, wrong font, uneven spacing.
Hands and Moon-Phase Disc
- Genuine hands: fire-blued steel, mirror finish, one even blue tone with no streaks.
- Fake hands: painted or chemically blued, patchy color, thick tips.
- Genuine moon disc: detailed gold moon face on a dark blue sky with stars.
- Fake moon disc: flat printed circle, pale face, no engraving.
Case, Hallmarks, and Weight
- White gold feels heavier and warmer than steel. Plated brass or steel feels light and cools fast in the hand.
- Genuine caseback engraving is crisp and deep. Fake engraving looks shallow and rounded.
- Hallmarks and serial numbers are struck into the metal, and they match Breguet's records for that reference.
Movement and Caseback
Open the sapphire back and study the finish. Caliber 591 DRL shows Geneva stripes, blued screws, polished bevels, and an engraved rotor carrying the Breguet name. Copies run on a generic automatic, sometimes hidden behind a deco plate that cannot match the layout of the real movement.
Strap, Buckle, and Crown
- Genuine strap: alligator on a signed white gold folding buckle with the correct hallmarks.
- Fake strap: embossed leather or generic alligator on a plated or steel buckle.
- Crown: signed with the right flute count and a smooth winding feel. Fake crowns feel gritty and sit off-center.
What Do Replica 7787BB Watches Cost at Each Level?
Prices shift by seller, but the market splits into three rough tiers. A higher price buys better dial work, a working moon phase, and a movement that a watchmaker can service.
- Entry (about $60 to $150): quartz or basic automatic, printed dial, moon phase that never moves, gold-colored plating.
- Mid (about $200 to $400): automatic movement, stepped dial with stamped guilloché, working moon phase, gold plating that wears over time.
- High end (about $500 and up): decorated automatic or clone-style movement, deeper stamped guilloché, functional power reserve, and solid gold cases on the top tier.
Questions Buyers Ask Before Ordering
Does a fake Breguet 7787BB keep time?
Yes. Most automatic replicas run within a few seconds a day once regulated. None carry chronometer certification, and accuracy drifts after a knock or a missed service.
Can a jeweler tell it is a fake?
In most cases yes. A watchmaker with a loupe checks dial depth, movement finish, hallmarks, and serial numbers in minutes. A replica fools someone at arm's length, not a trained eye.
Do the moon phase and power reserve actually work?
On mid-tier and high-end replicas, the moon phase advances once a day and the power-reserve needle tracks the mainspring. On cheap copies both are decoration.
Is the gold real?
Most replicas use gold plating over steel or brass. Plating thins at the lugs and caseback within a couple of years. Only high-end sellers offer solid white gold cases.
Is buying or reselling a fake watch legal in the US?
Selling a counterfeit as genuine is illegal, and customs can seize shipments at the border. Buying a replica for personal use sits in a gray area, but reselling it as a real Breguet does not.
Checks to Run Before You Pay
- Ask for macro photos of the dial shot at an angle, not straight on.
- Request a video of the moon phase and the power-reserve needle moving.
- Ask for the weight in grams and compare it with a white gold case of the same size.
- Ask for a timegrapher reading: rate, amplitude, and beat error.
- Confirm the return window and whether the seller services the movement.
None of these checks replaces a watchmaker's opinion, but they filter out sellers who cannot show what they ship.