Short Answer

A replica Breguet Classique moon phase is a third-party watch that copies the design of the Breguet Classique 7787 and related references. It is not made by Breguet. Genuine Classique moon phase watches use an in-house automatic movement, a hand-engraved guilloché dial, and a solid 18k gold case. Replicas use bought-in movements, stamped dials, and gold-plated steel. Street prices run from about $150 to $500.

The Genuine Reference

The Breguet Classique 7787 is the model most replicas copy. It measures 39mm across, comes in 18k rose gold or 18k white gold, and runs a self-winding Breguet calibre with a 38-hour power reserve. The dial carries a moon phase display in the lower half and a power reserve scale above it. The hands are blued steel with hollow eccentric tips. The caseband has fine vertical fluting, a Breguet signature since the 1780s. US retail sits above $30,000. Breguet also sells the Classique 7137, which follows the layout of the historic No. 5 pocket watch and pairs a moon phase with a date and a power reserve scale.

How the Moon Phase Works

A true moon phase runs on a 29.5-day cycle. The mechanism uses a 59-tooth wheel advanced one tooth per day by the date train. Two moons sit on one disc, so the display repeats every 59 days. Replicas get this wrong in one of two ways. Budget models fit a 24-hour day and night disc with a sun and one moon. It turns once per day, so the moon crosses the aperture in the morning and again at night. Mid-tier replicas use a 29.5-day disc driven by a modified date wheel. To check, look at the watch at the same time on two days. A real moon phase moves about 12 degrees per day. A day and night disc moves a full turn.

Parts to Check Before Buying

  • Case size. The 7787 is 39mm. Many replicas ship at 40mm or 41mm and add thickness at the caseback.
  • Dial finish. Genuine guilloché is cut by hand on a rose engine. Replica patterns are stamped. Under a loupe, stamped lines look shallow and rounded.
  • Hands. Breguet hands have hollow tips and a polished bevel. Plated replicas show flat, filled tips.
  • Crystal. Sapphire front and back is standard above $250. Cheaper units use mineral glass, which scratches.
  • Movement. Common bases are the Seagull ST21 and the Miyota 9015, each with a moon phase module added. Ask for the base caliber.
  • Plating. Mid-tier cases carry 3 to 5 microns of gold. Budget cases carry under 1 micron. Plating wears at the lugs, crown, and caseback edge.

Price Tiers

  1. Under $200. Mineral glass, thin plating, a day and night disc in place of a moon phase, basic automatic or quartz.
  2. $200 to $350. Sapphire crystal, 3-micron plating, working 29.5-day moon phase, Seagull or Miyota base.
  3. $350 to $500. Sharper dial printing, deeper guilloché relief, 5-micron plating, closer case profile.

What Replicas Do Not Match

No replica carries a Breguet in-house movement. No replica uses a solid gold case. No replica has a hand-engraved dial. There is no service network and no parts catalog. Resale value is close to zero. Water resistance claims above 30 meters should be treated as marketing copy, since replica cases are not pressure tested.

Strap and Fit

Lug width on replicas varies. Measure the lug gap before ordering a strap. Most fall between 20mm and 21mm. A 39mm case with a 20mm lug fits wrists from 6.5 to 7.5 inches. Alligator-print calf leather is the standard strap. Genuine Breguet uses hand-stitched alligator.

Legal Note

In the United States, selling counterfeit goods that carry a protected trademark is illegal under the Trademark Counterfeiting Act. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments at import. Buyers are not the usual target of enforcement, but the watch can be confiscated.