Short answer
A fake Breguet 5405 is a counterfeit watch built to copy the Breguet Classique reference 5405. Breguet is a Swiss maker founded in 1775 and owned by Swatch Group. Genuine Classique models in gold list in the tens of thousands of dollars in the US. Replicas sell for $150 to $900 and come from a small number of workshops in China. The gap in metal, movement, and finish makes most replicas identifiable with a loupe, a scale, and a photo of the caseback.
What the 5405 reference is
The 5405 sits inside the Breguet Classique line. Classique watches use a round case, a fluted caseband, welded lugs, engine-turned dial patterns, and Breguet hands with a hollow eccentric tip. Published spec sheets for this reference vary by source. Confirm case size, metal, and caliber number on Breguet's own materials or with an authorized dealer before you use any spec as a test. Where a number is not public, treat a seller claim as unverified.
What replica versions look like
Replica output for Breguet divides into three groups.
- Entry, $150 to $250. Quartz or a low-grade automatic. Printed dial pattern. Steel case with gold plating.
- Mid, $250 to $450. Miyota or Seiko NH35 movement. Better dial print, wrong hand profile.
- High, $500 to $900. Cloned ETA 2824 or a decorated Asian automatic. Gold plating or gold-filled case. Sold as "super clone" or "1:1."
None of these use a Breguet in-house caliber. None use an 18k gold case. That is the core difference.
Checks that separate real from fake
Movement
Open the caseback. Genuine Breguet calibers carry hand-applied anglage, Cotes de Geneve stripes cut into the metal, polished screw heads, and a signed rotor or bridge. Replicas show printed stripes, laser etching, rough edges, and unmarked clone movements.
Dial
Engine-turned guilloche is cut on a rose engine. The lines are sharp and change as light moves across them. Replica dials use stamped or printed patterns that look flat under a loupe. Some Breguet references carry a secret signature inside the dial, placed at a spot the brand does not publish. Check the date window edge and the numeral font if the reference has a date.
Hands
Breguet hands are blued steel with an open circle near the tip. Replicas stamp or cast the hands, and the tip ring is filled in or missing.
Case and weight
18k gold runs near 15.5 to 16.5 g/cm3 in the alloys used for watch cases. Stainless steel runs near 7.9 g/cm3. A gold Classique feels heavy for its size. A plated replica does not. Check the inside of the caseback for a hallmark and a metal stamp.
Engravings and serials
Genuine casebacks carry the reference, a case serial, the metal mark, and the maker's mark. Replica sellers ship many units with the same serial. Ask for a caseback photo before purchase and compare serials across listings.
Papers, box, and service record
Genuine Breguet ships with a certificate, a numbered warranty card, and a box. Replica sets exist and look close. A service record from Breguet or an authorized center is harder to fake.
Price context
Gold Breguet Classique references list in the US between about $20,000 and $45,000, and more with complications. Secondary prices sit below list. A $600 offer for a gold Classique is a counterfeit or a scam.
Legal status in the US
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit watches under 19 U.S.C. 1526. Buying a fake for personal use carries lower risk than selling, but import seizures happen and the money is not returned.
What is not known
Breguet does not publish a full spec sheet for every reference in every market. Caliber numbers, case sizes, and dial variants tied to the 5405 differ between dealers and listings. Verify the exact reference with Breguet before you rely on any single spec.