Short answer
Breguet reference 3358 is an 18k gold Classique tourbillon wristwatch built in the 1990s. Watches listed as a "replica Breguet 3358 tourbillon" are counterfeit goods. A watch that carries the Breguet name without authorization breaks trademark law in the United States. Customs officers can seize the parcel and destroy it. Auction resale value is zero. Breguet will not service it.
Facts about the genuine reference
- Maker: Breguet, founded in Paris in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet.
- Regulator: Breguet patented the tourbillon in 1801.
- Case: 18k yellow, white or rose gold on the versions seen at auction.
- Movement: hand-wound, one-minute tourbillon, small seconds carried on the cage.
- Production: 1990s, low volume. The brand now belongs to Swatch Group.
Case diameter, caliber number and dial variants change between batches. We do not have verified production totals. Confirm those numbers with Breguet or with a dated auction catalog.
Why a cheap copy is not a tourbillon
A working one-minute tourbillon needs a rotating cage, a carriage, a balance mounted inside that frame, and hand finishing on the parts. That assembly alone costs more than most fake watches sell for. Low-cost copies show one of three things: an open aperture over a fixed balance, a decorated plate that never rotates, or a small motor that spins a dummy cage. None of those regulate the rate of the watch.
Legal and money facts
- 18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit watches at import.
- Breguet will not service a counterfeit, and no parts can be ordered for it.
- Major Swiss and U.S. auction houses reject counterfeits. There is no secondary market.
- Copies use gold-plated brass or steel. Scrap value sits near zero.
Checks before buying any Breguet tourbillon
- Ask for a movement photo. The cage must turn once per minute.
- Get the caseback reference and serial. Ask Breguet to confirm that number.
- Demand papers with a dated sale, or an extract from the archives for an older watch.
- Identify the seller. A wholesaler with no company registration is a risk.
This page does not list sellers and does not appraise watches.