A replica Breguet platinum watch is a copy of a Breguet timepiece with a case that looks like platinum. Most replicas use 316L stainless steel. The steel gets a platinum PVD coating or a rhodium plating. Real Breguet platinum watches use 950 platinum. The density of 950 platinum is 21.45 g/cm3. The density of 316L steel is 8.0 g/cm3. A real platinum Breguet Classique 5177 weighs about 100 grams. A steel replica weighs about 60 grams.
Platinum in the Breguet Catalog
Breguet sells platinum versions of several models. The Classique 5177 has a platinum option. The Tradition 7057 has a platinum option. The Classique 7147 has a platinum option. Platinum Breguet watches cost $30,000 to $80,000 at retail. Auction prices for vintage platinum Breguet watches reach $50,000 to $150,000.
How Replica Makers Imitate Platinum
Replica makers cannot use 950 platinum at low prices. Platinum costs about $30 per gram. A platinum case for a Breguet watch weighs 40 to 60 grams. The raw metal alone costs $1,200 to $1,800. Replica makers use steel. They add a coating. Common coatings are platinum PVD, rhodium, and chrome. These coatings look white and shiny. They wear off after 6 to 24 months.
Common Breguet Models Copied in Platinum
- Classique 5177
- Classique 7147
- Tradition 7057
- Tradition 7038
- Marine 5517
- Heritage 5497
Price Tiers for Replica Breguet Platinum
- Low tier: $80 to $150. Steel case with chrome plating. Quartz movement. Weight 50 to 70 grams.
- Mid tier: $200 to $400. Steel case with platinum PVD. Automatic movement. Weight 60 to 80 grams.
- High tier: $500 to $1,200. Steel case with rhodium plating. Swiss ETA or clone movement. Weight 70 to 90 grams.
- Top tier: $1,500 to $3,000. Steel case with platinum plating. Custom movement. Weight 80 to 100 grams. Some top tier replicas use tungsten, which weighs 19.25 g/cm3.
Movement Options
Replica Breguet platinum watches use three movement types. Quartz movements cost $5 to $20. Automatic movements from Asia cost $30 to $80. Swiss ETA movements cost $150 to $300. Clone Breguet movements cost $200 to $500. A real Breguet platinum watch uses a hand-wound or automatic in-house movement. The real movement has a power reserve of 50 to 80 hours. Replica movements have a power reserve of 36 to 48 hours.
How to Check Weight and Finish
Ask the seller for the weight in grams. A steel replica weighs less than 90 grams. A tungsten replica weighs 100 to 120 grams. Real platinum weighs 120 to 150 grams. Check the case back. Real platinum cases have a hallmark. The hallmark is a dog's head for French platinum. Replica cases have no hallmark or a fake hallmark. Check the coating with a loupe. PVD coating shows a uniform color. Plating shows bubbles at the edges.
Legal Status
In the United States, selling replica watches with a counterfeit trademark is illegal under the Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984. Buying a replica for personal use is not a federal crime. Customs can seize replica watches at the border. The penalty for selling is up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine for a first offense.