The best fake 5105 to buy is the build that gets three things right: case thickness, movement type, and dial printing. Those three decide whether the watch reads correctly on the wrist and survives daily wear. Strap quality, box, and paperwork come second, because you can replace them later. Before you compare two sellers, confirm what '5105' means in that specific listing. Numeric references get reused across brands, generations, and case sizes, so two watches sold under the same number can differ in diameter, movement, and date layout.
What Sellers Mean by 'Fake 5105'
In replica listings, a number such as 5105 can point to a case reference, a factory batch, or a movement family. That ambiguity matters. A budget quartz build and a mid-tier automatic build can both be listed under the same number, at wildly different price points, with different dimensions.
Before you spend anything, get four answers in writing:
- Case diameter in millimeters, plus lug-to-lug distance.
- Case thickness in millimeters, measured, not estimated.
- Movement name, and whether it is automatic, hand-wound, or quartz.
- Crystal material: sapphire, mineral, or acrylic.
A seller who cannot answer those four questions is not describing a specific watch. That is your first filter.
Criterion 1: Case Thickness and Profile
Case height is the hardest thing to get right at low cost, and the easiest thing to hide in photos. A case that sits too tall rides up on the wrist, catches on cuffs, and reads wrong from the side even when the dial looks correct. Bezel steps, crown guards, and lug curvature all show up in profile view and nowhere else.
Strong signals
- A side-profile photo with a caliper or ruler in frame.
- Crisp lug edges, with no rounded-off or polished-away corners.
- A crown sized to the case, with clean knurling or fluting.
- Caseback engraving with visible depth, not shallow stamping.
Weak signals
- Front-facing photos only, or side shots that are blurred or cropped.
- Thickness described as 'slim' with no number attached.
- Lugs that look soft or over-polished in the dealer's own photos.
Criterion 2: Movement
Movement choice drives price more than any other component. An automatic with a smooth sweep, hacking seconds, and a power reserve in the high 30s to low 40s of hours is the usual mid tier. Quartz costs less and ticks once per second, which is visible at a glance on a watch with a running seconds hand.
Strong signals
- A named movement, stated in the listing and confirmed in chat.
- Hacking seconds and a sweep that is smooth rather than stepped.
- A photo of the movement through the caseback, or an offer to provide one.
Weak signals
- No movement named at all, or 'Swiss' used as a standalone description.
- A seconds hand that ticks in the seller's own video.
- Refusal to open the caseback for a photo before purchase.
Criterion 3: Dial, Hands, and Date
Dial printing is where cheap builds fall apart under magnification. Marker alignment, lume fill, and date window position are all checkable from photos if the seller supplies close-ups. Ask for a macro shot of the dial at an angle, not a straight-on shot in soft light.
Strong signals
- Applied markers sitting flush, reflecting light evenly across the dial.
- Hands that reach their intended markers, with clean edges.
- A date wheel that centers in the window without sitting high or low.
Weak signals
- Print that bleeds or fuzzes at the edges under magnification.
- Uneven lume fill, or lume that overflows a marker.
- Straight-on photos only, which hide misalignment and dial curvature.
Criterion 4: Finishing, Bracelet, and Strap
Brushed surfaces should run in one direction. Polished surfaces should arrive free of swirl marks. On a bracelet, end links should meet the lugs without visible gaps, and the clasp should close with a firm click and stay closed under a light pull. On leather, look for even stitching and a lining that does not shed fibers.
- Ask for a photo of the clasp closed and a photo of the end link fit at both lugs.
- Ask about the clasp type and whether it has micro-adjustment.
- Request the strap width in millimeters if you plan to swap it.
Criterion 5: Water Resistance and Daily Wear
Treat any stated water resistance figure as unverified until a watchmaker pressure-tests the case. Gaskets on low-cost builds are the first thing to fail, and a case that fogs after handwashing is a case that will rust. If you plan to swim, budget for a pressure test at a local shop. Otherwise, treat the watch as splash resistant and take it off before dishes, showers, and pools.
How to Vet a Seller's 5105 Claim
- Ask for timestamped photos of the exact watch you will receive, not stock images.
- Confirm the specs twice: once in the listing, once in chat. Mismatches are a warning.
- Check the return window and who pays return shipping.
- Ask which flaws buyers reported on the previous batch of the same build.
- Use a payment method that gives you a dispute path.
Which 5105 Tier Fits Your Use Case
Quartz tier: casual and low-stakes wear
Best for the beach, travel, and situations where a lost watch is an annoyance rather than a loss. Accept the ticking seconds hand and the lighter case. Do not expect correct thickness or a matching movement.
Mid automatic tier: daily office wear
Best all-around choice for most buyers. You get a smooth sweep, a case that holds its proportions, and enough finishing to survive close inspection at conversational distance. This is the tier where case thickness and dial printing usually justify the price jump.
High tier: collection display and close comparison
Best if you intend to handle the watch next to reference photos and care about lug geometry, crown profile, and crystal clarity. Pay only after the seller confirms thickness, movement, and crystal in writing, since this tier is where vague listings hide the largest gaps.
One Legal Note
Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell in the United States, and customs officers seize them at ports of entry. Trademark counterfeiting is a global enforcement priority, and the 'Swiss made' label is governed by specific legal criteria in Switzerland. Buy and sell with that in mind.