The Breguet Classique 7787BB is a white gold, self-winding dress watch with a moon phase display and a power reserve indicator. A fake Breguet 7787BB is an unlicensed copy of that reference, produced without Breguet's authorization and sold under its name. In the United States, trafficking in such a watch is a federal crime and a trademark violation, and shipments are routinely seized and destroyed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
What is the genuine Breguet Classique 7787BB?
Reference 7787BB belongs to Breguet's Classique collection, the line that carries the brand's traditional guilloché dials and blued Breguet hands. The "BB" code denotes a white gold case, which on this model measures roughly 39 mm across. The dial combines a moon phase aperture with a power reserve sector, and the watch runs on a self-winding Breguet caliber.
What does "fake Breguet 7787BB" actually mean?
The term covers any watch that copies the design and stamps the Breguet name or logo without permission. That is different from a "homage," which borrows styling cues but carries its own brand name. A counterfeit uses the trademark itself, which is what makes it illegal to sell rather than merely derivative.
How do counterfeits differ from the real watch?
The gaps show up in construction, not in photographs.
- Dial decoration: genuine guilloché is cut on a hand-turned rose engine, while replicas use stamped or printed patterns.
- Moon phase: the real complication tracks the 29.5-day lunar cycle, while many fakes use a 24-hour day and night disc that never matches the actual moon.
- Case metal: authentic pieces are hallmarked gold, while counterfeits rely on plated brass or steel that wears through.
- Movement: a generic mass-produced caliber sits where a finished Breguet movement with a silicon escapement should be.
Is buying a fake Breguet 7787BB illegal in the US?
Selling, distributing, or importing counterfeits is a criminal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 2320, which carries prison time and fines. Civil liability follows under the Lanham Act, and trademark owners can pursue damages from sellers and platforms. Customs officers may seize counterfeit watches even when they are shipped for personal use.
What are the practical risks for a buyer?
No authorized service center will touch a counterfeit, so repairs depend on independent watchmakers and generic parts. Water resistance claims are usually untested, and the finish degrades quickly on plated cases. Resale is effectively impossible because any authentication check fails at the first step.
What should a buyer do instead?
Pre-owned authentic Breguet watches, including older Classique references, trade well below retail and hold value. Buyers who want a moon phase on a budget can also look at legitimate independent brands that offer the complication openly under their own names. Either path delivers a watch that can be serviced, authenticated, and resold.