Short answer
The 7787BR is a Breguet Classique wristwatch in 18k rose gold, 39 mm across. A copy, or imitation, of the 7787BR keeps the case shape, the dial layout, and the Breguet name. It changes the materials and the movement. Genuine examples sell for tens of thousands of dollars on the secondary market. Copies sell for about $50 to $400. The two are not interchangeable, and a copy cannot be sold as a genuine Breguet.
The reference
Breguet lists the watch as reference 7787BR/12/9V6. The code breaks down this way: 7787 is the model number, BR is the case metal, which is rose gold, and the suffix covers the strap and clasp. The same model comes in yellow gold (BA) and white gold (BB).
Features of the genuine watch:
- 18k rose gold case, 39 mm
- Caliber 591 DRL, automatic
- Moon phase display
- Power reserve indicator
- Silvered gold dial with hand guilloche
- Blued steel Breguet hands
- Sapphire crystal front and back
- Alligator strap with gold buckle
What copy versions change
- Case metal. Brass or 316L steel with rose gold plating or PVD. Plating wears at the lugs and the crown.
- Weight. Gold is dense. A 39 mm gold case weighs far more than a plated steel case of the same size.
- Dial. A printed grid instead of cut guilloche. Lines look flat under a loupe.
- Hands. Stamped and painted blue, not heat blued steel.
- Movement. A Chinese or Japanese automatic. Finish, jewel count, and beat rate differ from the 591 DRL.
- Moon phase. Some copies use a 24 hour day and night disc that shows a sun and a moon.
- Power reserve. Some copies fit a fixed pointer that does not move.
- Hallmarks. No Helvetia head, no 750 stamp, or a stamp that does not match the metal.
- Serial numbers. A batch shares one number.
How to check one
- Weigh the watch. Compare with the published figure for a gold 7787BR.
- Open the caseback and read the hallmarks and the movement signature.
- Look at the dial with a 10x loupe. Hand guilloche cuts catch light. Printing does not.
- Watch the moon phase for three days. A true moon phase moves about one tooth per day.
- Check the serial number against the certificate and the Breguet archive.
Price and listings
Genuine 7787BR examples list in the $20,000 to $30,000 range on the used market. Condition, box, and papers drive the final number. Copy listings run from about $50 for a quartz model to about $400 for one with a decorated automatic movement and sapphire crystals. Listings that use the words homage, style, or inspired avoid the Breguet trademark. Listings that print Breguet on the dial and sell the watch as real do not.
Legal status
Breguet is a trademark of Montres Breguet S.A., a Swatch Group company. In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and trademark owners can sue under the Lanham Act. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit shipments at the border. Personal import rules do not protect a seller.