What a fake 3317BR is
A fake 3317BR is a replica of a Breguet wristwatch. The reference 3317 sits in the Breguet Classique line, a family of round dress watches. The two letters at the end are the metal code. Breguet marks rose gold cases with BR, yellow gold with BA, white gold with BB, steel with ST, and platinum with PT. A genuine 3317BR has an 18k rose gold case. No replica of it comes from Breguet, and no factory outside Switzerland holds the reference.
Breguet does not list the 3317 among current catalog references. Confirm the case size, thickness, lug width, caliber number, and water resistance against the maker's archive or an auction record. Listings from replica sellers are not a source for specs.
Why the metal code matters
18k rose gold has a density near 15 g/cm3. Stainless steel sits near 7.9 g/cm3. A solid gold case of the same dimensions weighs close to twice a steel one. Most replicas use plated brass or plated 316L steel. Plating runs from under 1 micron on cheap builds to about 5 microns on the better ones. Plated cases wear through at the lugs and the case back edge.
Replica tiers for the 3317BR
- Entry tier, about $30 to $100. Quartz or low-grade automatic movement. Plated brass case. Mineral glass. Dial pattern printed or stamped.
- Mid tier, about $150 to $350. Asian automatic movement such as a Miyota or Seagull type. Plated steel case. Sapphire crystal. Better dial printing.
- Upper tier, about $400 to $900. Decorated Asian movement, thicker plating, case dimensions taken from a real watch. Still not gold.
Prices move with the seller and the season. Treat any figure as a range, not a quote.
Checks that separate the tiers
- Dial: real Breguet guilloche is cut on a rose engine. Replicas stamp or print the pattern, so the lines look flat under a loupe.
- Hands: Breguet hands have hollow eccentric tips. Replica hand sets run thick and the tips are filled.
- Case back: look for screw heads, engraving depth, and gold hallmarks. Genuine 18k pieces carry a Swiss precious metal hallmark.
- Movement: Breguet calibers carry the maker's name and a serial number. Replica movements carry generic stamps or none.
- Weight: a solid gold case balances heavy in the hand. A plated case feels light for its size.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches cannot be imported into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection seizes shipments and can assess civil penalties against the importer. Selling a replica as a genuine Breguet is trademark infringement. A buyer gets no manufacturer warranty and no authorized service on a counterfeit.
Service and resale
Breguet will not service a replica, and an independent watchmaker will work on the movement only, not on branded parts. Resale value for any replica is close to zero. A genuine 3317BR trades on the secondary market against its gold content, its condition, and its paperwork. Ask for the original certificate before you treat any 3317BR as real.
Bottom line
A replica 3317BR can pass at arm's length. It cannot be 18k rose gold at replica prices, and the weight, the hallmark, and the movement give it away. Check those three points before you pay.