Short answer
Patek Philippe's public catalog does not list a watch reference 720. The number appears in seller listings for counterfeit watches. A genuine Patek Philippe carries a reference number and a case serial number on the caseback. Both can be checked with the manufacturer.
What the 720 code means in listings
Replica sellers use numbers that do not match manufacturer catalogs. Some listings reuse a real reference and add digits. Others invent a number. The 720 in a listing title is a seller code, not a Patek Philippe reference. Photographs in those listings often show a model from a different line than the title states.
Price gap
Replica Patek Philippe listings run from about $50 to $1,000. Authorized dealer prices for Patek Philippe watches start in the five-figure range and pass $400,000 for complicated pieces. Gold has a fixed market price. A seller who offers an 18k gold Patek Philippe for a few hundred dollars is not selling gold.
Checks that expose a fake
- Movement. Genuine Patek Philippe watches use in-house movements with engraved, numbered bridges. Most counterfeits use third-party movements. A quartz movement inside a case that should hold a mechanical caliber is a direct tell.
- Caseback. Genuine casebacks show the reference number, the case serial, and metal hallmarks. Patek Philippe stamps 750 for 18k gold and 950 for platinum. Replicas show shallow stamps, missing hallmarks, or numbers that do not match the paperwork.
- Dial. Genuine dials use applied gold markers and thin, even printing. Replica dials show thick print, uneven spacing between markers, and plated or glued markers.
- Weight and finish. An 18k gold case weighs more than a steel case of the same size. Replica cases are steel with gold plating. The plating wears through at the lugs, crown, and clasp.
- Papers and box. Genuine certificates list the reference, case serial, and movement number. All three match the watch. Replica paperwork shows blank, mismatched, or reprinted numbers.
- Service history. Patek Philippe keeps records on watches it has serviced. A serial number that returns no record is a warning sign.
How to verify a Patek Philippe
- Read the reference and serial from the caseback with a loupe.
- Ask for the original certificate and compare every number against the watch.
- Request a service receipt that lists the case serial.
- Send the serial to an authorized Patek Philippe service center. Patek Philippe also offers an Extract from the Archives, which lists the date of manufacture and the original configuration.
- Have a watchmaker open the caseback and photograph the movement.
Legal position in the United States
Counterfeit watches are prohibited merchandise. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. Penalties include fines and prison terms. A buyer faces seizure of the item and, in some cases, civil claims from the trademark owner.
What we could not confirm
We found no Patek Philippe watch reference numbered 720 in public brand materials. Treat any listing that uses that number as unverified.