Short answer
Breguet reference 7787 is a Classique moon phase with a power reserve sector. It is not a tourbillon. A listing that says "replica Breguet tourbillon 7787" merges two separate things: the 7787 case and a tourbillon movement that Breguet does not put in that case. Breguet tourbillon references sit in other families, including the 3357, 5317 and 5347. Buyers who search this phrase are looking at two markets at once, and sellers use the word "tourbillon" for search traffic.
Genuine 7787 specs
- Case: 39 mm diameter, about 10.2 mm thick, 18k rose or white gold, welded lugs
- Movement: caliber 591 DRL, automatic winding, 38-hour power reserve, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph
- Dial: grand feu enamel, moon phase aperture at 6 o'clock, power reserve arc at 12 o'clock
- Crystal: sapphire front and back, 30 m water resistance
- Strap: alligator leather with a gold buckle
- Retail: authorized dealer listings fall in the mid five figures in USD
The dial has no tourbillon aperture. A tourbillon cage cannot be shown through a closed enamel dial with a moon phase cutout.
What a tourbillon would change
A real tourbillon adds a rotating cage, a higher jewel count, and a price step of tens of thousands of dollars. Replica sellers attach the term to plain moon phase cases to widen search reach. If a listing shows a 7787 dial and claims a tourbillon, the movement and the dial do not match.
Replica versions: common builds
- Case: 39 mm steel or gold-plated brass, heavier than the genuine 18k case in some builds, lighter in others
- Movement: Chinese automatic, Swiss-pattern clone, or quartz in the cheapest builds
- Moon phase: a printed disc on a 24-hour cycle instead of the 29-day lunar cycle
- Dial: lacquer or printed substitute, not fired enamel
- Price: about $80 to $600, set by movement and finishing
Weight, engraving depth on the caseback, and the moon phase speed are the usual tells. Genuine 7787 dials are fired enamel over metal. Replica dials are painted.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches carry Breguet trademarks without permission. Importing them is prohibited under 19 U.S.C. 1526, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes parcels, including single-item shipments. Selling them exposes the seller to civil claims under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1114, with damages and inventory destruction as remedies. Resale and service are limited because no authorized Breguet service center will work on a counterfeit. Parts supply and warranty do not exist for these builds.
Checklist before buying any 7787
- Ask which reference the seller matches: 7787BR, 7787BB, or an invented one.
- Ask the movement name and beat rate. 21,600 vph or quartz is not the 591 DRL.
- Ask the moon phase cycle length. Genuine: 29 days, 12 hours, 45 minutes.
- Ask for photos of the caseback engraving and the movement.
- Ask about returns and the shipping carrier. Carriers do not refund seized parcels.
What is not known
Replica production varies by batch, so movement and case specs from one seller do not transfer to another. No public data exists on the number of 7787 replicas in circulation.