Items Tagged With Breitling

Breitling fakes have traditionally been easy to spot. Most of these examples are simple to spot as a replica when examined next to the genuine article. More recently some Breitling fakes have improved substantially in quality and materials. Navitimers and Chrono Avengers in particular have had some more credible fakes show up in recent memory.

The Avenger is one of the first Breitlings to be replicated with any success.  Most previous Breitling replicas were quartz and very easy to detect.  This example uses an Asian copy of the ETA 7750 movement, which is very similar to the movement used by Breitling.  It gives the watch accurate functionality.

Also replicated better than previous examples is the heft of the case.  As with most Breitlings this counterfeit is a heavy piece of machinery.  It even has the Breitling engravings proper to the model.  The places where it slips up are in the quality of the band and the general fit and finish (the bezel isn't as tight as a genuine on this example).

With the advent of the Asian copy of the ETA 7750 many chronograph replicas have been introduced recently.  Breitling, which has resisted accurate replicas, has several of their models copied.  The Navitimer series is a good example of these new Breitling counterfeits. 

Using a modified version of the 7750 these watches position the subdials correctly, but the date wheel's offset is a good giveaway.

Here is another example of how replica Breitling watches have improved in just 12 months. This fake Breitling Seawolf has a very accurate case, and for once a replica has an accurate date wheel. The watch even has the Breitling "B" engraved at the 10-o'clock position on the bezel, just as the genuine watch has.

Replica Breitlings, no matter how accurate they may be, still suffer from several major flaws. The biggest flaw is the lack of a convincing anti-reflective coating on the crystal. Look also for inaccurate model numbers on the case back.