The Patek Philippe 7118/1A-001 is a 35.2 mm steel Nautilus with a blue opaline dial. No replica matches it. Copies sold for $300 to $1,200 use a thicker case, a flat printed dial, and a third-party movement. The genuine watch runs caliber 324 S C and carries a Patek Philippe Seal. A side-by-side check of the case, the dial grooves, and the caseback engraving shows the gap fast.
This guide lists the real specs, the points where fakes fail, and the US law on counterfeit watch sales.
Genuine 7118/1A-001: Key Specs
- Reference: 7118/1A-001, Nautilus, stainless steel.
- Case: 35.2 mm wide, 8.62 mm thick, sapphire crystal front and back.
- Dial: blue opaline with a horizontal embossed pattern, white gold applied numerals, luminescent coating.
- Movement: caliber 324 S C, self-winding, 28,800 vph, 45-hour power reserve, Gyromax balance, Spiromax hairspring.
- Water resistance: 60 m.
- Bracelet: integrated steel, brushed outer links, polished center links, fold-over clasp with the Calatrava cross.
- Price: Patek lists the 7118/1A-001 above $35,000. Retail and grey market prices move, so confirm with a dealer.
Where Fakes Fail
- Case thickness. Replicas measure 9.5 mm to 10.5 mm. The genuine case is 8.62 mm. A caliper settles the question.
- Dial. Fake blue is flat paint over a printed grid. The real dial has raised horizontal grooves and shifts tone as light moves.
- Date window. Fake date wheels sit off center and use a wide font. Genuine numerals are thin and tall.
- Movement. Copies carry a Miyota 9015, a Seagull, or a decorated Chinese auto. There is no Gyromax balance and no Patek seal.
- Bracelet. Fake center links are plated brass or steel. End links rattle against the case. Genuine links flex with no play.
- Caseback. Engraving depth, font, and spacing differ. Serial numbers on fakes return no record from Patek.
- Crown. The genuine crown carries the Calatrava cross in relief. Most fakes stamp a shallow copy.
Papers, Serial, and Service
Genuine 7118 watches ship with a certificate and a serial on the caseback. Patek Philippe in Geneva issues an Extract from the Archives for a fee. Service in the US runs through the Henri Stern Watch Agency in New York. A fake fails intake because the movement does not match any Patek record.
Legal Status in the United States
Trafficking counterfeit goods violates 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and fines. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments and destroys them. A buyer who pays for a seized fake gets no refund and no watch.
Red Flags in Listings
- "1:1" or "super clone" wording with no movement photo.
- Price under $1,500 for a steel Nautilus.
- Stock photos only. No photo of the caseback serial.
- Wire or crypto payment with no escrow.
- Seller claims a Swiss movement, but the rotor photo shows a Miyota stamp.