Answer first
A fake Villeret complete calendar is a replica of the Blancpain Villeret Complete Calendar, reference 6654. The genuine watch has a 40 mm case, an in-house calibre 6654 automatic movement, day and month apertures below 12 o'clock, a blued serpentine date hand on an outer track, and a moon phase at 6 o'clock. Replicas copy the dial layout and the case shape. Most run a Chinese automatic movement with a bolt-on calendar module. A small number copy the movement layout.
What a complete calendar does
A complete calendar shows the day, the date, and the month on the dial. It runs on a 31-day cycle. The owner sets it forward by hand after February and after each 30-day month. An annual calendar needs one correction each year. A perpetual calendar handles leap years on its own. Blancpain's calibre 6654 uses a serpentine date hand instead of a date window. The hand travels a track of printed numerals around the dial edge.
How replicas are built
Three tiers show up in the market.
- Quartz tier, under about $150. Subdials are printed or driven by a simple gear. The moon phase disc turns once per day, so the moon and stars swap in about 12 hours.
- Automatic tier, $200 to $400. A Chinese automatic movement carries a calendar module. Day and month discs work. The date hand points to the wrong part of the track at some positions.
- Clone tier, $500 and up. The factory copies the 6654 calendar layout, the moon phase gear ratio, and the rotor engraving. Case finishing sits closer to the genuine watch.
Prices move with factory batches. Any quoted price is a snapshot, not a fixed number.
Moon phase
The genuine moon phase advances one tooth on a 29.5-day cycle. A test: set the disc to full moon, wait seven days, and look again. A 29.5-day disc moves about one quarter of a turn. A 24-hour disc makes seven full turns in the same week.
Case and crystal
The genuine case measures 40 mm across and carries sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both faces. Replica cases run thick, in the region of 12 mm and above. Some use mineral glass on the front. Lugs on copies carry less bevel and a softer edge.
Details that fail
- Serpentine date hand. Genuine is blued steel with a curved tail. Copies look flat and stamped.
- Day and month discs. Font weight and letter spacing differ from the genuine print.
- Moon phase aperture. The cutout shape is wider or narrower, and the moon face carries no engraved detail.
- Rotor engraving. Text depth, jewel count, and calibre number. Copies use shallow laser etch.
- Dial print. "Blancpain" and "Automatique" sit at the wrong height or use a heavier serif.
- Date track numerals. Copies print them at the wrong radius, so the hand misses the mark.
US legal status
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 2320. US Customs and Border Protection can seize a shipment at the port. The trademark owner can sue a seller for damages. Buying for personal use is a separate matter from import and resale, and the exposure sits with the seller and the importer.
Questions for a seller
- Does the moon phase run on 29.5 days or 24 hours?
- What is the measured case diameter and thickness?
- Can you send photos of the rotor, the caseback, and the date track?
- Which movement sits inside, and what does the warranty cover?
What copies cannot do
No replica carries Blancpain servicing, parts, or resale value. Genuine calibre 6654 watches hold price. Copies lose most of their value the moment they leave the seller. Buyers who want a calendar function on a budget do better with a used watch from a brand that sells calendar models at lower prices.