A replica Breguet 7787BB is a copy of Breguet's Classique 7787 moon-phase in white gold, and the versions worth a second look are separated by four details: the dial surface, whether the moon phase and power reserve actually work, the 39 mm case profile, and the finishing visible through the caseback. Cheapest versions fail on the moon phase first, because a true 29.5-day cycle is costly to reproduce.
What the Breguet 7787BB actually is
The 7787 sits in Breguet's Classique line, the dress-watch family that carries the brand's historical codes: a thin round case, straight lugs, a finely printed or enamelled dial, and Breguet hands with the hollow pomme circle near the tip. The reference uses a grand feu enamel dial with a moon-phase aperture and a power-reserve sector, a layout that reads clean at a glance and complicated under a loupe.
The letters in the reference code matter. In Breguet's system, BB indicates white gold, BA denotes yellow gold, and BR denotes rose gold. So a 7787BB is the white-gold version, which is why replica listings use that exact suffix even when the metal underneath is plated steel.
Why the 7787 is harder to copy than a sports watch
Steel sports watches hide flaws well: brushing, bezel inserts and rubber straps are forgiving. A thin gold dress watch with an enamel dial is not.
- Enamel dial. Grand feu enamel is fired, slightly uneven and deep in a way lacquer cannot match. Copies usually use lacquer or a printed pattern under gloss.
- Moon phase. A genuine moon-phase disc advances once per day through a 29.5-day cycle. Many replicas use a 24-hour day and night disc or a decorative printed wheel.
- Power reserve. The sector should respond to winding. Plenty of replicas have a hand that never moves.
- Case thinness. Dress-watch proportions leave no room to hide a thick movement. Extra millimeters show at the wrist and in profile photos.
- Metal colour and weight. White gold has a warm grey tone and real heft. Plated steel reads cooler and feels lighter in the hand.
Checks to run before you pay
- Ask for photos of the exact watch, not catalogue renders. Look at the dial edge, the lug profile and the caseback engraving.
- Request a short video of the moon phase being set, then a clip showing whether the disc moves on its own after 24 hours.
- Wind the watch fully and watch the power-reserve hand travel across the sector.
- Compare the case diameter and thickness against the published genuine figures. Anything noticeably thicker is a giveaway under a cuff.
- Study the hands up close. Breguet hands are delicate, and the moon hand should be slender with a clean tip.
- Inspect the dial for the secret signature, the faintly etched mark Breguet hides in the dial design. Replicas rarely render it convincingly.
- Ask about servicing and parts. A replica movement is not interchangeable with a genuine calibre, so any repair means finding a watchmaker willing to work on it.
How replica tiers usually break down
Listings for a replica breguet 7787bb generally fall into three rough groups. The budget group is mostly cosmetic: a stamped dial, a non-working moon aperture and a case that is visibly too thick. The middle group adds a functioning complication, often a simplified day and night disc presented as a moon phase, plus basic movement decoration. The upper group aims at the real layout with a closer case profile, a better enamel-style dial and a moon disc that tracks the lunar cycle, and prices climb with each step.
None of these tiers matches the genuine watch, and sellers who promise a perfect match are describing marketing, not watchmaking.
Legal and practical caveats
Replica watches carry real risk beyond quality. Import and sale rules vary by country and customs seizures happen. There is no manufacturer warranty, water resistance is often untested despite what the caseback says, and resale value is close to zero. Treat a replica breguet 7787bb as an inexpensive way to enjoy a classic dial design, not as an investment or a substitute for the original.
The honest summary: the 7787BB rewards close inspection, and a replica only holds up if the moon phase, power reserve and dial finish survive a hands-on check. Verify those three, and you will avoid the worst of what the market offers.