The Short Answer

"Replica Patek Philippe 720" is a seller's label, not an official Patek Philippe model number. Patek Philippe does not publish a reference 720. Listings that use the term are selling a counterfeit watch, usually a copy of a Twenty~4 style piece (the genuine Twenty~4 Automatic carries reference 7200) or a generic dress watch with Patek branding stamped on it. There is no Geneva factory behind it. There is a workshop overseas copying a design that Patek Philippe still owns.

For a buyer in the US, that matters in three ways. The watch is not what it claims to be. Importing it can get it seized and destroyed. Reselling it is a federal crime.

Why the Numbers Are Confusing

Codes in the counterfeit trade are marketing tools, not catalog entries. Sellers rotate them (720, PP720, TW4-720) to dodge takedown requests and to imply a version number that sounds more precise than it is. A code like this tells you almost nothing about the movement, the case alloy, or what actually arrives in the box.

What Actually Shows Up

  • Movement: often a low-cost generic automatic, or a quartz module in the smaller ladies' sizes. There is no service network, no parts channel, and no warranty worth the paper it is printed on.
  • Case and bracelet: 316L steel, with flash plating on two-tone versions. Plating tends to wear through at the clasp and crown within months of daily use.
  • Finishing: stamped casebacks, painted or laser-etched hallmarks, flat printed dial text that falls apart under a loupe.
  • Water resistance: usually unrated in practice. Washing your hands is fine. Swimming is a gamble.
  • Repair: if a crown, link, or clasp fails, you replace the watch, because nobody stocks those parts.

The Legal Picture in the US

Counterfeit watches are illegal to import, sell, or traffic. Customs and Border Protection inspects parcels and can seize and destroy counterfeit merchandise, and the old personal-use exception for a single counterfeit item is gone. Federal law treats trafficking in counterfeit goods as a serious offense with prison exposure and fines, not a paperwork slip. Trademark owners also record their marks with the government so shipments can be intercepted before delivery. You do not get a refund from a seizure. You get a letter.

What the Photos Hide

Seller photos show one hand-picked sample under good light at flattering angles. The tell I look for first is the caseback: genuine Patek hallmarks are crisp, deep, and consistent, while copies are shallow and slightly off-center. What no photo can show you is how the rotor sounds after a year, how much the bracelet stretches, or how the plating looks at the lugs in month eight.

If You Want the Look Without the Risk

You have real options. Pre-owned genuine pieces from a reputable dealer hold value. Homage brands copy the aesthetic without copying the trademark, and they say what they are. A well-made dress watch from Seiko, Tissot, or Longines costs about what a decent counterfeit costs and keeps working. Resale on a fake is near zero, and any pawn shop or dealer who knows watches will spot it in seconds.

Quick Answers

  • Is reference 720 a real Patek Philippe? No. It does not appear in Patek's catalog. The closest familiar reference is the Twenty~4 Automatic, 7200.
  • Can I get one serviced? Practically, no. Authorized watchmakers will not touch it, and independent shops rarely have compatible parts.
  • Will people notice? Some will. Watch enthusiasts check caseback hallmarks, dial printing, and bracelet finishing before anything else.