A fake Blancpain 5200-0113-52A is a non-genuine watch built to imitate the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe chronograph reference 5200-0113-52A. The reference number is the first filter, because it points to one specific Blancpain configuration, so any listing that uses it should match that configuration in case shape, dial layout, and movement type.

What the reference 5200-0113-52A tells you

Blancpain organizes the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe line as a modern dive watch family, and the 5200 series covers the chronograph versions. Reference 5200-0113-52A pairs a chronograph dial with the Bathyscaphe case. As with other Blancpain references, the characters after the dash carry coding for the case material and the strap or bracelet fitted at the factory, which is why a watch with the wrong suffix is not the same watch even if it looks close.

Because the reference is precise, a genuine piece and a replica of it can look nearly identical in a listing photo. The differences show up in the details: dial print, hand finishing, movement decoration, engraving depth, and the way the chronograph pushers feel when pressed.

Why this reference attracts fakes

• Genuine Blancpain dive chronographs sell well above replica market levels, so the price gap is large.
• The Bathyscaphe case is simple enough for a factory to copy the silhouette without copying the internals.
• Demand for steel and titanium sports watches keeps resale interest high, which pulls counterfeit supply toward popular references.

How to tell a replica from a genuine 5200-0113-52A

Caseback engraving and serial numbers

Look at the depth and line quality of the engraving. Replica casebacks often show shallow, fuzzy, or doubled lettering, and the reference and serial fonts may not match each other. A Blancpain boutique or authorized service center can confirm whether a serial and reference belong together.

Movement and chronograph behavior

A genuine Blancpain chronograph uses an in-house movement with finished bridges, polished screws, and a crisp start, stop, and reset. Replicas run third-party or cloned movements. Press the pushers: a cheap module feels mushy, and the chronograph seconds hand can stutter or reset off the 12 position. Check the rotor engraving through the sapphire back for uneven fill and wrong typefaces.

Dial, hands, and lume

Print on a genuine dial is sharp with consistent stroke width and no ink bleed around the logo. Replica dials tend to have thicker text, uneven spacing, and lume applied past the edges of the markers. Look at the date window if the dial has one: the cut edges should be clean and the disc should sit level.

Crystal, bezel, and feel

Anti-reflective coating on both sides mutes reflections on the genuine watch. Replica crystals often look cloudy or reflect like a mirror. Turn the bezel: it should align at 12 and move without back play or scraping. Then weigh the watch in hand. Titanium and steel pieces have a distinct heft that budget copies rarely match.

Price and packaging clues

Packaging is not proof of anything. Boxes, booklets, and cards are copied widely and sold on their own. What matters more is the price. If a listing claims the reference 5200-0113-52A is available at a small fraction of the genuine secondary market value, it is a replica or an outright scam. Photos in replica listings also often show the genuine watch rather than the piece you would receive.

Is buying a fake Blancpain legal?

Selling or importing counterfeit goods is illegal in the United States, and shipments can be seized at the border. Buyers can also face civil claims from the trademark owner. Beyond the legal side, a replica carries no Blancpain warranty, no service support from the brand, and no collector value. A first copy watch is a costume piece, not an investment.

What to ask before you buy anything

• Ask for photos of the actual watch in hand, not catalog images.
• Ask what movement is inside and whether it is a clone or a generic module.
• Ask about water resistance testing. Assume an untested replica is not safe for swimming, let alone diving.
• Ask about the return window and who pays return shipping.

Bottom line

A fake Blancpain 5200-0113-52A copies the look of a Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe chronograph, but it does not copy the movement, the finishing, or the ownership support. Treat the reference number as your first test, inspect the caseback, dial, and chronograph behavior next, and read the price as the loudest signal of all.