Short answer
A watch sold as a Breguet 5445 is counterfeit when its case number, movement caliber, and dial details do not match Breguet records. Confirm the reference on Breguet's own site first. If the number does not appear in the brand catalog, ask the seller to name the caliber, the case diameter in millimeters, and the year of production. Sellers of copies rarely answer all three.
Check the caseback before anything else
Breguet engraves the case number on the caseback rim, and the same number repeats on the certificate. On copies the engraving is shallow, cut by laser, or stamped with uneven depth. Real engraving has a polished floor and sharp edges under 10x magnification. Look at the hallmarks too. Gold cases carry a metal purity stamp.
Movement
Breguet builds its own calibers in Switzerland. Bridges carry Geneva stripes, blued screws, and the Breguet name. Copy watches use bought-in movements from Seagull, Hangzhou, or Miyota plants. Common tells: no caliber number anywhere, a plastic movement ring, a rotor with printed text instead of engraved text, and a balance running at 21,600 vph.
Dial and hands
Breguet hands have a pomme tip and an open eccentric circle near the point. Copies cast them solid. Engine-turned guilloche on a real dial is cut with a rose engine. Copies print or stamp the pattern, and the lines look flat when the dial turns under light. Print quality on the subdial numbers is another tell. Real printing is crisp at 10x.
Price
Authentic Breguet Classique models sell new from about $20,000. Copies sell from $150 to $600. A gold Breguet listed at $1,500 is not a bargain. A Breguet listed at $600 is not a discount.
Papers, box, and service record
Ask for the certificate number, the service history, and the original invoice. Numbers on the certificate, caseback, and movement must agree. Copies ship with a generic box and no service record. Some copy sellers print a certificate with a number that matches the watch. That proves nothing on its own.
Checks before you pay
- Photograph the caseback at 10x.
- Ask for the caliber number and a movement photo.
- Get the case diameter in millimeters.
- Have an independent watchmaker open the case.
- Verify the serial at Breguet or an authorized dealer.
Limits of this guide
Prices move. Published specs for reference 5445 differ between listings, so treat any single spec sheet as a starting point. Confirm case size, caliber, and dial layout with Breguet before you compare a watch to photos.