Quick answer
The Villeret 6659 is a reference from Blancpain's Villeret line, a round dress watch family known for a slim case, a stepped bezel, applied or roman hour markers, and calendar complications. A replica Villeret 6659 is a third-party copy built to look like that reference. Copies range from crude quartz models to automatic versions with a working complete calendar and moon phase. What separates a passable copy from a poor one is dial print quality, case proportions, and whether the movement actually drives the calendar correctly. Because the reference is a trademarked product, buying and reselling a copy carries legal risk in the United States.
What to confirm before you judge any copy
You cannot evaluate a replica without knowing the real watch. Verify these details against Blancpain's published catalog first.
- Full reference number, including the metal and dial code suffix.
- Case diameter and thickness in millimeters.
- Movement type, and whether the calendar is complete or annual.
- Dial layout, aperture positions, and moon phase placement.
How to inspect a replica Villeret 6659
- Ask the seller for the full reference and compare it to Blancpain's own catalog before anything else.
- Measure the case with calipers and write down the diameter and thickness.
- Put the dial under a 10x loupe and check that markers sit flush and printing has no bleed or fuzz.
- Look at the calendar windows and confirm the day, date, and month sit centered inside their apertures.
- Advance the calendar through a full month and confirm each disc snaps forward and lands evenly.
- Set the moon phase and watch the disc for one step per lunar day instead of a jump.
- Open the caseback and inspect the rotor, bridges, and engraving for tool marks and uneven finishing.
- Wind the crown and turn the hands through several full rotations to feel for grit or a loose stem.
- Ask what movement sits inside and whether a local watchmaker will service it.
Common tells on a low-grade copy
- A case that is too thick for the dial size, which pushes the watch off the wrist.
- Calendar windows cut at different depths, one sunk and one flush.
- A moon phase disc printed flat in a single color instead of a textured one.
- Hands with a brushed finish where the genuine piece is polished, or the reverse.
- Caseback engraving that is shallow, off-center, or in the wrong typeface.
Legal and practical notes for US buyers
A watch that carries a brand's trademark without authorization is a counterfeit good. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments, and the USPTO states that trafficking in counterfeits brings civil and criminal penalties. Reselling a copy as genuine is fraud in every state. If you want the look of the Villeret 6659 without the legal exposure, buy an unbranded dress watch with a similar layout and a serviceable movement instead. If you already own a replica, keep it, but do not sell it, do not send it to a brand service center, and do not ship it across a border.