First and foremost, this is a rep that I have purchased back in the days, specifically 2009, from an online dealer that is long gone unfortunately. When I got it, I had no idea of existence of forums like these, nor that there is a community that helps each other. so when I got it with the rep strap, I had no idea that there are options, so I stuck to the cheap rep strap that was the wrong color to begin with, and made the watch screams fake to me when i wore the watch. Little I knew, that replacing the strap with the high end Camille Fournet strap will transform the watch completely. The watch sat in my watch box for years collecting dust. As a matter of fact, I was going to put it for sale, and mind as well say sell it for dirt cheap, as I haven't been wearing it at all, but the other day, I got it out to take some pics for the M2M section, when my wife saw it on the table, and picked it up and was mesmerized by it. it is a classic look that I have been leaning towards lately, I don't know if it's the age or what.. but she convinced me to stop the sale, ( they usually convince you to sell as you know) and just to try and find another strap for it. this is where a light bulb was lit on top of my head and thought of a Camille Fournet strap. after all, Camille Fournet is the company that Breguet commissions to make the straps for that very watch.
so here we are today.. a full review on the watch.. I would like to begin with a little intro on the genuine Breguet Classique Automatic 5177BR/12/9V6 in Rose Gold.
Classique wristwatch in 18-carat rose gold. Self-winding movement with date. Balance spring, lever and escape wheel in silicon. Silvered gold dial, hand-engraved on a rose engine. Sapphire case back. Water-resistant to 3 bar ( 30 m ). Diameter : 38 mm. Also in yellow or white gold. Available with gold bracelet. Also with white grand feu enamel dial, Breguet Arabic numerals and Secret signature.
Case Metal: Rose gold
Diameter (mm): 38
Case thickness (mm): 8,8
Dial Color: Silvered Gold Dial
Lug (mm): 20mm
Buckle (mm): 16mm
Now we come to the replica Classique Automatic 5177BR/12/9V6
The below pics are taken when I decided to sell it, so it carries the old rep strap (for great comparison with the gen and the new strap).
Few flaws are obvious to the ones who are familiar to this particular watch. From far away, I would say it is hard to spot them, maybe perhaps the dial (white) champagne color in comparison with white (silver), but it's very subjective to light to tell you the truth, also perhaps the date window and the date font is the biggest tell on this model. But the other tells, you need to have the watch in a close proximity to be able to spot them.. things like seconds hand is a tad too short to the gen. and there is a very very tiny engravings "Secret signature" on both sides of the 12 o'clock mark. (the XII) and the buckle is Breguet, but I think it's form another model (I really don't care much for that anyway).
When I purchased it, I was discouraged by the stones on the side, the gen doesn't carry them, and I asked the dealer if there is a possibility to not have them, he confirmed that there is no possibility to take them off before sending the watch. so I had to make my peace with it. but honestly, what I like about them is that they do give the illusion that the watch is thinner, which makes it closer to gen in this case. and they are very subtle on the wrist.
So after contacting Camille Fournet, I only had to give them the watch reference, they have the exact measurement and color on file, it was so easy, I sent an email with the 5177BR/12/9V6 reference, and the gentleman immediately sent me the full specs of the strap for that particular watch from color to thickness, to full size. I mean he even told me that the original watch comes with matt not shiny just in case I didn't know that. it was great. the only thing I had to be careful about is to have my rep measured first, as we know by now that reps could differ in size when it comes to straps. and that's exactly what happened. The gen is 20mmX16mm. after sizing mine, I found it 20mmX18mm. so when I placed the order, I went custom for sure, but I changed this one piece of information to have the right size strap.
Today I got the strap, and took the time on my break to practice some strap changing.. and the pics below are the result of having the correct strap on the watch.. honestly, I think it has transformed the watch. and now the watch is ready for more wrist time.
Ok, on to the measurements, and comparing it to the gen specs above...
now to reconfirm the measurements:
Case Metal: Rose gold plated
Diameter (mm): 39
Case thickness (mm): including crystal 10.5, excluding the crystal 9.2
Dial Color: Champagne Dial
Lug (mm): 20mm
Buckle (mm): 18mm
I hope this review is informative. I think this rep is one of the best out there. very simple, and flaws that I can live with.. what I like about this brand is that it is still low key, and not too many people know it, and even if they do, they don't know the details of each watch to spot flaws far away like the APs and the Rolexes and the Pateks..
with this, I would like to conclude this with few nice wrist shots with the Breguet spec Camille Fournet strap
so here we are today.. a full review on the watch.. I would like to begin with a little intro on the genuine Breguet Classique Automatic 5177BR/12/9V6 in Rose Gold.
Classique wristwatch in 18-carat rose gold. Self-winding movement with date. Balance spring, lever and escape wheel in silicon. Silvered gold dial, hand-engraved on a rose engine. Sapphire case back. Water-resistant to 3 bar ( 30 m ). Diameter : 38 mm. Also in yellow or white gold. Available with gold bracelet. Also with white grand feu enamel dial, Breguet Arabic numerals and Secret signature.
Case Metal: Rose gold
Diameter (mm): 38
Case thickness (mm): 8,8
Dial Color: Silvered Gold Dial
Lug (mm): 20mm
Buckle (mm): 16mm
Now we come to the replica Classique Automatic 5177BR/12/9V6
The below pics are taken when I decided to sell it, so it carries the old rep strap (for great comparison with the gen and the new strap).
Few flaws are obvious to the ones who are familiar to this particular watch. From far away, I would say it is hard to spot them, maybe perhaps the dial (white) champagne color in comparison with white (silver), but it's very subjective to light to tell you the truth, also perhaps the date window and the date font is the biggest tell on this model. But the other tells, you need to have the watch in a close proximity to be able to spot them.. things like seconds hand is a tad too short to the gen. and there is a very very tiny engravings "Secret signature" on both sides of the 12 o'clock mark. (the XII) and the buckle is Breguet, but I think it's form another model (I really don't care much for that anyway).
When I purchased it, I was discouraged by the stones on the side, the gen doesn't carry them, and I asked the dealer if there is a possibility to not have them, he confirmed that there is no possibility to take them off before sending the watch. so I had to make my peace with it. but honestly, what I like about them is that they do give the illusion that the watch is thinner, which makes it closer to gen in this case. and they are very subtle on the wrist.
So after contacting Camille Fournet, I only had to give them the watch reference, they have the exact measurement and color on file, it was so easy, I sent an email with the 5177BR/12/9V6 reference, and the gentleman immediately sent me the full specs of the strap for that particular watch from color to thickness, to full size. I mean he even told me that the original watch comes with matt not shiny just in case I didn't know that. it was great. the only thing I had to be careful about is to have my rep measured first, as we know by now that reps could differ in size when it comes to straps. and that's exactly what happened. The gen is 20mmX16mm. after sizing mine, I found it 20mmX18mm. so when I placed the order, I went custom for sure, but I changed this one piece of information to have the right size strap.
Today I got the strap, and took the time on my break to practice some strap changing.. and the pics below are the result of having the correct strap on the watch.. honestly, I think it has transformed the watch. and now the watch is ready for more wrist time.
Ok, on to the measurements, and comparing it to the gen specs above...
now to reconfirm the measurements:
Case Metal: Rose gold plated
Diameter (mm): 39
Case thickness (mm): including crystal 10.5, excluding the crystal 9.2
Dial Color: Champagne Dial
Lug (mm): 20mm
Buckle (mm): 18mm
I hope this review is informative. I think this rep is one of the best out there. very simple, and flaws that I can live with.. what I like about this brand is that it is still low key, and not too many people know it, and even if they do, they don't know the details of each watch to spot flaws far away like the APs and the Rolexes and the Pateks..
with this, I would like to conclude this with few nice wrist shots with the Breguet spec Camille Fournet strap
