How to spot a fake Breitling watch: 9 tips to identify an authentic one

According to estimates from luxury trading platforms, over 30–40% of high-end watches resold on the market are at risk of being fake or having replaced components. Famous brands like Breitling are often counterfeited with great sophistication, making it difficult for many buyers to distinguish if only seen through images.

Therefore, knowing how to distinguish real from fake Breitling watches is an important skill before deciding to purchase a valuable timepiece. By simply grasping a few distinctive details in design, finishing quality, and the movement inside, you can identify genuine Breitling watches and avoid losing money on fakes.

In this article, you will learn important signs that help you check for genuine Breitling watches, from the logo, dial, hands, to the finish of the case and strap. These practical tips help you quickly distinguish real from fake Breitling watches, even when buying online or purchasing pre-owned watches.

Part 1: Identifying fake Breitling watches by the dial

Tip 1: Identifying real vs. fake Breitling logos

Examine the logo on the watch dial

• The logo is the first detail to check when distinguishing real from fake Breitling watches.

• Most genuine Breitling watches use one of two logo styles:

  • Anchor symbol nestled between wings.

  • Stylized "B" characteristic of the brand.

• The logo is usually placed centrally above the dial or sometimes slightly off-center depending on the design of each watch line.

• Below the logo, the word Breitling may appear, printed very sharply and symmetrically.

Check the finish quality of the logo

• When checking for genuine Breitling, pay attention to the sharpness of the logo.

• Genuine watches typically have two types of logos:

  • Logo printed directly on the dial with extremely clear printing.

  • Raised metal logo (applied logo), creating depth and sophistication.

• Suspicious signs of a fake Breitling often include:

  • Logo that is too large for the dial.

  • Lines that are blurry, faded, or lacking detail.

  • Symbol printed crookedly or unevenly.

Check the anchor symbol on the second hand

• A small detail often mentioned when identifying genuine Breitling watches is the small anchor symbol on the counterbalance of the second hand.

• However, it's important to note:

  • Not all Breitling watches have this detail.

  • Some models like the Breitling Colt A17350 completely lack the anchor symbol but are still genuine.

• Therefore, one should not conclude a Breitling watch is fake solely because it lacks the anchor symbol on the second hand. Authentication requires combining many other details such as the dial, case, movement, and serial number.

Practical tips for checking Breitling watches

• When applying the method to distinguish real from fake Breitling watches, check the logo under good light or with a magnifying glass.

• Genuine watches always have a very high level of finishing, with small details like the logo or printed text being sharp.

• If the logo looks rough, lacks sophistication, or is not proportionate, it is highly likely a fake Breitling or a watch with a replaced dial.

Tip 2: Identifying the date display on Breitling watches

Understand the functions of the subdials correctly

• When applying the method to distinguish real from fake Breitling watches, examine the small subdials located below the Breitling logo.

• Most Breitling watches belong to the chronograph category, meaning they have a sport stopwatch function.

• Therefore, the subdials on genuine Breitling watches are usually used to display:

  • Chronograph seconds

  • Chronograph minutes

  • Chronograph hours

• These subdials are not used to display the day of the week or the month.

Check the date display position

• If the watch has a date function, genuine Breitling watches always display it in a separate date window.

• This date window is usually located in common positions such as:

  • 3 o'clock

  • 4:30 o'clock

• The date number is printed clearly, symmetrically, and legibly, not within the subdials.

Common signs of fake Breitling watches

• When checking for real vs. fake Breitling watches, be wary if you see:

  • Day of the week (Mon, Tue…) appearing in a subdial

  • Month (Jan, Feb…) displayed in a subdial

  • Subdials displaying the date instead of chronograph functions

• This is a common flaw in fake Breitling watches, as many counterfeit manufacturers use generic movements with built-in day and month calendars.

Practical tips for checking

• Before concluding, look up the specifications of the exact Breitling model as each series has different designs.

• If you see the date displayed in a subdial instead of a separate date window, it is highly likely that it is not a genuine Breitling watch.

Tip 3: Check for spelling errors on Breitling watches

Examine all text on the dial and case back

• An important step in distinguishing real from fake Breitling watches is to carefully check the text on the dial and case back.

• Genuine Breitling watches are made in Switzerland, so common phrases like:

  • Swiss Made

  • Chronometre Certifie

  • Manufacture en Suisse

• All text on genuine watches is printed extremely accurately, spelled correctly, and evenly.

Check the quality of text printing

• When identifying genuine Breitling watches, pay attention to the sharpness of the printed text.

• On genuine watches, the text usually has the following characteristics:

  • Thin but very clear lettering

  • Even spacing between characters

  • No smudged or blurry ink

• In contrast, fake Breitling watches often show signs of:

  • Text that is faded or jagged

  • Misaligned or uneven printing

  • Look closely for pixelated effects or ink smudges.

Beware of common spelling errors

• Many fake watches make mistakes spelling Swiss or French words incorrectly.

• Examples may include:

  • Missing letters in the phrase Swiss Made

  • Incorrect spelling of the word Chronometre

  • Misspellings in the engraved information on the case back.

Practical experience when authenticating

• Because the text on Breitling watches can be in Swiss or French, buyers sometimes find it difficult to immediately spot spelling errors.

• The safest way is to compare it with images of the same genuine Breitling model from the brand's website or a reputable source.

• If you find misspelled words, faint text, or poor print quality, it is highly likely to be a fake Breitling watch.

Tip 4: Recognize open-heart Breitlings

Beware of open-heart designs

• When applying how to distinguish real from fake Breitling watches, pay attention if the watch dial has an open-heart design – meaning a part of the movement can be seen.

• This design often reveals the escapement, the part that regulates the movement of a mechanical watch.

• However, in Breitling's product catalog, there are almost no popular open-heart watch models.

Rare exceptions for Breitling

• Breitling has only ever produced one extremely rare open-heart watch model, the Breitling for Bentley Mulliner.

• The quantity of this line is very limited and almost exclusively appears in high-end collections.

Common signs of fake Breitling

• If you see a watch with the Breitling logo but:

  • The dial has a large open-heart window

  • The balance wheel or escapement can be seen operating

• It is highly likely to be a fake Breitling watch, as many counterfeit manufacturers often use open-heart designs to create a "luxury" feel.

Practical experience when inspecting

• When checking for genuine Breitling, research the correct watch model before purchasing.

• If the watch has an open-heart design but does not belong to the Breitling for Bentley Mulliner line, you should be cautious and check other authentication details before making a purchase decision.

Tip 5: Observe Breitling hand movement

Check the second hand's movement

• An important step in how to distinguish real from fake Breitling watches is to observe how the second hand moves on the dial.

• Look closely to see if the second hand:

  • Moves smoothly and continuously around the dial.

  • Or jumps in distinct increments each second.

Understand the difference between mechanical and quartz movements

• Genuine Breitling watches use both automatic mechanical movements and quartz movements.

• Each movement type has different characteristics:

  • Breitling automatic: the second hand usually sweeps smoothly and almost continuously, creating a very fluid motion.

  • Breitling quartz: the second hand jumps in distinct steps each second, similar to many other quartz watches.

Compare with watch model information

• When checking for genuine Breitling, confirm the advertised movement type.

• Then compare it with the actual movement of the second hand:

  • If the seller says it's a mechanical watch but the second hand jumps each second, that's a red flag.

  • If they say it's quartz but the second hand sweeps smoothly, you also need to recheck because the information may not be accurate.

Practical experience when authenticating

• Before purchasing, research the specific Breitling model to know the type of movement used.

• Observing the second hand's movement combined with other signs such as the logo, dial, and date will help you identify a genuine Breitling more accurately.

Part 2: Checking Breitling's finish

Tip 1: Check Breitling serial numbers

Find the model and serial number on the watch

• An important step in how to distinguish real from fake Breitling watches is to find the watch's model number and serial number.

• Breitling always engraves this production information on each watch for authentication and traceability.

• Common locations include:

  • On the metal bracelet

  • On the case back of the watch

  • Bill Green Jewelry & Watch Expert

    Bill Green is a jeweler and jewelry appraiser with over 40 years of experience. He is the founder of Jewelry & Timepiece Mechanix and Amaroo Handmade Opal Jewelry in New Jersey, specializing in designing, crafting, and restoring jewelry and timepieces.