If you would’ve told me six months ago that I’d pass on a Breguet Type XX in favor of an AAA fake Omega UK . . . well . . . let’s not even go there. What changed my mind? Granted (IMHO), the silver-dial 1:1 replica Omega De Ville Chronoscope Chronograph on stainless steel bracelet is just plain gorgeous. In terms of sheer aesthetics, it ticks all the right boxes (again, at least for me).
Quite a resumé! Problem was, most of the pieces that utilized the movement were slightly beyond my budget. Then my research led me to yet another caliber: the Swiss movement fake Omega 3313. Excuse me, did you say “Omega?” YES, OMEGA!
Turns out the Omega 3313 – the very same movement housed within the cheap replica Omega De Ville Chronoscope’s elegantly sculpted case – uses the slightly more robust, higher-beat heir to the much-vaunted Frédéric Piguet Caliber 1185, the 1285.
Throw in a free-sprung balance and C.O.S.C. chronometer certification along with Swiss made replica Omega’s groundbreaking Co-Axial escapement and – to paraphrase WatchBox’s own Tim Mosso – you’ve got yourself a bit of indie watchmaking in an otherwise mass-produced offering. A touch of haute horlogerie at a mid-tier price. The perfect union of classic and high-tech.
So I bought a perfect fake Omega.
Stumbling upon Breguet many years ago marked a turning point in my journey as a collector. Owning the high quality replica Omega De Ville Chronoscope Chronograph marks yet another. I think old Abraham-Louis would approve.
Quick Facts Fake Omega De Ville Chronoscope Chronograph (2006)
Case: 41 x 12.9 mm, stainless steel
Movement: automatic Caliber 3313 (Frédéric Piguet Caliber 1285 base) with Co-Axial escapement and free-sprung balance, 52-hour power reserve, officially C.O.S.C. chronometer-certified, 28,800 vph/4 Hz frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; date, chronograph