The top pick in the replica Breguet 7787 field is a high-tier build with a 39 mm case, a guilloché dial that shifts under light the way the original does, and a moon phase plus power reserve that both actually run. That pick is defined by five checks: case proportions, dial finishing, whether the complications function, movement decoration, and the strap and buckle. A 7787 replica can look convincing in a listing photo and still disappoint on the wrist, so the checks below matter more than the marketing copy.

What the Genuine Breguet 7787 Is

The 7787 sits in the Breguet Classique line. It is a 39 mm gold dress watch with a self-winding movement, a moon phase display, and a power reserve indicator. The dial uses guilloché, Roman numerals, and blued steel Breguet hands. The case has welded lugs and a fluted caseband. Breguet lists the calibre as the 591 DRL, a thin automatic with a 38-hour power reserve and a 28,800 vph beat rate.

Those numbers give you the target. A replica that runs 41 mm wide, sits 13 mm tall, or reduces the moon phase to a printed disc misses the point of the reference.

Criterion 1: Case Size and Silhouette

Case diameter, thickness, lug shape, and bezel width decide whether the watch reads as a dress piece or as a bulky sport watch with a Roman numeral dial.

Pros

  • 39 mm diameter and roughly 10 to 11 mm thickness keep the profile close to the genuine reference
  • Straight welded lugs and a thin bezel leave more room for the dial
  • Fluted caseband catches light along the sides the way the original does

Cons

  • Many replicas stretch to 40 or 41 mm, which changes the whole character
  • Thick cases push the watch off the wrist and look wrong under a cuff
  • Oversized crowns and polished lugs that should be brushed are common

Best for: buyers with wrists between 6.5 and 7.5 inches who want a dress watch that slips under a shirt sleeve.

Criterion 2: Dial Work and Guilloché

The dial is where the 7787 lives or dies. Real guilloché is cut into the metal. Cheap versions print a pattern and hope the photo hides it.

Pros

  • Engraved guilloché shows depth and changes with the angle of light
  • Printed Roman numerals are crisp, evenly spaced, and correctly weighted
  • Blued hands have a deep, even tone instead of a painted blue finish
  • The moon phase disc shows a gradient sky rather than a flat sticker

Cons

  • Flat printed patterns look like wallpaper up close
  • Thick or bleeding numerals are the first sign of a low-tier dial
  • Mismatched hand lengths and uneven subdial printing are hard to unsee

Best for: anyone who will handle the watch indoors under normal light, where dial texture is visible at arm's length.

Criterion 3: Moon Phase and Power Reserve Function

A 7787 has two displays that can be faked with paint. Ask whether they move.

Pros

  • A working moon phase advances through its cycle instead of sitting on one image
  • A live power reserve sector tracks the mainspring as it winds down
  • Correct adjustment through the crown or a recessed corrector keeps the case clean

Cons

  • Decorative subdials that never move are the biggest failure point in this reference
  • Stiff correctors or glued-on discs suggest a module added over a base movement
  • Moon phase that drifts or jumps two days at once points to a poor gear train

Best for: buyers who want the complication to work, not just appear.

Criterion 4: Movement and Decoration

You may rarely see the movement, but its finish tells you what tier you bought.

Pros

  • Côtes de Genève stripes on the rotor and bridges, with perlage on the base plate
  • Blued screws and engraved lettering that match the reference layout
  • 28,800 vph beat rate, which gives a smooth sweep and accurate timekeeping

Cons

  • Plain, undecorated rotors and stamped engraving
  • Rotors that rattle or spin with a loud whine
  • No hacking, which makes setting the moon phase and time awkward

Best for: collectors who open the caseback and care about what is inside.

Criterion 5: Strap, Buckle, and Caseback

Small hardware details separate a finished watch from a kit.

Pros

  • Leather with a fine, natural grain and a soft break-in
  • Pin buckle with clean edges, correct proportions, and even plating
  • Caseback engraving with readable text and consistent depth

Cons

  • Stiff synthetic straps that crease and crack within weeks
  • Undersized or oversized buckles that do not match the lug width
  • Shallow laser etching that fades or wraps around the caseback edge

Best for: buyers who plan to wear the watch daily and want the strap to survive more than a season.

A Short Buying Checklist

  1. Confirm the case measures 39 mm and stays under about 11 mm thick.
  2. Ask for a video of the moon phase and power reserve in motion.
  3. Request close-up photos of the dial at an angle and of the caseback.
  4. Check the movement photos for stripes, blued screws, and clean engraving.
  5. Verify the strap width matches the lug width before you order.

Bottom Line

If you want one recommendation, choose a 7787 replica with a 39 mm case, an engraved guilloché dial, and two complications that function. Skip any listing where the moon phase is painted on or the case runs over 40 mm. For a dress watch worn a few times a week, that combination gives you the closest match to the Breguet Classique reference without carrying the compromises of the cheapest tier.