Quick answer
The Reine de Naples 8918 is a Breguet women's watch. The genuine reference has an oval case of 36.5 mm by 28.45 mm, a caliber 591C automatic movement, a 38-hour power reserve, and 30 m water resistance. A replica Reine de Naples 8918 copies the case outline, the dial layout, and the bezel profile. It does not carry a Breguet movement, it does not use 18k gold in most builds sold under $700, and it is not sold or serviced by Breguet. A replica has no value to a Breguet collector and no place in the Breguet archives.
What the genuine 8918 is
Breguet launched the Reine de Naples line in 2002. The name comes from Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, who placed an order with Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1810. Breguet delivered the watch in 1812. Brand historians call that order the first wristwatch made for a named client.
The 8918 sits in the middle of the line. Its movement is the caliber 591C, a self-winding engine built for a small oval case.
- Case: oval, 36.5 mm x 28.45 mm, 10.05 mm thick
- Movement: caliber 591C, automatic winding
- Power reserve: 38 hours
- Frequency: 28,800 vph, 4 Hz
- Jewels: 25
- Water resistance: 30 m
- Crystal: sapphire
- Strap: alligator leather
Metal versions include white gold and rose gold. Many versions carry a diamond-set bezel. The dial is mother-of-pearl in most references. Breguet fits a sapphire caseback on some versions and a solid caseback on others, so the movement is not visible on every build.
What replica versions copy, and what they miss
A replica seller markets the 8918 with an oval case, a mother-of-pearl-look dial, and a stone-set bezel. The closer builds get the lug angle, the bezel outline, and the curve of the caseback right. Three parts rarely match.
- Metal. A replica case is 316L steel with gold plating or PVD. Plating wears through at the lugs and the caseback edge after months of daily wear.
- Movement. A Breguet 591C is not available to replica makers. Most replica 8918 builds use a Chinese automatic or a quartz module.
- Stones. Diamonds at replica price points do not exist. The stones are cubic zirconia or synthetic moissanite.
An 8918 replica is also rare compared to sport models. Replica factories produce far more Submariner and Daytona copies than they produce Breguet ladies' watches, so the supply of a 8918 replica is thin and quality varies between batches.
Reference number codes
The letters after 8918 tell you the metal on the genuine watch. BB is white gold. BR is rose gold. BA is yellow gold. ST is steel, and PT is platinum. A genuine 8918 in steel does not exist in the main catalog, so a listing that reads "8918ST" is a replica or a misread of the caseback. Ask the seller to photograph the full reference on the caseback.
Price tiers
Genuine 8918 watches in gold sell in the five-figure range at retail. Auction listings for Breguet ladies' references give a second price point for used genuine pieces. Replica listings run from about $180 to $700. Sellers charge more for "Swiss movement" builds. No replica seller discloses the factory that made the case, and no independent body verifies those claims.
Checks before you buy a replica
- Ask for case measurements on a caliper photo. The target is 36.5 mm by 28.45 mm.
- Ask for the movement name in writing. A 4 Hz Swiss automatic in an oval ladies' case is unlikely at replica prices.
- Ask the stone type. Cubic zirconia is the normal answer.
- Ask for the weight in grams. A plated steel case weighs less than a solid gold one of the same size.
- Ask for photos of the caseback engraving, the clasp, and the strap stitching.
- Get the return window and the return address in writing before payment.
What no replica does
No replica carries a Breguet movement, a Breguet serial number listed in the Breguet archive, or Breguet service. Breguet will not authenticate or repair a replica. Selling a replica as a genuine watch is fraud in the United States and the European Union. A "Swiss Made" stamp on a replica dial also fails the Swiss ordinance, which requires at least 60 percent of production costs to occur in Switzerland.