The Blancpain 1735 packs 740 parts and 44 complications into a 42 mm case, and genuine examples trade in six figures. No replica at $200 to $600 comes close to that. What a good replica can do is copy the case profile, the dial layout, and the wrist presence well enough that the gaps show only under a loupe. This comparison covers the three build tiers on sale and tells you which one to buy first.
is blancpain 1735 replica worth it
Our Pick: 42 mm Rose Gold Super Clone, Automatic
Buy this one. It matches the genuine 42 mm diameter and 13.5 mm thickness, uses a 316L steel case with rose gold plating, and runs a modified automatic under a decorated plate that copies the layout of the real 1735 movement. The dial keeps the four-subdial arrangement, the moonphase at 6 o'clock, and a printed signature at the right scale. Expect to pay $380 to $550.
Why it wins:
is blancpain 1735 replica worth it
- Case profile matches 42 mm by 13.5 mm, so it sits like the original on a 7-inch wrist.
- Pushers are screw-down and return a firm click instead of a soft mush.
- Plating thickness holds past six months of daily wear.
- Dial uses applied indices with lume, not flat paint.
Runner-Up: 42 mm Steel Automatic
Same case and dial as the pick, no gold plating, about $220 to $300. Take it if you want the 1735 look without flashy metal. The trade-offs: bracelet end links fit with visible gaps, and the movement is a stock 21-jewel automatic with a printed rotor. It keeps time fine. It will not fool anyone who flips the watch over.
Budget Option: 40 mm Quartz
Under $120. The case runs 2 mm small, some batches have decorative non-working subdials, and the seconds hand ticks. It reads as a 1735 at three feet and as a cheap watch at one foot. Buy it for a costume or a display shelf, not for daily wear.
How to Vet a 1735 Replica Before You Pay
- Ask the seller for the exact case diameter and thickness, then check them against 42 mm by 13.5 mm.
- Request a photo of the caseback and confirm an automatic movement with a decorated rotor.
- Confirm all four subdials are functional rather than printed.
- Test that the pushers start, stop, and reset the chronograph to zero.
- Get the return window in writing and keep it at 14 days or longer.
Verdict
Spend the extra $150 and take the rose gold super clone. The steel automatic is a fair second choice, and the quartz build makes sense only as a prop. Anything past $600 for a 1735 replica is overpriced for the movement you get.