Fake Fifty Fathoms 5050: Short Answer
Reference 5050 is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date. Replicas sold under that number copy a 45 mm dive watch with a two-disc big date at 6 o'clock. No replica uses a Blancpain calibre. Most run an Asian or Japanese automatic. Street prices run from about $80 to $600 across three tiers.
The Genuine 5050 in Short
- 45 mm case, steel or titanium
- Big date window at 6 o'clock, two discs on one plane
- Sapphire bezel insert, lume under the crystal
- Automatic calibre with multiple barrels and a long power reserve
- Water resistance rated 300 m
Blancpain has changed case sizes and calibres across the Fifty Fathoms line since 1953, when the model was built for French combat divers. Case metal, dial color, and bracelet change the full reference number. Confirm specs and the number stamped on the caseback before you compare anything.
What Replicas Copy Well
Case shape, dial print, hands, and bezel insert get the most attention from replica makers. Movement gets the least. A mid-tier fake 5050 will pass at arm's length on a wrist. Put it under a loupe and the big date is the first part that fails.
Tier Breakdown
Under $120
Quartz or low-grade automatic. Mineral glass. Printed date or a single date disc. Bezel insert glued in place. Case weight is low, often under 100 g.
$150 to $350
Asian 2824 clone or Miyota 9015. Sapphire crystal with weak or missing anti-reflective coating. Case brushing is decent. Date font is close but not the same.
$350 to $600
Clone movements with decorated rotors. Two-disc big date that snaps. Case thickness within a fraction of a millimeter of the real part. Bezel insert with a glass or sapphire fill.
Tells to Check
- Big date alignment. Both discs sit on one plane on the real watch. A crooked or single-disc date is a fail.
- Bezel insert material. Genuine uses sapphire. Plastic and ceramic feel and sound different when tapped.
- Lume placement. Genuine lume sits below the insert crystal. Painted-on lume looks raised.
- Caseback engraving. Depth and font matter. Serial numbers on replicas repeat across batches.
- Weight and balance on the wrist.
- Crown threads. Gritty action points to a cheap tube.
- Movement beat rate. Shoot a slow-motion clip and count beats per hour.
Water Resistance
A replica stamped 300 m is not rated to 300 m. Gaskets are the first part skipped at the factory. Do not swim or dive with one. A pressure test at a local watchmaker runs $30 to $60, and many shops will turn down work on a counterfeit.
Buying Notes for US Buyers
US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit goods at ports of entry. A seized package can end with a letter and no refund from the seller. Payment methods without chargeback, such as crypto or gift cards, remove your recourse. Service options are narrow. Parts are not sold by Blancpain to third parties, so a broken replica movement gets replaced, not repaired with factory parts.
FAQ
Does a replica 5050 have a Blancpain movement?
No. Blancpain calibres are not sold loose. Any 5050 replica holds an Asian or Japanese movement.
Is a $500 replica close to the real watch?
Close in looks at a distance. Not close in movement, case material, or water resistance.
How much is a genuine 5050?
Pricing moves with metal, condition, and box and papers. We do not list prices here. Ask an authorized dealer for current numbers.