The short answer
A fake Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chrono is a copy of reference 5500V. Almost all copies use a third-party chronograph movement. Vacheron Constantin calibre 5200 is absent. The genuine watch measures 42.5 mm across and 13.7 mm thick, with 150 m water resistance, a 52-hour power reserve and the Hallmark of Geneva. Seller listings price copies from $250 to $800. Vacheron Constantin prices the steel 5500V above $30,000.
Genuine specs
- Reference 5500V/110A in steel. Gold and two-tone versions carry other suffixes.
- Case: 42.5 mm diameter, 13.7 mm thick, stainless steel.
- Movement: calibre 5200, in-house, automatic, column wheel chronograph.
- Power reserve: 52 hours.
- Water resistance: 150 m with screw-down crown and pushers.
- Bezel: notched, cut in the Maltese cross shape.
- Strap: steel bracelet plus rubber and leather options, quick-release at the lugs.
- Caseback: sapphire, engraved with reference and serial numbers.
The earlier generation used reference 49150 and calibre 1137. Calibre 1137 is a modular chronograph built on a Frederic Piguet 1185 base. That line ended when the 5500V launched in 2016.
Where copies differ
Movement
Most copies run an Asian 7750 or a variant of it. The 7750 uses cam switching and a 28,800 vph beat rate. Calibre 5200 uses a column wheel. Photos from sellers show engraved bridges and a gold-tone rotor that do not match genuine finishing.
Dial layout
Genuine 5500V dials place the counters at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. The 7750 has counters at 12, 6 and 9. Builders add a transfer plate or a printed dial to shift the 30-minute counter. A misplaced counter is the fastest visual tell.
Case thickness
Copies measure 14.5 mm and up against 13.7 mm for the genuine case. The gap shows at the case flanks and at the lug profile.
Strap release
The genuine system uses a spring-loaded release at each lug. Some copies work. Some have a button that does nothing above a standard spring bar.
Weight and finish
Bracelet weight depends on link count and steel grade. Most sellers do not publish weights. Brushed and polished transitions at the bezel and case flanks are a better comparison point than grams.
Checks before you spend money
- Photograph the 3 o'clock counter position.
- Ask for a caseback photo and a movement photo.
- Measure thickness with calipers if the watch is in hand.
- Press the lug release buttons and watch the end links move.
- Compare engraving depth on the caseback text.
- Confirm the reference and serial against the sale documents.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks. Under 18 U.S.C. Section 2320, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime with fines and prison terms. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments at ports of entry. Buyers risk losing the item and, in some cases, civil claims from the brand owner.
Unverified claims
Factory names, batch codes and "same line as the original" statements come from sellers. No brand publishes replica production data. Any spec sheet from a seller is unverified until photos and measurements back it up.