A fake Fifty Fathoms 45mm is a replica of Blancpain's dive watch built with a 45mm case diameter rather than the smaller 38mm or 42mm versions. The 45mm size sits closest to the modern full-size Fifty Fathoms profile, which is why it is the version most buyers search for. What separates a solid example from a poor one comes down to four things: case finishing, bezel action, dial printing, and the movement inside.
What 45mm Actually Means on the Wrist
Case diameter is measured across the case at the widest point, not counting the crown. On a 45mm Fifty Fathoms replica, the lugs extend well past that number, so total length lug to lug is what decides comfort. A large dive case with long lugs can overhang a narrow wrist, and the crown guards push the visual size even further.
Before ordering, check three numbers in the listing:
- Case diameter, stated as 45mm
- Lug to lug length, which drives how the watch sits on top of the wrist
- Case thickness, which affects how it slides under a shirt cuff
Wrists under roughly 6.75 inches usually find a 45mm diver top-heavy. That is a fit question, not a quality question.
Case, Bezel, and Crystal
Most replicas in this size use 316L stainless steel, with 904L appearing on higher-tier builds. Look for even brushing on the case flanks, a sharp transition between brushed and polished surfaces, and lug edges that are not rounded off from sloppy polishing.
The bezel is the easiest place to spot a cheap build. A good one has crisp knurling, a firm click with no back play, and a triangle marker that lines up with 12 o'clock. Inserts are usually ceramic or sapphire-topped. A sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating should look nearly invisible at an angle, with no milky haze.
Movements You Will See
Almost every 45mm Fifty Fathoms replica runs an Asian automatic or a clone of a Swiss automatic caliber. The original uses an in-house movement, and no replica will match that, so judge what is actually installed rather than what the listing implies.
Questions worth asking:
- Does the seconds hand hack when the crown is pulled?
- Is the beat rate high enough that the sweep looks smooth?
- Does the date change cleanly at midnight, and does the date font match the dial?
- Is the rotor quiet when you tilt the watch?
Dial, Hands, and Lume
Print quality decides how the dial reads in photos and in person. Check that the logo and text are sharp, correctly weighted, and centered. Applied indices should sit level with no glue visible at the edges. On this model, the broad sword hands and the lume plots are the details people notice first, so look for matched lume color across hands and dial. A quick charge under a lamp should produce an even glow with no patchiness.
Water Resistance and Daily Wear
Listed depth ratings on replicas are marketing, not a guarantee. Gaskets, crown threads, and caseback seals vary between batches. Treat any 45mm replica as splash resistant at best, keep it out of the pool, and avoid pressing the pushers or working the crown while the watch is wet. If you want to swim, have a watchmaker pressure test it first and accept the result you get.
How to Review a Listing or QC Photos
- Ask for a straight-on dial shot and a straight-on caseback shot.
- Request a side profile so you can judge thickness and crown guard shape.
- Zoom the bezel at 12 o'clock to confirm alignment.
- Check that the date sits centered in its window.
- Confirm the stated movement, then confirm it again in writing.
Price, Shipping, and Legal Reality
Pricing for a fake Fifty Fathoms 45mm tracks movement tier, case material, and finishing quality. Cheap examples usually cut corners on the bezel and crystal, which are the two parts you look at constantly. Keep in mind that a replica is not a genuine watch, it carries no manufacturer warranty or service support, and importing one can create customs and trademark issues depending on where you live. Buy with that understood, and judge the watch in front of you rather than the story around it.