A fake Villeret Ultra Thin is a replica of the Blancpain Villeret Ultraplate, and the fastest way to identify one is case thickness. Genuine Villeret Ultraplate cases measure roughly 6.9mm to 8.7mm depending on reference and date function, while most replicas measure 9mm to 10.5mm. The next tell is power reserve: the real calibre 1150 runs about 100 hours, and clone movements stop between 38 and 42 hours.
What Is the Blancpain Villeret Ultra Thin?
The Villeret Ultraplate is Blancpain's classic dress watch line, named after the Swiss village of Villeret where the brand was founded in 1735. Collectors call it the Ultra Thin, but Blancpain's own reference name is Ultraplate. Common references include the 6605 and 6223 at 38mm and the 6651 at 40mm.
Cases come in 18k rose gold, 18k white gold, and stainless steel on the ref. 6223. Dials are usually opaline or grand feu enamel with applied gold indices, and the caseback is sapphire.
Is a Fake Villeret Ultra Thin Easy to Spot?
Yes, if you look at the watch sideways instead of head on. The calibre 1150 is only 3.25mm thick, which lets the real case sit almost flat on the wrist. Replica builders cannot match that, so they hide the extra height in a domed caseback or a taller bezel.
Dial and hand tells
- Applied indices on the genuine sit flat with sharp polished edges. Replicas use glued plated markers that catch light unevenly.
- Dial printing under a 10x loupe: the genuine wordmark has crisp serifs. Copies show fuzzy edges and uneven letter spacing.
- Hands are faceted and polished on the genuine. Replicas often show flat, painted, or slightly bent hands.
Movement and caseback tells
- Genuine rotor engraving is deep and even. Clone rotors show shallow, laser-etched text.
- The real calibre 1150 beats at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). Many clones beat at 28,800 vph (4 Hz), which is a mismatch you can hear and see.
- Genuine bridges carry real Geneva stripes with sharp inner angles. Copies use stamped or printed decoration.
Which Movements Power Replica Villeret Ultra Thin Watches?
Most copies run a Miyota 9015, a Seagull ST1812, or an ETA 2824 clone. Each is roughly 3.9mm to 4.6mm thick versus the 3.25mm calibre 1150, which is exactly why the case grows. A few super clone builds use a modified slim automatic, but none has matched the 100-hour reserve or the 3 Hz beat rate.
How Do You Check a Villeret Ultra Thin Before Buying?
- Measure thickness with calipers from crystal top to caseback, not lug to lug.
- Wind it fully, set it down, and time the run. Anything near 40 hours is not a 1150.
- Time the balance rate with a timegrapher. 21,600 vph points to the genuine calibre.
- Inspect dial printing and indices at 10x magnification.
- Check strap hardware and buckle engraving, which are often the weakest replica parts.
Does a Replica Villeret Ultra Thin Keep Time Well?
Most copies keep decent time because the movements inside are proven Japanese or Chinese automatics. What they cannot copy is the thin profile, the 100-hour reserve, and the hand finishing visible through the caseback. Buyers who care about those three things will notice the difference on the wrist within a day.