Patek Philippe sells the Nautilus 7118/1R as a rose gold, self-winding watch with a 35.2 mm case and 60 m water resistance. Counterfeit copies of this reference exist. Replica sellers price them from about $150 to $600. Those copies use steel with gold plating, and their movements come from third-party calibres, not from Patek Philippe. A handful of checks separate the two.
Genuine specs for the 7118/1R
- Case and bracelet: 18K rose gold, 35.2 mm wide, with an integrated bracelet and a folding clasp.
- Movement: calibre 324 S C, self-winding, 45 hours power reserve, marked with the Patek Philippe Seal.
- Crystal: sapphire on the front and the back. The display back shows the movement and the gold rotor.
- Dial: silvery opaline and rose-gilt finishes appear in the 7118 line, with applied gold numerals and a date at 3 o'clock.
- Diamond bezel versions carry a different reference number, 7118/1200R.
Checks on a suspected fake
- Metal and hallmarks. Genuine rose gold carries the 750 stamp and the Swiss head hallmark on the case back and clasp. Copies show shallow stamps, or none.
- Plating wear. Gold plating on a replica wears at the clasp, crown, and link edges and exposes grey base metal. Solid gold changes color only under deep scratches.
- Weight. 18K gold is denser than steel. A rose gold 7118/1R weighs more than a plated copy of the same size.
- Case profile. Replica cases run about 0.5 mm to 1 mm thicker, and bracelet end links can leave a gap at the lugs.
- Movement. Copies use Miyota 9015, ETA 2824 clones, or Seagull calibres. Those movements lack the gold rotor, the Geneva stripes, and the Seal engraving of the 324 S C.
- Paperwork. Patek Philippe can confirm a serial number and case reference through an Extract from the Archives. The company does not service counterfeit watches.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. Section 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime, with a prison term of up to 10 years for a first offense. 19 U.S.C. Section 1526 lets U.S. Customs and Border Protection seize counterfeit watches at import. The Lanham Act allows the brand owner to sue sellers for damages. Personal use at import does not create an exception to seizure.
Limits of this guide
Replica factories change cases, dials, and movements between batches. One check does not prove that a watch is genuine, and one check does not prove that it is fake. Only Patek Philippe, or a watchmaker with the watch in hand, can confirm the identity of a specific piece. Patek Philippe publishes no public list of replica serial numbers.