Fake Pilot's Day Date: Answer First
"Fake Pilot's Day Date" is the phrase buyers use for counterfeit pilot watches that show a day of the week and a date. The model copied most often under this phrase is the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Big Day Date. Authentic examples list near $2,000 at retail. Fakes sell from $60 to $250 on marketplaces and social accounts. Oris does not make or sell those watches. No authorized dealer carries them.
The Watch Behind the Name
Oris built the Big Crown ProPilot line for cockpit use. The Big Day Date version shows the day of the week and the date in one calendar window. The case measures 45.00 mm across in stainless steel. The bezel has a coin-edge finish. The dial carries large numerals and hands with lume. Oris fits its caliber 752, an automatic movement with about 38 hours of power reserve.
Prices on Both Sides
New authentic stock listed from $1,900 to $2,200, based on strap or bracelet. Used examples trade below that. "Super clone" copies, which use better cases and cloned movements, sell from $300 to $800. Cheap copies sit under $100. Prices move with supply, so check a listing against recent sold prices.
What Fakes Get Wrong
- Printed dial text with soft edges or the wrong font weight.
- Day or date text that sits off-center in its window.
- Caseback engraving that is shallow, with mismatched reference and serial numbers.
- A loose or rotating bezel. The genuine coin-edge bezel is fixed and crisp.
- A display back on a reference that Oris shipped with a solid back.
- Strap hardware with a stamped buckle, not a machined one.
- Lume that fades within minutes instead of hours.
Checks Before You Pay
- Get the reference number and serial in writing.
- Match the reference against the Oris catalog. A reference that does not exist is a fake.
- Compare the font of the printed text against photos of a genuine dial.
- Ask for a photo of the caseback and the movement.
- Ask a watchmaker who services Oris to review the photos.
- Buy from a seller with a return window. Pay with a method that allows a chargeback.
Legal Status
Importing counterfeit watches into the U.S. is illegal. Customs can seize the shipment. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $2,000,000 for an individual. Resale value for a fake is near zero, and no maker services one.
Open Questions
Oris does not publish counts of counterfeit ProPilot watches. No public figure exists for how many fake Big Day Date watches circulate. Retail and resale prices change by month and by region.