Quick answer
A super clone Vacheron Constantin dress watch is a replica built to copy a reference such as the Patrimony or the Traditionnelle. Super clone is a seller tier, not a legal class and not a certification. Prices run from about $250 to $700. No super clone is made by Vacheron Constantin or by its suppliers. In the United States, importing one or selling one breaks 19 U.S.C. 1526 and 18 U.S.C. 2320.
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Which references get copied
- Patrimony Contemporaine 81180: 40mm case, caliber 1400, manual wind, no seconds hand.
- Patrimony Traditionnelle 82172: 38mm case, caliber 4400, small seconds at 6 o'clock.
- Traditionnelle 87172: 38mm case, caliber 2455, automatic, date at 3, small seconds at 9.
- Historiques American 1921: 40mm cushion case, diagonal dial, crown at 2.
- Métiers d'Art: enamel and guilloché dials, copied in small numbers.
Dress models get copied more than the Overseas line. The Patrimony is the most common target because the dial is plain and the case has few angles.
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Movement inside
Most super clones use a third party movement with a decorative plate on top. Common bases: Miyota 9015, a Japanese automatic at 28,800 vph with 24 jewels, ETA 2892-A2, and the Seagull ST18. Genuine Patrimony and Traditionnelle cases run 7mm to 9mm thick. A clone with an automatic base and a rotor measures 9.5mm to 11mm. The rotor sits on top of the base movement, so the case has to grow.
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Materials and finish
Clone cases are 316L stainless steel with gold plating or PVD. Plating thickness runs 3 to 5 microns on the top tier. Genuine cases are 18k gold. 18k gold has a density of about 15.5 g/cm3. Steel runs about 8 g/cm3. A plated case therefore weighs less than a gold case of the same size, and the plating wears through at the lugs and the case back edge.
Price tiers
- Standard replica, $80 to $200: steel case, quartz or a low grade automatic, printed dial.
- Mid tier, $200 to $400: automatic movement, applied markers, sapphire crystal.
- Super clone, $400 to $700: clone or Swiss base movement, decorated bridges, closer case profile.
No tier uses solid 18k gold. Some listings claim gold, and a few use gold filled cases with a brass core.
How to spot one
- Case thickness. A Patrimony past 10mm is a replica.
- Movement finish. Genuine bridges carry Geneva stripes cut on a rose engine. Clones carry stamped or laser cut stripes.
- Case back. Genuine watches show the Maltese cross, a metal purity stamp and a serial matched to the movement number.
- Dial printing. Genuine text is crisp at 10x magnification. Clone text breaks up.
Photos in listings are often images of the genuine watch, so a buyer cannot confirm the watch from the photos alone.
Legal status in the US
18 U.S.C. 2320 sets up to 10 years in prison for a first trafficking offense and fines up to $2 million for an individual. 19 U.S.C. 1526 lets US Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy imported counterfeits. The trademark owner can also file a civil suit against a buyer who resells. Vacheron Constantin is owned by Richemont, which files takedown requests and works with customs seizures.
Servicing and parts
Richemont service centers reject replicas. Independent watchmakers who hold parts accounts for Vacheron Constantin will also decline the work. Third party movements such as the Miyota 9015 take standard parts. Decorative plates and clone dials do not. A broken clone has no parts channel, so it becomes scrap.
What the term does not mean
Super clone has no grading body, no published standard and no inspection process. Two sellers apply the term to different watches at different prices. Water resistance claims are untested on most listings. Treat the term as marketing, and treat the specs on the listing as unverified.