If you are hunting for a fake Blancpain 5200-0113-52A, the honest answer comes first: a counterfeit of this reference cannot deliver what the real watch delivers, and it carries legal, financial, and servicing risks that outlast the purchase. The 5200-0113-52A is a Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback, a flyback chronograph built around an in-house caliber with a silicon balance spring. A replica can copy the silhouette. It cannot copy the movement, the materials, or the after-sale support. What follows is a guide to identifying counterfeits of this reference, the points where they fail, and the paths that make more sense.
What the 5200-0113-52A actually is
Blancpain lists this reference inside the Bathyscaphe line. Published specifications describe a 43.6 mm case roughly 15 mm thick, a sapphire bezel insert, 300 m of water resistance, and the F385 automatic flyback chronograph caliber running at 36,000 vibrations per hour with a 50-hour power reserve. The dial uses applied markers and a brushed or sunburst finish depending on the variant, and the case mixes brushed tops with polished flanks. Those numbers matter because they are the exact places where copies break down.
Where counterfeits of this reference fall short
- Movement. The F385 is a column-wheel flyback with a vertical clutch and a silicon balance spring. Replicas usually use a modified third-party chronograph module or a decorated automatic. The flyback often does not function at all, or resets like an ordinary chronograph.
- Bezel and crystal. A sapphire bezel insert with the correct domed profile is expensive to produce. Copies often substitute mineral glass, coated plastic, or a printed insert that fades with sunlight.
- Case finishing. Genuine Bathyscaphe cases show crisp transitions between brushed tops and polished sides. Copies show rounded edges, uneven brushing, and soft lug profiles.
- Water resistance. A real 300 m rating comes from case construction and pressure testing. A counterfeit that claims the same number rarely survives a swim, let alone a dive.
- Dial printing and lume. Marker alignment, hash marks, and text placement drift on copies, and lume application is uneven and dim.
How to check a watch in hand
- Time the flyback. Start the chronograph, then press the lower pusher while it runs. On a genuine flyback the seconds hand snaps to zero and keeps running. On most fakes the hand stops or the pusher feels mushy.
- Check the beat rate. The F385 runs at 36,000 vph, which reads as a fast, smooth sweep. Many replicas run at 28,800 vph, which is visibly slower in slow-motion phone footage.
- Inspect the caseback and engravings. Laser etching on copies is shallow and flat, while genuine engraving has depth and clean edges.
- Weigh it. Steel and titanium have a density that plated brass and low-grade alloys do not match.
- Ask for service history and papers. Counterfeits almost never come with a documented service record from an authorized center.
Risks buyers underestimate
Importing counterfeit goods is illegal in the United States and in many other countries. Shipments get seized, and buyers typically lose both the watch and the money. Sellers and distributors can face civil liability and criminal penalties for trademark counterfeiting. Beyond the legal exposure, no authorized watchmaker will service a counterfeit, and spare parts do not exist when the movement fails, which is common within a year or two of daily wear. Resale value is effectively zero, and the watch cannot be insured as the genuine article.
Alternatives that hold their value
If the goal is the look without the risk, several options make more sense. A genuine pre-owned Bathyscaphe from a dealer with a documented service history costs more up front but can be serviced, insured, and resold. A well-regarded dive chronograph from a mid-tier brand delivers similar wrist presence with a standard movement any watchmaker can repair. A modern homage using a Swiss or Japanese caliber covers the aesthetic without the legal exposure. Each of these holds value and can be maintained for decades.
FAQ
Can a replica of the 5200-0113-52A pass as real?
At arm's length, sometimes. Under a loupe, on a timing machine, or in front of someone who knows the reference, no. The flyback action and the 5 Hz beat rate are the fastest tells.
Are super clone versions different from other fakes?
They cost more and copy more cosmetic detail, but they still lack the in-house movement, the tested water resistance, and any path to authorized service. The legal status is identical.
What happens if customs seizes a counterfeit watch?
It is generally forfeited or destroyed, and you are out the purchase price plus shipping. Repeat seizures can lead to closer scrutiny of future shipments.
Is buying a fake ever a good deal?
Rarely. Once you add the purchase price, the likely repair costs, and the total loss of resale value, a serviced pre-owned watch often costs less over five years.