Answer: a "fake pilot automatic 46" is a pilot-style watch with a 46 mm case and a self-winding movement, sold without the original brand. The 46 is the case diameter in millimeters. Movement, lume, crystal, and water resistance separate a $90 watch from a $400 one.
Where 46 mm comes from
Pilot watches ran 45 mm to 55 mm because the movement sat inside a soft iron cage and the dial needed space for a full minute track. IWC lists the Big Pilot's Watch at 46.2 mm. Laco and Stowa keep 45 mm to 46 mm cases in their pilot lines. The size is a design requirement, not a style choice.
Automatic movements inside 46 mm cases
- ETA 2824-2: 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, 38-hour reserve.
- Sellita SW200-1: 26 jewels, 28,800 vph, 38-hour reserve.
- Seiko NH35A: 24 jewels, 21,600 vph, 41-hour reserve.
- Miyota 8215: 21 jewels, 21,600 vph, 40-hour reserve.
Most 46 mm replicas use a clone of the 2824 or a stock NH35A. Ask for the movement name. A photo of the balance wheel shows the beat rate: 28,800 vph movements step 8 times per second, 21,600 vph movements step 6 times.
Checks before you buy
- Lug width: 22 mm on most 46 mm pilot cases, 24 mm on some.
- Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating, not mineral glass.
- Lume: C3 or BGW9 on hands and numerals.
- Crown: screw-down with a gasket. Water resistance from 50 m to 100 m.
- Case back: engraved text with depth, not flat printing.
- Weight: a steel 46 mm case on a strap runs 90 g to 130 g.
Fit
A 46 mm case with 22 mm lugs needs a wrist of about 19 cm. Measure lug-to-lug first: above 55 mm it will overhang a 17 cm wrist. Case thickness runs 12 mm to 15 mm, so a shirt cuff will not close over one.
Legal note
Watches that carry another company's trademark are counterfeit goods. US Customs can seize them at import, and resale is a separate offense. Rules on private ownership differ by country.