Short answer
A fake Vacheron Constantin Patrimony 82172 is a copy of reference 82172/000R-9812, a 38 mm 18k rose gold watch with a small seconds subdial. Copies sell from about $80 to $600. None use the genuine caliber 4400 AS. US law bars import of a counterfeit watch, including one piece for personal use.
What reference 82172 is
Vacheron Constantin lists 82172/000R-9812 as a Patrimony Small Seconds in 18k rose gold. The case measures 38 mm across and under 8 mm thick. The dial is silver-toned with applied gold baton markers and a small seconds hand at 6 o'clock. Water resistance is 30 m. A white gold version carries the 82172/000G-9812 number. The reference is out of production, so current stock sits on the secondary market.
Movement
Caliber 4400 AS. Manual wind. No rotor. 21 jewels. Power reserve is listed at 65 hours. Frequency is listed at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement carries the Hallmark of Geneva. A caseback view is the fastest test. A rotor or an automatic bridge means the watch is not a 4400 AS.
Differences seen on copies
- Case thickness above 9 mm. Gold cases sit lower on the wrist.
- Case metal. Copies use steel with gold plating, so the head weighs less than an 18k case of the same size.
- Dial text. Genuine printing uses thin strokes and sits close to the markers.
- Subdial. Position and hand length vary on copies.
- Caseback engravings. Reference and serial numbers are shallow and uneven on copies.
- Buckle. Genuine buckles are 18k gold with a Maltese cross and a hallmark.
Price
Copy prices track the movement inside. Quartz copies land at the bottom. Copies with a decorated automatic movement land at the top. Genuine 82172 watches trade in the five-figure USD range at auction and through dealers. A gold Patrimony listed under $1,000 is a copy.
Legal status in the US
US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at the border. The personal exemption for returning travelers does not cover goods with a counterfeit trademark. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years and a $2 million fine for an individual. Sellers also face civil claims from the trademark owner.
What is not known
Copy production changes by batch. Reference numbers and dial variants on listings do not map to one factory. No public data tracks how many copies of 82172 exist.