Judge a replica Aqua Terra 322.10.42 on four checks: case size and thickness, dial texture and date position, bracelet taper and clasp markings, and movement finish with beat rate. The genuine reference is a 41mm steel Seamaster Aqua Terra with a teak-pattern dial, a date at 3 o'clock, and an 8500-series movement. A copy that measures 43mm, prints the dial texture instead of cutting it, or refuses caseback photos is not worth the asking price.

What the Genuine Reference Specifies

  • 41mm stainless steel case, about 13.2mm thick, 20mm lug width.
  • Calibre 8500, automatic, 25,200 vph, co-axial escapement, 60-hour power reserve.
  • Sapphire crystal front and display caseback, 150m water resistance rating.
  • Teak-pattern dial with applied hour markers and a framed date window at 3 o'clock.

Step-by-Step Inspection

  1. Request a caliper photo across the 9 to 3 line and a second photo of case thickness at the caseback edge. Accept 40.5mm to 41.5mm wide and 13.0mm to 13.6mm thick.
  2. Ask for a dial photo shot at a low angle under a single light. Confirm the teak lines are cut grooves with shadow, not flat print.
  3. Check the date window position and cut. It should sit at 3 o'clock, sit square to the dial, and show even magnification with no white border gap.
  4. Inspect the hands. Faceted dauphine hands need crisp polished edges and lume fill that sits level with the frame.
  5. Measure the bracelet at the lug and at the clasp. Accept 20mm at the lugs and 18mm at the clasp, with brushing that matches the case.
  6. Look at the clasp marking. A laser-etched or stamped Omega logo with clean edges is acceptable; a glued sticker is a reject.
  7. Ask for a caseback photo with the rotor turned. Check for an engraved rotor, blued screws, and a balance wheel that sits under a bridge, not in open view.
  8. Run a timegrapher app on the watch or ask the seller for a reading. A 25,200 vph result (about plus or minus 15 seconds per day) matches the 8500 beat rate.
  9. Test the crown action by hand or on video. A screw-down crown should engage in two to three turns with no grinding and should seat flush to the case.
  10. Confirm the seller includes a gasket photo and a pressure-test note, then skip any water test on a replica unless a watchmaker has replaced the seals.

Red Flags

  • Case width listed as 42mm or 43mm, or thickness over 14mm.
  • Dial texture that looks printed under a loupe and does not shift with light.
  • Date window with a bubble magnifier, which this reference does not use.
  • Solid caseback or a caseback photo that the seller will not provide.
  • Stock catalog photos instead of a photo of the actual watch with a dated card.

Questions for the Seller

  1. Ask which factory built the watch and which movement is inside.
  2. Ask for the measured case width, thickness, and weight in grams.
  3. Ask whether the bracelet is solid link or folded link construction.
  4. Ask for the return policy in writing before payment.

Legal Note

Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell or import in the United States under 18 U.S.C. Section 2320, and US Customs can seize shipments. Treat any replica purchase as a risk with no warranty and no recourse to the brand.