A replica Speedmaster Moonwatch is a copy of the Omega Speedmaster Professional. It copies the 42 mm case, the three-register dial and the tachymeter bezel. Omega does not make it. Prices on replica forums and marketplaces run from about $200 to about $800. The genuine hesalite model on a steel bracelet lists near $7,000 in the US. Retail prices change.
Specs of the Genuine Watch
The current Moonwatch is reference 310.30.42.50.01.002 with a hesalite crystal. The sapphire version is 310.30.42.50.01.001. Both share the same case and the same movement.
- Case: 42 mm steel, 13.2 mm thick on the hesalite model
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Movement: Omega cal. 3861, manual wind, co-axial escapement
- Power reserve: 50 hours
- Beat rate: 21,600 vph, 3 Hz
- Water resistance: 50 m
- Caseback: steel with a seahorse medallion on the hesalite model, sapphire display on the sapphire model
- Dial: no date, running seconds at 9, 30-minute counter at 3, 12-hour counter at 6
Where Replicas Diverge
Most tells sit in the dial and the case side. The genuine 3861 has subdials set close to the center pinion. Copies that use a modular movement lay the subdials wider apart and closer to the edge. The Moonwatch has no date. Any copy with a window at 3 or between 4 and 5 is not modeled on this reference.
Case thickness is the second tell. The genuine hesalite watch measures 13.2 mm. Sapphire models are thicker. Copies that hide an automatic rotor inside run 14 mm to 15 mm and sit high on the wrist. The tachymeter insert on the 3861 has a dot next to the 90. Older inserts placed the dot over the 90. Copies mix the two styles.
Movements Used in Copies
- Seagull ST19: hand-wound chronograph, 21,600 vph. Closest in layout to a manual Moonwatch.
- Asia 7750: automatic chronograph with a rotor. Adds thickness and a running seconds hand at 9.
- Lemania 1873 clones: sold in higher-priced copies and in older stock.
- Quartz: subdial hands step once per second instead of sweeping.
Legal Status in the US
US law treats a counterfeit watch as infringing goods. Trafficking in them is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320, with penalties that scale by the value of the goods. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments of counterfeit watches at import. A personal-use purchase carries less exposure than resale, but the goods can still be seized and the buyer loses the money. Omega does not service or supply parts for a copy.
Checks Buyers Run
- Measure the case thickness with calipers. Anything over 13.6 mm on a hesalite model is suspect.
- Look for a date window. The Moonwatch has none.
- Check the subdial spacing against a photo of the 3861 dial.
- Wind the crown. A Moonwatch is manual wind only, with no rotor noise.
- Read the caseback engraving. The seahorse medallion on the genuine watch has crisp edges.
- Compare lume color in daylight. Old tritium and new Super-LumiNova do not match.
Service and Resale
A copy has no factory service path and no parts supply. Independent watchmakers will work on a Seagull ST19 or an Asia 7750, and a service can cost more than the watch. Resale value is close to zero. The genuine 3861 has a five-year warranty from Omega and a documented service history that holds value.