Answer
The Omega reference 322.10.42 sits in the Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M line. The case is stainless steel. Omega does not publish a decoder for every digit block in its reference system, but the diameter block (42) tracks the case size group. A copy of this reference is a watch built by a factory with no link to Omega. Copies sell in three price bands, and the band decides what you get: case size, dial print, movement, and bracelet fit.
Omega Aqua Terra 322.10.42 Replica: How to Spot a Fake
Confirm the exact caliber and case diameter for a full reference on Omega's own product page before you compare a copy to it.
Fake Omega Aqua Terra 322.10.42 Guide: The Ultimate Buying Tips
What the reference is
Facts about the Aqua Terra 150M family that carries this reference block:
- Steel case and steel bracelet. Sapphire crystal front and back.
- Water resistance rated to 150 m (15 bar).
- Teak pattern dial, applied indices, date window at 3 o'clock.
- Co-Axial escapement. Caliber 8500 family: automatic, twin barrels, 60 hour power reserve, 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz), 39 jewels.
- Lug width 20 mm on the 41.5 mm case.
Later Aqua Terra versions moved to Master Co-Axial calibers (8800, 8900) with a 15,000 gauss magnetic rating. The case size and caliber print on the caseback are the two lines to read first.
Copy tiers
Three bands show up in listings.
- Low band, $60 to $150. Quartz or a low grade automatic. Case measures 40 mm or 43 mm instead of the stated size. Dial print is flat. Lume is weak or missing. Caseback engraving is shallow.
- Mid band, $180 to $400. Third party automatic movement, often Miyota or Seagull. Case size closer to spec. Crystal may be mineral glass. Bracelet end links show gaps at the lugs.
- High band, $400 to $800. Decorated movement with engraved rotor. Dial print closer to the genuine version. Anti reflective coating on the crystal. Solid end links. Reference engraving on the caseback and between the lugs.
Prices move. Treat these as ranges seen in listings, not fixed prices.
Checkpoints
- Case diameter. Measure across the case with calipers. A stated 41.5 mm that measures 43 mm is the wrong case.
- Lug width. Measure the gap between the lugs. 20 mm on the 41.5 mm case.
- Beat rate. 25,200 vph for the 8500 family. A timegrapher shows the rate in one pass.
- Date font. Genuine date wheels use a set numeral shape. Copies use a wider, taller font.
- Dial logo. The applied Omega symbol sits above the printed word. Check the gap between symbol and text.
- Crystal. Genuine uses domed sapphire with inner anti reflective coating. A flat or uncoated crystal throws room lights back at you.
- Bracelet. Solid end links, tight fit against the case, push pins or screws in the links.
- Water resistance. Gaskets in a copy are not tested. Keep it out of water.
Movement notes
Omega does not sell the 8500 as a loose part. A copy therefore carries another movement with an engraved rotor and decorated bridges. Look at the balance wheel location and the jewel count. A 21,600 vph movement is not a stand in for the 8500.
Legal facts for US buyers
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. CBP can seize a shipment, and the buyer can receive a seizure notice. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods, which includes selling. A copy carries no Omega warranty and no Omega service. Resale as a genuine watch is fraud.
What to request from a seller
Ask for current photos with a dated note, a photo of the caseback engraving, a timegrapher reading, and the measured case diameter and lug width. Ask for a photo of the clasp code. A seller who cannot supply these items leaves the listing in unknown condition.