Quick answer
The "5th generation" label is a replica seller's term for the fifth revision of a fake Omega Speedmaster 1957, the Broad Arrow re-edition Omega released in 2017 as part of its Trilogy set. The number comes from the factory or the seller, not from Omega, and it means nothing on its own. Each generation tends to revise the case profile, dial print, hand shape, or movement. A 5th generation copy can pass in listing photos and still fail in hand on case thickness, lume color, crown shape, and movement finish.
Treat any 5th gen claim as a starting point for inspection, not as proof of quality.
Prerequisites
- A 10x loupe and a digital caliper
- A gram scale
- Bright daylight plus a 365 nm UV light
- Clear photos of the genuine 38.6 mm Trilogy Speedmaster for side-by-side comparison
How to check a 5th generation Speedmaster 1957 copy
- Measure the case across the middle, with the crown and pushers excluded. The genuine watch is 38.6 mm. A copy that reads 39 mm or 40 mm uses a different case.
- Measure case thickness with the caliper jaws flat on the caseback and crystal. The genuine 1957 Trilogy sits near 14 mm. Replicas add a movement spacer and read thicker.
- Inspect dial print under the loupe. Study the letter spacing in the Omega name and the Speedmaster wordmark, the weight of the minute track, and whether the print sits above or below the lacquer surface.
- Compare the Broad Arrow hands to a reference photo. Check the arrow head width, the tail length past the pinion, and the finish, which should be polished on the top and the sides.
- Test the lume in daylight, then under UV. Lume on the re-edition is a warm cream. Copies show a flat yellow or a green cast.
- Check the crown and pushers. The crown should be signed and sit flush to the case band, and both pushers should match in height and thread feel.
- Remove the caseback with a proper tool. A genuine 1957 Trilogy runs the hand-wound caliber 1861. Many copies carry a decorated Seagull ST19 or an automatic movement hidden under a fake bridge plate.
- Weigh the watch. Steel case and bracelet weights fall in a narrow band, and a light copy points to a thin case or a hollow bracelet.
- Read the engraving between the lugs and on the caseback. Laser etching looks shallow and gray, while stamped marks show depth and a burr.
What the generation number tracks
Sellers bump the generation when a workshop changes a tool. Typical changes between revisions include a thinner mid case, a corrected bezel insert font, a different crystal height, or a new dial supplier. Two watches sold as 5th generation by two sellers can come from two different workshops. Ask for the workshop name, the movement, and current photos with a dated card before you compare prices.
Legal note for US buyers
Counterfeit watches that carry an Omega trademark are illegal to import and illegal to sell in the United States. US Customs and Border Protection seizes such shipments, and a seized parcel is not refunded by the carrier. Buying a replica for study is one thing. Reselling one as genuine is trademark counterfeiting and carries civil and criminal exposure.
Bottom line
Measure the case, check the movement, and compare the dial print against the genuine 38.6 mm 1957 Trilogy. The generation number tells you which revision a seller claims to have, and nothing more.