A replica Speedmaster Apollo 13 is a copy of the Omega Speedmaster Professional tied to the Apollo 13 mission and NASA's Silver Snoopy Award. Prices run from about $30 for a quartz model to $500 for a close hand-wound copy. None are made by Omega, none carry a factory warranty, and no Omega-authorized watchmaker will service one.
Why is the Speedmaster tied to Apollo 13?
On April 17, 1970, the crew of Apollo 13 used a Speedmaster to time a 14-second burn of the lunar module engine that corrected their course home.
NASA gave Omega its Silver Snoopy Award later that year for the watch's part in the rescue.
Omega has marked that award with limited editions, and those are the watches replicas imitate.
Which Speedmaster models do the replicas copy?
Most listings borrow the look of one of two Snoopy Award editions. Some are plain Moonwatch copies with an Apollo 13 caseback engraving and nothing else.
The 45th anniversary edition (2015)
This one has a white dial, black hands, and a Snoopy figure in the 9 o'clock subdial. It runs Omega's hand-wound caliber 1861 inside a 42 mm steel case.
The 50th anniversary edition (2020)
The 2020 version switched to the 3861 Master Chronometer caliber and moved Snoopy to the caseback, where he orbits when the chronograph runs. It is the harder of the two to copy well.
Replica vs genuine: the differences that show
- Movement: the real watch uses Omega's 1861 or 3861. Replicas use quartz, a Seagull ST19, or a generic clone.
- Crystal: Omega fits Hesalite or sapphire with coating on both sides. Cheap copies use mineral glass with no coating.
- Dial printing: text on the real dial sits level and crisp. Copy text looks soft, and the Omega logo is the usual giveaway.
- Caseback: engraving on the Snoopy editions is deep and sharp. Replicas use flat laser etching.
- Bezel insert: aluminum or ceramic depending on the edition, with a matte finish. Copies often shine in the wrong light.
- Case finishing: the real case has brushed flanks and polished edges that meet on a clean line. Copies blur that line.
- Weight: a genuine Speedmaster feels dense in the hand. Quartz replicas feel light and hollow.
What movement is inside a replica Apollo 13?
Three types show up in listings. The movement you get decides the price and how the watch feels on the wrist.
- Quartz: $30 to $80. The chronograph runs off a battery, the small seconds ticks, and some subdials are pure decoration.
- Seagull ST19: $120 to $250. A hand-wound column-wheel chronograph based on an old Venus design, with the same 3-6-9 subdial layout as the Speedmaster.
- Clone 1861 or 3861: $300 and up. Looks closer to the real movement through a sapphire caseback. Quality varies from seller to seller.
What to check before you buy
- Ask which edition the seller is copying. "Apollo 13" gets used as a loose label for any steel chronograph.
- Get the movement name in writing. "Swiss movement" on its own means nothing.
- Compare subdial spacing and hand lengths against photos of the real watch.
- Check for a date window. Neither Snoopy edition has one, so a date on the dial points to a generic base watch.
- Ask for a clear photo of the caseback and read the engraving.
- Confirm the crystal type and whether the sapphire has inner coating.
- Ignore water resistance claims. No replica should go near water.
Is a replica Speedmaster Apollo 13 legal to buy?
It depends on where you live. US law bars importing counterfeit goods, even for personal use, and shipments can be seized at the border.
Selling a replica as genuine is fraud in the US and most of Europe.
Resale is the bigger problem. A replica has no collector market, and no authorized service center will touch it.
How much should you pay?
Spend based on the movement, not the photos. A $60 quartz copy and a $400 clone often look the same on a listing page and feel nothing alike in the hand.
If you want the Snoopy look for fun, an ST19 version gives the best value because the chronograph works and winds by hand.
Skip any listing that promises a perfect "1:1 Swiss made" watch at a low price. That combination does not exist.
Frequently asked questions
How close is a replica Snoopy Speedmaster to the real one?
From a few feet away, a good replica passes. In the hand, the weight, the crystal, and the printed text give it away. Under a loupe the gap is clear.
Does the replica chronograph work?
On quartz and ST19 versions, yes. On the cheapest models, the subdials are decorative and only the center seconds hand moves.
Can a watchmaker tell it is a replica?
Yes. The movement, the caseback engraving, and the dial print are the tells. Anyone who has handled a real Speedmaster will spot it in seconds.
Will a replica hold its value?
No. A replica loses value the moment it ships. Genuine Snoopy editions trade above their original retail price, which is one reason copies exist.
Is a replica the same as an homage?
No. An homage borrows a style without copying a trademarked name or logo. A replica copies the Omega name, the logo, and the model markings.