Short answer
An imitator Speedmaster is a watch that copies the Moonwatch look without Omega parts, Omega finishing, or an Omega serial record. Most use a 39 mm to 42 mm steel case, a printed dial, and a quartz or Chinese-built mechanical chronograph movement. Genuine Speedmaster Professional references such as 3570.50.00 and 311.30.42.30.01.005 carry a movement number that matches Omega service records. That number settles most disputes.
Movement tells
- A Speedmaster Professional is hand wound. Caliber 1861 runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour. Caliber 3861 adds a Co-Axial escapement and METAS Master Chronometer certification.
- Quartz fakes show a chronograph seconds hand that ticks once per second. A mechanical chronograph hand moves in small steps.
- Seagull ST19 and other hand-wound clones run and can be serviced. The bridge shapes, jewel count, and engraving do not match a Lemania 1873 base.
Dial and bezel tells
- Three subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. A date window at 3 or 4:30 is not a Speedmaster Professional feature.
- Modern references use an applied metal Omega logo. Imitations print the logo flat on the dial.
- Bezel text and accent marks on TACHYMETRE differ from Omega tooling on many fakes.
- Old Tritium markers age to uneven cream. Fake vintage dials use one shade of beige paint on markers and hands.
Case and bracelet
The case measures 42 mm across, 20 mm between the lugs, with pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock and a thickness near 13.6 mm on caliber 1861 versions. Many imitations use a 40 mm case so a generic movement fits. Lug width then drops to 18 mm or 19 mm, and no Omega end link or bracelet will seat. The 3570.50.00 has a solid steel caseback with a seahorse medallion. The 311.30.42.30.01.005 has a sapphire display back. A watch that mixes those two layouts has swapped parts or is not Omega.
Price and paperwork
Used Speedmaster Professional prices run about 3,000 to 8,000 USD and change with reference, box, and service history. Sellers offering a new-in-box Moonwatch for 200 to 400 USD are selling an imitator. Boxes, cards, and manuals get copied, so documents prove little on their own. Check current dealer and auction listings for a live price.
Legal status in the US
Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks. Import and sale are illegal under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes shipments at ports of entry. Possession for personal use is not a federal charge. Trafficking is.