Short answer
A replica Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon copies the outline and color of Omega's 44.25 mm black ceramic chronograph. It does not copy the movement, the case material, or the dial finish. Most replicas run a modified Asian 7750 automatic or an ST19 hand-wound movement. The genuine watch runs Omega calibre 9300, an automatic co-axial with a column wheel, a vertical clutch, and a silicon balance spring. In the United States, selling or importing a counterfeit watch is illegal under 18 U.S.C. § 2320 and 19 U.S.C. § 1304.
The genuine reference
Omega launched the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon in 2013. The base reference is 311.92.44.51.01.003. The case measures 44.25 mm across and is made from black zirconium oxide ceramic. The bezel carries a tachymeter scale in chromium nitride. The dial is ceramic. Subdial rings are cut by laser, so they sit in shallow recesses below the dial surface. Hands and hour markers are white gold with white Super-LumiNova. Water resistance is 50 m. Calibre 9300 has twin barrels, a 60-hour power reserve, the date at 6 o'clock, small seconds at 9 o'clock, and a combined 12-hour and 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock.
Where copies differ
- Case: real ceramic is black through the full thickness. Many replicas use steel with a PVD or DLC coating. A chip or scuff at a lug edge exposes grey metal.
- Weight: ceramic is lighter than steel and holds heat longer, so it feels warm after a few minutes on the wrist. Coated steel stays cool.
- Dial: laser-ablated rings on the genuine have a matte floor and a sharp edge. Replicas print the rings or bond a thin plate. At 10x magnification the edge is the first tell.
- Movement: a 7750 has one barrel, about 40 hours of reserve, and a cam-actuated chronograph. Calibre 9300 has two barrels, 60 hours, and a column wheel. Push the top pusher and the feel is different.
- Caseback: engraving depth, font weight, and rotor finish vary on copies.
US law
18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime with fines and prison terms. 19 U.S.C. § 1304 blocks import of goods that carry a counterfeit mark. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114, lets a trademark owner sue sellers for damages. Customs and Border Protection inspects shipments and seizes counterfeit watches. The buyer of a seized parcel loses the money paid and gets no refund. The trafficking and import bans are the statutes that apply to sellers and shippers.
Service, parts, resale
Omega service centers refuse counterfeit watches. Independent watchmakers can service an Asian 7750, and parts for that base are common. Parts for a co-axial 9300 copy are not available from Omega. Resale value for a replica is close to zero. A genuine reference 311.92.44.51.01.003 sells secondhand for several thousand dollars, and a genuine watch can be documented through Omega's Extract from the Archives.
Checks when comparing one
- Weigh the head. A 44 mm ceramic case weighs less than a steel case of the same size.
- Inspect the subdial rings at 10x.
- Test both pushers for a light, even action.
- Listen to the rotor. A 7750 rotor is loud and has a wobble.
- Look at the caseback text and the finish under the lume plots.