Short answer

A fake Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 is a counterfeit of the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award line, the watches Omega built to mark the Apollo 13 mission and the Silver Snoopy Award NASA gave the brand in 1970. The most copied model is the 2020 Speedmaster Apollo 13 50th Anniversary Silver Snoopy Award, reference 310.32.42.50.02.001. No replica matches the original's animated Snoopy caseback, its METAS-certified caliber 3861, or its finishing. Most counterfeits fail on four checks: the 9 o'clock subdial, the caseback, the movement, and the serial paperwork.

The Apollo 13 Speedmasters that get copied

  • 2003 Speedmaster Snoopy Award, reference 3578.51.00. Black dial, Snoopy on the 9 o'clock subdial, 5,441 pieces.
  • 2015 Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award, reference 311.32.42.30.04.003. White dial, comic-strip Snoopy, 1,970 pieces.
  • 2020 Speedmaster Apollo 13 50th Anniversary Silver Snoopy Award, reference 310.32.42.50.02.001. Blue dial, 42mm steel case, animated Snoopy on the sapphire caseback.

All three have been copied. The 2015 and 2020 get copied most because demand outran supply at launch and still has not cooled.

How to inspect a watch before you buy

  1. Measure the case. The 2020 model is 42mm across, and the lugs, case flanks, and crown guards follow the fourth-generation Speedmaster profile. Fakes run 0.5mm to 1mm off and show soft edges on the lugs and pushers.
  2. Watch the 9 o'clock subdial. On the 2020 watch the running seconds carry a small Earth disc that turns as the watch runs. On most fakes the Earth is printed on a flat disc and never moves.
  3. Turn the watch over. The 2020 caseback has a sapphire window with a silver Snoopy figure tied to the chronograph, set against an Earth and Moon backdrop. A replica shows a flat stamped Snoopy on a solid back or a static decal under glass.
  4. Check the caliber. A real 2020 uses the Omega caliber 3861, a Co-Axial Master Chronometer with 26 jewels, 50 hours of power reserve, and a silicon balance spring. Inspect the rotor engraving, the striping and perlage, and the balance bridge shape. Replicas hide a Chinese or cloned 7750 or ST19 base under a decorative plate.
  5. Match the numbers. The serial on the case, the movement, the warranty card, and the Master Chronometer certification card must agree. That card carries a METAS test number tied to one specific watch.
  6. Compare the dial print. Font weight, the spacing of the brand name and symbol, lume color, and subdial rings are where cheap fakes fail. Bring a photo of a genuine dial shot at the same angle.
  7. Ask for an authentication. A watchmaker with an Omega parts account can open the case and confirm the movement in minutes.

What replicas get right

Good fakes copy the silhouette. They get the 42mm case, the blue dial tone, the stepped subdials, and the bracelet or strap close enough for arm's-length photos. The problems appear up close and over time: chronograph reset, pusher feel, crown threads, lume duration, and water resistance. Many fakes stop at 30 meters of water resistance or less and fog after a swim.

Price, supply, and the law in the US

Genuine Snoopy editions sell above retail on the secondary market, often for two to four times the launch price, which is why fakes exist. A counterfeit runs $60 to $400 depending on the tier. Sellers use words like clone, 1:1, or super rep instead of counterfeit. In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and selling a fake watch bearing a real brand mark also brings civil liability under the Lanham Act. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at the border and can destroy them.

Before you pay

  1. Ask for the reference number and compare it against the published specs for that exact model.
  2. Request photos of the movement, the caseback, and every card. Stock photos are a red flag.
  3. Meet at a watchmaker or an authorized dealer for inspection if the seller agrees.
  4. Pay with a method that offers buyer protection and save the listing text.
  5. Walk away if the price sits far below market. A Snoopy 50th does not sell at a discount.