Quick Answer

Three Omega Speedmaster references carry the Apollo 13 story. Ref 3578.51.00 came out in 2003 in 5,441 pieces. Ref 311.32.42.30.04.003 came out in 2015 in 1,970 pieces. Ref 310.32.42.50.02.001 came out in 2020. Replicas copy the 42 mm steel case, the dial and the bracelet. Most replicas run a different movement, and that shows at the caseback and in the subdial spacing.

Apollo 13 And The Speedmaster

Apollo 13 launched on April 11, 1970. A liquid oxygen tank ruptured on April 13. The crew was Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise. The lunar module became the lifeboat. The crew timed a 14 second burn on the lunar module descent engine with a Speedmaster on a wrist. The burn set the entry angle for reentry. NASA had certified the Speedmaster for manned spaceflight in March 1965 after tests in Houston.

NASA gave Omega the Silver Snoopy Award on October 5, 1970. The Silver Snoopy is a pin the astronaut corps hands to people and teams for work that touched flight safety or mission success. Omega put the pin and the beagle on later Speedmaster dials and casebacks.

The Three Snoopy References

  • 3578.51.00, 2003. Black dial, 42 mm steel case, white Snoopy print on the 9 o'clock subdial. 5,441 pieces. Calibre 1861, hand wound, 21,600 vph, 48 hour power reserve.
  • 311.32.42.30.04.003, 2015. White dial, black counters, 42 mm steel case. 1,970 pieces, a nod to the year 1970. Calibre 1861, hand wound, 21,600 vph, 48 hour power reserve.
  • 310.32.42.50.02.001, 2020. Blue dial, silver counters, 42 mm steel case. Calibre 3861, hand wound, co-axial, Master Chronometer, 25,200 vph, 50 hour power reserve. The caseback holds an animated Snoopy in a command module.

What Replica Builders Copy

Case size, dial color, hand shape, the dot over 90 on the bezel, and the bracelet links. The 2015 dial uses a white base with black registers, which is easier to print than the blue and silver 2020 dial. The 2020 caseback is the hard part. A working animated disc needs parts a standard replica case does not have.

Checks Before You Buy

  1. Case size. The Speedmaster Professional is 42 mm across, about 13 mm to 14 mm thick, with 20 mm lugs.
  2. Subdial layout. The 1861 and 3861 put the small seconds at 9, the 30 minute counter at 3, the 12 hour counter at 6. A 7750 based copy moves these and adds a date window.
  3. Movement type. The genuine watches are hand wound. A rotor behind the caseback is a giveaway.
  4. Beat rate. 21,600 vph on the 1861, 25,200 vph on the 3861.
  5. Caseback. The 2015 and 2020 backs use metal and enamel parts, not flat print.
  6. Crystal. Hesalite models use a domed plastic crystal with the Omega logo at the center. Sapphire models carry a coat on both faces.
  7. Lume. Plot count and shape change by reference. Compare against photos of the correct reference, not a stock image.

Legal Note

In the United States, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. section 2320. Customs can seize counterfeit shipments under 19 U.S.C. section 1526. Buyers carry the risk of loss on a seized parcel.