A replica Speedmaster 38mm is a counterfeit copy of the Omega Speedmaster 38 mm. The genuine watch has a 38 mm steel case and the Omega calibre 3330, an automatic chronograph with a Co-Axial escapement. Copies sold online use clones of the ETA 7753, other low-cost automatic chronograph movements, or quartz modules. No copy matches Omega case finishing, and Omega will not service one. Selling or importing these watches is a federal crime in the United States under 18 U.S.C. 2320.

Genuine Speedmaster 38mm Specs

  • Case: stainless steel, 38 mm diameter, about 14.7 mm thick, 18 mm lug width
  • Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective treatment
  • Movement: Omega calibre 3330, automatic, column wheel chronograph, 52 hour power reserve
  • Dial: three subdials at 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, date window at 3 o'clock
  • Water resistance: 100 m
  • Bracelet: steel with polished center links, or leather strap
  • US retail: about $4,000 to $6,000, based on reference and metal

Specs shift between references. Ref 324.30.38.50.01.001 is a 38 mm steel model on a bracelet with a black dial.

Tells on a 38mm Replica

  1. Chronograph seconds hand. A quartz copy jumps once per second. The calibre 3330 beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, so the hand steps eight times per second.
  2. Date window. Copies show the wrong font, a raised date ring, or a window with sharp corners.
  3. Subdial hands. Genuine subdial hands reach the minute track. Copy hands stop short.
  4. Caseback. Engraving depth, the seahorse medallion, and the reference number stamping are shallow or misaligned on copies.
  5. Pushers and crown. Copy pushers feel gritty and have a short travel.
  6. Crystal tint. Many copies show a heavy blue tint from outside coating.
  7. Bracelet fit. Endlinks sit loose and the clasp stamping is faint.

Legal Status in the US

18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods and carries prison time for a first offense. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1114, lets a trademark owner sue for damages and lost profits. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at the border, including single items shipped to a home address. US law targets sellers and importers. One watch for personal use is not the focus of the trafficking statute, but the watch remains subject to seizure.

Name Confusion: 38mm, Reduced, and Professional

Three different watches share the Speedmaster name. The Speedmaster Reduced, ref 3510.50, ran from 1988 to 2009 with a 39 mm case and an ETA-based movement. The Speedmaster 38 mm arrived in 2017. The Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is 42 mm. Listings mix these names, and a 39 mm Reduced is often sold as a 38 mm.

Price Signals

  • A used 38 mm Speedmaster sells from about $2,500 and up.
  • Listings at $300 to $600 are copies.
  • A 39 mm Reduced is not a 38 mm and sells for less than the modern 38 mm.

The number of workshops that build a 38 mm copy is not public. Movement supplies change, so the same listing can ship with different internals over time.

Before You Buy a Used Speedmaster 38

  • Get the full reference number and compare it to Omega published specs.
  • Ask for a photo of the caseback and of the movement.
  • Ask for a timed run of the chronograph and a photo of the running seconds subdial.
  • Check the serial against an Omega service record where one exists.