Short answer
No Omega model is named Apollo 17 replica. The phrase covers two different objects. The first is the Speedmaster Apollo XVII 40th Anniversary, reference 311.30.42.30.03.001, a limited edition of 1,972 pieces released in 2012. The second is a counterfeit copy of that watch or of a standard Moonwatch, sold on gray sites and social channels for $50 to $600.
The genuine reference
Apollo 17 launched Dec. 7, 1972 and landed on the Moon Dec. 11, 1972. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt walked on the surface. Ron Evans stayed in lunar orbit. Omega tied the 40th anniversary edition to that mission.
- 42 mm steel case, blue dial, gold applied hour markers.
- Calibre 1861. Manual wind, cam-switched chronograph.
- Sapphire crystal front and back.
- Caseback carries the Apollo 17 mission patch.
- 1,972 pieces made. The number matches the mission year.
Omega has issued other Moonwatch editions tied to Apollo 17. Check the reference number against Omega's own product listing before trusting a seller's description.
replica speedmaster apollo 17 vs original
What a counterfeit copy gets wrong
Copies of this reference are less common than copies of the standard Moonwatch. When they appear, these are the usual tells.
replica of speedmaster apollo 17
- Subdial spacing. The calibre 1861 places the subdials closer to the center than a stock chronograph layout.
- Case thickness. The Seagull ST19 movement used in many copies adds about 1 mm.
- Dial printing. Gold markers on the original are applied above the dial surface. Copies print them or glue them flat.
- Caseback engraving. Laser engraving on the original has depth. Copies use a shallow stamp.
- Serial and reference numbers. Omega stamps the caseback and the movement.
Legal status in the US
A watch that carries the Omega name, the Speedmaster name, or the mission patch without a license is counterfeit. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy the shipment. Trafficking in counterfeit goods carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. Section 2320, with prison terms up to 10 years for a first offense. A personal purchase is not charged the same way as a sale, but the goods stay subject to seizure at import.
A homage watch is a separate category. It copies a case shape or dial layout but carries no other company's trademark. That is legal in the US.
Checks before you buy
- Ask for the reference number and compare it to the Omega listing for that edition.
- Ask for photos of the movement through the display back. The 1861 has a cam and a column-free layout.
- Ask for the measured case thickness. Anything past 14 mm on a 42 mm case points to a third-party movement.
- Ask for the limited edition number and its position. Omega engraves it on the caseback.
What is not public
Counterfeit prices change by seller and are not published. No independent body verifies these watches. There is no factory record, warranty, or service network behind a copy, so parts and repairs are not available from Omega.