Short answer

A replica Speedmaster Apollo 11 is a copy of Omega's 2019 Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary, reference 310.20.42.50.01.001. Omega made 6,969 pieces. Replicas copy the outside: case shape, step dial, gold bezel ring, caseback medallion. Most use a quartz or a Chinese manual-wind chronograph. None use the Omega calibre 3861.

What the original watch has

  • 42 mm steel case with a Moonshine gold bezel ring and a black ceramic tachymeter insert
  • Step dial, applied indexes, vintage Omega logo, no date
  • Sapphire crystal on the front and on the caseback
  • Calibre 3861: Co-Axial escapement, METAS Master Chronometer certification, 50 hour power reserve, 21,600 vph
  • Caseback with a mission patch medallion and 1969-2019 engraving

Each point above is a place where a replica can differ, and most do differ on at least two.

Build types you will see

  • Meca-quartz, Seiko VK family. The chronograph hand sweeps when started. Subdials exist but the 24 hour register and the running seconds do not match the original layout.
  • Seagull ST19 manual wind. Column wheel, crisp pushers, about 40 hours of reserve. The subdial spacing sits wider than the 3861 layout.
  • Generic Chinese quartz. Cheapest tier. Pushers feel soft. The chronograph second hand often snaps back to zero with a visible jump.

Details that separate one build from another

  • Subdial position and hand shape. Compare the 3, 6 and 9 registers against a photo of the genuine dial.
  • Tachymeter print. Genuine text is thin and even. Copies show thick strokes and uneven spacing near 500.
  • Bezel insert material. Ceramic looks matte under direct light. Painted aluminum looks flat and scratches.
  • Caseback engraving depth. Mission patch details blur on low tier samples.
  • End link fit and bracelet taper. Gaps at the lugs are common.
  • Lume color. Genuine lume is pale cream. Many replicas run yellow or green.

Price bands

Asking prices observed in 2024 and 2025: $40 to $90 for quartz builds, $120 to $260 for ST19 builds, $300 to $550 for the best finished samples with a sapphire crystal and a ceramic insert. Bracelet type and shipping add to the total. No replica at any price matches the 3861 movement.

Legal risk

Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy a shipment. Selling a replica as an Omega is trademark counterfeiting under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Resale carries more exposure than a single personal purchase, but seizure risk applies to both.

Questions to ask a seller

  1. Which movement, and what is the power reserve?
  2. Case diameter and thickness in millimeters, measured with calipers?
  3. Crystal material: sapphire, mineral, or acrylic?
  4. Bezel insert: ceramic or aluminum?
  5. Photos of the caseback under side light?
  6. Photos of the subdials at 3, 6 and 9 with the chronograph running?

Ask for the same photo angles the seller uses for the front. Side light shows engraving depth and dial finish. Flat light hides both.