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zOwie Rogues Gallery Fake versions of Omega Seamasters, Speedmasters, De Villes and Constellations |
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Like many makers of fine and popular luxury products, Omega is not immune to having their designs copied. While many reputable makers of inexpensive to moderate priced watches often parallel popular maker designs -- some disreputable makers outright attempt to make and sell fake and counterfeit versions of these watches. These are illegal copies that typically sell for USD $50-150 -- but occasionally people try to pass these off as real when selling them. For more information, see the zOwie FAQ topics What about fake, replica, look-similar, and counterfeit watches? and What should I know about buying watches on the Internet?.
Here, zOwie presents a 'Rogues Gallery' of highlights of fakes we've discovered. Photos below have been extracted from images posted on Internet replica sellers' websites, various online auctions, and from direct photos taken by zOwie or submitted by our readers . Use this as your recognition guide for specifically identifying known Omega fakes as well as knowing what types of flaws to look for in fakes of any fine Swiss watch. As always, your safest route is to buy only from well respected, official sources.
| Counterfeited Omega models we've encountered or heard reports of Models noted with an asterisk * are pictured in the gallery below. |
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And do not be fooled by watches that claim to come in the original presentation box, there are fakes of the Omega watch boxes and packaging, too.
You Make Me Thick; Hollow Promises
A common giveaway on fakes is that the main part of their watch casings (excluding the bezel, crystal, and back) are often noticably thicker than the real thing. The fakes can be as much as twice as thick and the real models they are trying to resemble. Also notice that because the cases are so much thicker, that the lugs that hold the bracelet or strap have to curve much more than on the real ones to compensate for the added thickness.
1) A fake DeVille Prestige.
2) A fake Seamaster Professional Diver [photo: Andy Hsu (woobie)].
3) Fake Seamaster with the display back showing the watch is half hollow!
Bizzare Hybrids
Fakes sometimes severely mix-up names and features from completely different models -- occasionally making up very odd or nonsensical watches.
1) Chronograph buttons and a tachymeter scale on outer edge of the dial, but no chronograph features! Buttons are completely useless. Bezel was turned to an odd angle to obscure the signs that the dial was on crooked.
2) Looks like a Speedmaster Chronograph -- except it is missing all chronograph features and is labeled as a 'Seamaster.'
3) Seamaster Pro 'James Bond' style watch, but with a GMT hand. Even stranger, despite the Omega name on the dial, the watch is labeled with the non-Omega model name of 'Ocean Master.'
Seamaster: A Skeleton In The Closet
Even Omega's limited and jewelry editions are not immume from counterfeiting. Here is a replica of the $44,000 Seamaster Skeleton. It does not even have a skeleton watch movement! Contains a fairly standard movement with merely a display dial and back.
Seamaster Pro: Hands Up!
Correct hands are an often overlooked detail on fake watches.
1) These hands are the type used on the 'pre-Bond' Seamaster, not the current model.
2) Close, but the circle on the second hand should be silver, not red.
3) Skeleton hands don't go with the newer GMT-style dial.
Seamaster Pro: Read the Labels Carefully
Dial mislabeling is also a common error. Look at not only at what words should and shouldn't appear, but also the placement, lettering style, and clarity of printing.
1) Should say PROFESSIONAL CHRONOMETER, not AUTOMATIC.
2) All labeling besides the Omega name and symbol are missing, as are all the red details on the hands.
3) 'Seamaster' not in correct typeface, missing PROFESSIONAL CHRONOMETER and the depth rating.
4) Used vintage form of Omega logo, should not have anything but logo and Omega name above hands.
5) Very sloppy printing of logo markings.
Seamaster Pro: A Rose By Any Other Name...Is A Fake
Further dial mislabeling -- using the wrong name on a watch.
1) Seamaster replica inadvertently labeled Speedmaster.
2) Another Seamaster replica mislabeled as Speedmaster. Also labeled as a 'CHRONOGRAPH' -- which it clearly isn't. And Omega does not put the word 'QUARTZ' on the dial of any current or recent models.
Seamaster Pro: Missed the Mark
High quality watches like those from Omega pay particular attention to fine details of sizing, proportion, and alignment that the fakes often miss. But even on the real watches, the hands do no always align perfectly with dial and bezel markings -- due to the complexity of positioning all the mechanical and cosmetic parts.
1 & 2) Missing hour marker at 3 o'clock (which are on real Seamaster models that have this much room between date window and 3 o'click marker). Also, date too far inboard, minute hand does not reach minute markers, dot on second hand should be smaller than one on hour hand, should not have metal rims around hour markers.
3) Oversized flourescent marker on bezel.
4) Marker raised above surface of bezel.
5) Raised markers on dial with very heavy frames.
Seamaster Pro: Mismatched Colors and Combinations
Fakes often come in color combinations not offered by the manufacturer.
1) Current model Pro Diver never made with black dial and black bezel (though the GMT and America's Cup edition do have a black dial).
2) Pro Chronograph not made in black either, subdials should match dial color, subdial hands should be red, missing milled edges around base of chronograph pushers.
3) Seamaster Pro Diver not made with the blue bezel and white dial together. Also note severe alignment problems with dial, bezel, and date window.
4) Seamaster Pro Chronograph also not made with blue bezel and white dial together.
Seamaster Pro: Austin Powers' Choice?
Not content with Omega's tasteful choices and combinations of colors, fakes come in numerous dial colors not available on the model they are copying
1) gray, 2) yellow, 3) peach, 4) purple, and 5) glow in the dark!
Seamaster Pro: Missing Links
Bracelets are another area where fakes usually skimp on quality and detail.
1) Simple imitation of the elaborate 9-section Seamaster bracelet links.
2) Back side of bracelet shown in #1 reveals it is only a one piece link.
3) Entire bracelet and watch done in a polished steel finish. Real Seamaster Pros are mostly brushed steel finish with a few polished highlights.
4 & 5) Cheap folded metal links top and bottom side views.
Seamaster Pro: Failure to Clasp the Situation
1) Clasp lacks release pins on sides, text is raised instead of engraved.
2) Clasp is completely incorrect.
3) Clasp resembles the older style, like used on the 'pre-Bond' version.
4) Another incorrect clasp.
Seamaster Pro: Watch Your Backsides
1) This 'Seamonster' back was so good I had to look closely at a real Seamaster's back to tell the differences. This one is missing the Omega symbol below the seahorse and the deeper embossing effect of the circle around the seahorse.
2 & 3) But often, they simply do not try hard to the the back right.
4) See-through backs have never been available on real Seamaster Professionals (with the exception of the one rare and expensive skeleton version), but are common on the fakes.
5) See-through back shows off very mediocre watch movement.
Seamaster Pro: Crowning Around
1) Bezel at least twice as thick as it should be. Helium valve should not have raised edge -- this valve looks like the crown should. Lacks extra faceting and contouring of upper and lower case edges.
2) Helium relief valve completely missing on a model that should have it.
3) Another crown missing the Omega symbol, also shorter than it should be.
4) A gold-tone crown on an otherwise steel watch.
Seamaster GMT
1) A counterfeit GMT.
2) Wrong style hands and dial markings for the GMT, missing 'Seamaster GMT' name on dial.
3) Major misalignment of bezel markings with the crest of the bezel contours.
4) Many details correct, but date window should be white numbers on black background.
Speedmaster: Schumacher Sees a Caution Flag
1) Should say AUTOMATIC, not CHRONOMETER. Speedmasters not labeled with depth rating. Omega logo incorrectly reproduced. Dots on either side of 12 o'clock marker should be white, not black.
2) Base of hands are incorrect -- minute and hour hands should match dial color at base, second hand should have a circular hub.
3) Simple imitations of the elaborate 5-section Speedmaster bracelet links.
4) This model should have month/day/date on upper dial -- not in traditional date window. Missing split-second chronograph hand. Should say AUTOMATIC, not PROFESSIONAL.
5) Date marks around the dial like on models which use a hand to indicate the date -- but the hand is missing and the date is actually displayed in a date window instead.
DeVille Coaxial: A Skeleton In The Closet
A most unique piece. An attempt to make a fake DeVille Coaxial Skeleton. Most uniquely, it does not attempt to replicate the real DeVille Coaxial Skeleton. Instead they have chosen to produce a piece of their own design, but incorporating enough Omega style elements (a Constellation bezel, DeVille hands and case, and a Speedmaster display back) that it looks like it could be a real Omega product. Contains a fairly standard movement, some of the 'skeleton' detail is actually painted on the inside of the crystal dial. The face is completely lacking any Omega logos, yet the back of the watch and the strap are covered with authentic-seeming logos and model designations.
DeVille: True Prestige Cannot Be Counterfeited
1) Men's Deville Prestige -- yet with an unusual dial. Date window is at the 6 o'clock position -- which is unlike any current or recent model Deville of this style.
2) Ladies Deville Classic model. Similar errors on dial design and date window placement.
3) Detail of the linen center of dial and metallic-look outer dial ring. Omega does not have such a two colored dial on any current Deville models.
4) Rough imitation of the Deville Prestige's fine bracelet.
Constellation: Cindy Doesn't Wear Falsies
1) Constellations, like most watches, use IIII, not IV. Date window should be outlined in gold, not black. Minute markers should stand alone, not be between rings.
2) Missing the star under the word Constellation. 'Diamonds' should be held only by four corners, not completely surrounded by setting.
3) Definitely not the high quality, very unique, Constellation bracelet.
4) A pretty DeVille back -- but what was it doing on the back of a Constellation?