Quick Answer

A fake Omega Caliber 8605 is a replica or decorated movement that looks like the genuine Co-Axial Master Chronometer but lacks its materials, construction, and METAS certification. The real 8605 is a Swiss automatic movement with a 55-hour power reserve, 39 jewels, and a 28,800 vph beat rate. Most first copy watches label a generic Chinese or Japanese automatic as "8605" and add engraved plates to mimic the look.

What the Real Omega Caliber 8605 Is

The genuine Omega Caliber 8605 belongs to the 8500 family. It has a Co-Axial escapement, two mainspring barrels, and a silicon balance spring. Omega rates it as a Master Chronometer, which means it passes METAS tests for precision and magnetic resistance to 15,000 gauss. The movement runs at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and carries 39 jewels. You will find it in models such as the Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M.

How Replica Makers Fake the 8605

Replica makers use several methods to make a cheap movement look like an 8605:

  • Engraving the rotor and bridges with "Omega 8605" and "Master Chronometer" text.
  • Adding decorative plates or stickers that copy the Co-Axial bridge shape.
  • Using a low-beat movement (21,600 vph or 3 Hz) and hiding the balance wheel under a fake plate.
  • Printing "METAS" or "Swiss Made" on a movement that has no certification.
  • Installing a date wheel with the wrong font or alignment.

How to Spot a Fake 8605

Follow these steps to check a movement claimed to be an 8605:

  1. Inspect the rotor engraving. Genuine engraving is crisp and deep. Fakes often look shallow or blurry.
  2. Check the beat rate with a timegrapher. The real 8605 runs at 28,800 vph. A reading of 21,600 vph is a clear sign of a fake.
  3. Look at the balance wheel and hairspring. The real movement has a free-sprung balance and a silicon hairspring. Fakes use a standard alloy hairspring and a regulator arm.
  4. Verify the power reserve. A genuine 8605 runs about 55 hours. Most fakes stop after 36 to 40 hours.
  5. Examine the jewels. Count the jewels if you can. The real movement has 39. Many fakes have 21 to 25.
  6. Check the date change. On the real 8605, the date flips with a sharp click at midnight. Fakes may drag or flip with a delay.
  7. Look for METAS certification. Omega supplies a card and a serial number. A fake movement has no matching certification.
  8. Compare the movement to official photos. Pay attention to the shape of the bridges, the position of the screws, and the finish.

What First Copy Watches Typically Use

Most first copy watches sold online do not contain a real 8605. They use a Seagull ST2130, a Hangzhou 6460, or a decorated ETA 2824 clone. These movements can be reliable, but they are not Co-Axial and do not have a silicon hairspring. Some high-end replicas use a custom clone with two barrels, but they still lack METAS certification and the exact finish of the genuine caliber.

Buying Advice

If you plan to buy a first copy watch with an "8605" label, ask the seller for clear photos of the movement. Check the beat rate and the jewel count. Expect a generic automatic movement, not a Swiss Master Chronometer. A fair price for a first copy watch reflects the replica movement, not the genuine caliber. If a seller claims a real 8605 inside a cheap watch, treat that claim as false.