Quick answer

The Omega Speedmaster "Grey Side of the Moon" is reference 311.93.44.51.99.001, a 44.25 mm Speedmaster with a grey ceramic case and a platinum dial. Omega released it in 2014. Replicas sell in several grades, from quartz models in the tens of dollars to automatic copies at USD 300 to USD 900. Four checks separate a fake from a genuine watch: case material and weight, dial finish, the movement behind the display back, and the paperwork.

What the genuine watch is

  • Case: 44.25 mm, grey silicon nitride ceramic, sand-blasted. Ceramic is non-magnetic and light. Density is about 3.2 g/cm3 against 7.8 g/cm3 for steel.
  • Bezel: grey ceramic ring with a tachymeter scale.
  • Dial: sand-blasted platinum (Pt950), applied 18K white gold indices, Super-LumiNova.
  • Movement: Omega caliber 9300, automatic, co-axial escapement, Si14 silicon balance spring, two barrels, 60-hour power reserve, 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). Layout: small seconds at 9 o'clock, combined 60-minute and 12-hour totalizer at 3 o'clock, date at 6 o'clock.
  • Caseback: sapphire display back.

Confirm the reference number and current specs with Omega before you buy. Reference numbers in the "Side of the Moon" family sit close together and are easy to mix up. I could not verify the exact US launch price from a primary source, so treat any figure you see online as unconfirmed.

How to spot a fake

1. Case and weight

Grey ceramic is solid grey through the material. Scratch it and the colour stays grey. PVD coating over steel shows silver once the coating is cut. A magnet sticks to a steel case exterior and does not stick to a ceramic one. Silicon nitride is light, so a fake case in steel feels heavier than the real thing.

2. Dial and hands

The genuine dial is platinum with a matte, sand-blasted surface. Print is thin and sharp. The Omega symbol, "OMEGA", "SPEEDMASTER" and "CO-AXIAL" text sit at exact distances from each other. Subdial rings are recessed, not printed on top. Indices are applied metal, set level, and filled with lume that glows green. Fakes use painted brass or aluminium dials, thicker print, glued indices with gaps, and lume that fades in minutes. The date font is a common tell. The genuine window uses a thin, tall numeral.

3. Movement

Caliber 9300 beats at 4 Hz, which reads as 8 ticks per second on a timing app. The balance spring is silicon and the bridge is marked "Si14". Two barrels sit side by side. Fakes run a Seagull ST19 at 3 Hz (6 ticks per second), an Asian 7750 derivative, or quartz. A quartz fake has a ticking seconds hand. Push the chronograph: a genuine 9300 starts and stops with no lag in the central chronograph hand.

4. Caseback, paperwork and price

Genuine watches carry a reference number and a serial. Engraving is crisp. Omega does not run a public serial lookup for authentication, so a service centre or a qualified watchmaker has to open the case. Paperwork includes cards with serial numbers that match the watch. A price far below current market listings points to a fake, a stolen watch, or a scam.

Legal status in the United States

US law separates two things that sellers blur. Grey market means a genuine watch sold outside Omega's authorized dealers. Counterfeit means a fake. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2320, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime, with penalties that include prison and fines. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit watches shipped into the country. CBP states that counterfeits are prohibited even for personal use. Reselling a fake as genuine adds fraud exposure.

Words sellers use

"First copy", "AAA", "1:1" and "super clone" are seller terms, not industry grades. No standard body defines them. Two sellers can use "1:1" for watches from different factories. Ask for photos of the actual watch, the movement, and the caseback before paying.

Before you buy a replica

Treat a replica as a replica. It will not hold value. Omega will not service it and will not supply parts. The movement is a Chinese or Japanese copy with no service network in most countries. Water resistance claims on replicas are untested, so do not swim with one. Ceramic parts on cheap copies chip and cannot be polished. Plated cases wear through at the crown and lugs within months of daily wear.