The Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon is a ceramic-cased chronograph Omega launched in 2014 as reference 311.93.44.51.99.001. It has a 44.25 mm grey ceramic case, a grey ceramic bezel with a Liquidmetal tachymeter scale, a sand-blasted grey dial with subdials at 3 and 9, a date at 6 o'clock, and the in-house Caliber 9300 automatic movement behind a sapphire display back. Fakes of this model exist, and nearly all of them give themselves away in the same three places: the case is steel instead of ceramic, the chronograph runs on a generic 7750 base with the wrong subdial layout, and the caseback or movement decoration does not match Omega's finishing.
What the fake usually gets wrong
Case and weight
Grey ceramic is not painted metal. A ceramic case has a matte, slightly granular surface that stays cool to the touch and does not pick up hairline scratches from a key or a coin. Many replicas use a steel case with a grey coating. The coating wears through at the lugs and crown guards, and the watch carries the extra heft of steel. A genuine ceramic case also has crisp, sharp edges at the lugs, because ceramic is molded and then diamond-polished, not stamped.
Dial and subdial layout
On the Caliber 9300, the subdial at 3 o'clock combines the chronograph hours and minutes in one register, and the subdial at 9 o'clock is the running seconds. The date sits at 6 o'clock. A copy built on a Valjoux 7750 base has three registers, or a 30-minute counter at 12, or a date at 3. Check the hand stack too. The genuine uses 18K white gold hands with a polished finish and sharp bevels.
Movement and caseback
The display back should show the 9300 with its two barrels, co-axial escapement, silicon balance spring, and the Si14 marking on the balance. Replica movements show a rotor with engraved lettering, no Si14 stamp, and a different bridge shape. Engraving on the caseback should be sharp and centered.
How to check a Grey Side of the Moon before you buy
- Ask for the full reference number and compare it with 311.93.44.51.99.001.
- Weigh the watch head by hand and feel the case temperature. Ceramic feels different from coated steel.
- Start the chronograph and watch the 3 o'clock register. It should track both minutes and hours in one subdial.
- Set the date to the 31st and roll it forward. The jump should be clean and land at 6 o'clock.
- Flip the watch over and look for the Si14 balance spring and two mainspring barrels through the sapphire back.
- Compare every line of dial printing with official photos. Spacing, font weight, and the applied logo are the usual tells.
- Take it to an independent watchmaker who services Omega for a movement verification before money changes hands.
For buyers shopping first-copy versions
A first-copy listing is a replica, not a genuine Omega, and it will not be serviced by Omega or covered by any factory warranty. Replicas cannot be authenticated as genuine, and importing them can lead to seizure by customs in the United States and other countries. If you collect first-copy watches, buy with that in mind. Ask the seller for clear photos of the caseback, the movement, and the chronograph running, and confirm the return policy in writing.