The top pick for a hippocampus 2018 clone is a 42 mm first copy built to the 2018 Seamaster Diver 300M layout: ceramic wave dial, date at 6 o'clock, helium escape valve at 10 o'clock, and a display caseback. I judged every option on four points that separate a convincing first copy from a costume piece. Does the case match the 42 mm diameter and the 20 mm lug width of the original? Does the dial carry a real cut wave texture instead of a printed grid? Is the movement a serviceable automatic rather than a sealed quartz? And do the bezel, crystal, and bracelet finishing hold up at arm's length? The sections below walk through each test with pros, cons, and a use case.

related article

What "Hippocampus 2018 Clone" Means

Hippocampus is the name used in Chinese-language watch circles for the Omega Seamaster, and the 2018 refresh is the Seamaster Diver 300M. That reference brought in a ceramic dial cut with a wave pattern, moved the date to 6 o'clock, and kept the helium escape valve at 10 o'clock. A clone in this market means a first copy: the exterior follows the dimensions, dial layout, and finish of the original, while the interior runs a third-party automatic movement in place of the genuine calibre 8800. Knowing which reference you are copying matters. A copy built on an earlier Seamaster case carries the wrong date position, a flatter dial, and a thicker bezel, and it reads as a different watch to anyone who knows the line.

Hippocampus 2018 Copy Watch: A First Copy Buyer's Guide

Criterion 1: Case Size and Profile

The genuine 2018 Seamaster Diver 300M measures 42 mm across with a 20 mm lug width, slab-cut case sides, and a taper into the lugs. Copies live or die on this. A case that measures 44 mm, or that takes a 22 mm strap, will not sit the way the original does.

hippocampus 2018 fake

  • Pros: matches the 42 mm diameter and 20 mm lugs, so aftermarket straps and steel bracelets fit without adapters.
  • Pros: correct crown position and a shaped helium escape valve at 10 o'clock preserve the dive-watch silhouette.
  • Pros: slab sides and a defined lug taper sit flat on the wrist instead of riding high.
  • Cons: thicker casebacks are common, and the extra millimeter changes how the watch tucks under a shirt cuff.
  • Cons: low-grade builds glue the helium escape valve in place, so the crown detail is decorative.
  • Cons: polished lug flanks on a brushed case are the fastest tell in person.

Best for: anyone who swaps straps, wears the watch to an office, or wants it to pass at normal conversation distance.

Hippocampus 2018 Fake: How to Tell What You Are Buying

Criterion 2: Dial Texture and Date Position

The 2018 dial is ceramic with a laser-cut wave pattern that changes with the light, and the date sits at 6 o'clock. Earlier Seamaster generations put the date at 3 o'clock, so a copy with a window at 3 is copying the wrong reference.

  • Pros: a cut wave dial catches light at an angle, which is the single strongest visual cue on this model.
  • Pros: date at 6 o'clock, framed by a metal surround, matches the genuine layout.
  • Pros: applied markers with a polished edge and luminous fill keep the dial from looking flat.
  • Cons: printed wave patterns look convincing in photos and obvious on the wrist.
  • Cons: shallow engraving on cheaper dials disappears indoors, where most people see the watch.
  • Cons: misaligned date wheels and off-center surrounds show up fast at 6 o'clock.

Best for: buyers who want the 2018 look specifically and would rather pay for dial quality than for a decorated movement.

Criterion 3: Movement and Caseback

The genuine watch shows its work through a display caseback. The calibre 8800 runs at 25,200 vibrations per hour with a 55-hour reserve and carries METAS Master Chronometer certification, which a first copy cannot claim. What you can check on a copy is whether the movement hacks, hand-winds, and takes a service.

  • Pros: Japanese automatic movements are reliable, easy to regulate, and cheap to replace if one fails.
  • Pros: Swiss-format 2824 patterns accept common parts, so any watchmaker can service them.
  • Pros: a see-through caseback with a decorated rotor keeps the back of the watch interesting.
  • Cons: decorative plates and rotor engraving vary a lot between batches, and some sit at the wrong angle.
  • Cons: "Swiss made" stamps appear on movements that were not assembled in Switzerland.
  • Cons: a solid caseback on a model that should show its movement is an obvious mismatch.

Best for: daily wearers who value a movement they can repair over one that only looks correct through the back.

Criterion 4: Bezel, Crystal, and Bracelet

The 2018 bezel uses a ceramic insert with white enamel-filled markings and a scalloped edge for grip. The crystal is sapphire with anti-reflective coating, and the bracelet is a multi-link design with brushed outer links and a fold-over clasp that includes a dive extension.

  • Pros: a sapphire crystal with coating on the inside face keeps glare down and resists scratches.
  • Pros: 120-click bezel action with clean alignment at 12 o'clock is achievable on a good copy.
  • Pros: solid end links that sit flush against the case make the bracelet look factory.
  • Cons: painted bezel markings wear at the 15 and 30 minute marks within months.
  • Cons: hollow end links and stamped clasps rattle and date the watch.
  • Cons: weak anti-reflective coating makes the dial look gray under indoor light.

Best for: collectors who display the watch and care about bezel alignment and crystal clarity more than movement branding.

Criterion 5: Water Resistance and Daily Use

The original is rated to 300 m and tested to that figure. A first copy may use the same gaskets, but nobody pressure-tests it at the factory, so treat the rating as a claim rather than a fact.

  • Pros: a screw-down crown and caseback gaskets handle rain, handwashing, and splashes.
  • Pros: a watchmaker can pressure-test a copy for a small fee and confirm the seals.
  • Cons: factory water-resistance claims on copies cannot be verified before purchase.
  • Cons: using the helium escape valve or the crown underwater invites a leak.
  • Cons: salt water and chlorine shorten gasket life, and replacements are not always available.

Best for: desk divers and travelers who want the look without treating the watch as dive equipment.

Which Version Fits Your Use Case

For everyday desk wear, choose a mid-grade automatic with a ceramic wave dial, sapphire crystal, and a display caseback. The dial and crystal are what people see, and they matter more than rotor decoration. For a display piece or a collection that gets photographed, buy the highest build grade you can find, because bezel alignment, dial texture, and bracelet end-link fit are the details that show in close shots. For a gift or an occasional-wear watch, an entry automatic is enough, provided you skip quartz. A ticking second hand on a mechanical dive watch is the one flaw anyone can spot from across a table.

Checklist Before You Order

  1. Confirm a 42 mm case and a 20 mm lug width.
  2. Confirm the date window sits at 6 o'clock.
  3. Confirm the dial wave pattern is cut into the ceramic, not printed on top.
  4. Confirm a sapphire crystal and a see-through caseback.
  5. Confirm the movement hacks and hand-winds.
  6. Ask whether the watch was pressure-tested and whether spare links come with it.

Buy the copy that gets the case, dial, and crystal right. Those three parts carry the whole look of the hippocampus 2018 clone, and everything else can be fixed or replaced later.