Short answer
A replica Omega Seamaster Olympic Games is a copy of the Seamaster Olympic Games Collection that Omega released in 2018. Omega does not make it and does not authorize it. The copy uses a different movement, different steel finishing, and no METAS certification. Prices run from $35 to $220. Under US law, selling or importing it is illegal.
The watch being copied
Omega launched the Seamaster Olympic Games Collection in 2018 to mark its role as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games. Five references exist. Each uses one Olympic ring color on the dial ring: blue, yellow, black, green, or red. Case diameter is 39.5 mm. Production was capped at 2,032 pieces per reference, a number tied to Omega's timekeeping contract with the IOC, which runs to 2032. Inside sits the Master Chronometer Calibre 8800 with a 55 hour power reserve. METAS tested the movement to 15,000 gauss. Retail price at launch sat in the $5,000 range. Secondhand prices vary by reference and condition.
Where copies differ
- Movement: quartz or a basic automatic at 21,600 vph. The original runs at 25,200 vph.
- Dial ring: printed paint on most copies. The original uses anodized aluminum.
- Case finishing: brushed and polished lines do not meet at the lugs.
- Caseback: engraving depth, font, and serial numbers do not match Omega records. Numbers repeat across units.
- Magnetism: a copy has no anti-magnetic cage. A household magnet can stop it.
- Weight: copies run 20 to 40 grams lighter than the original.
Checks before you pay
- Ask for the movement name and beat rate.
- Request angled photos of the caseback and crown.
- Time the watch for 24 hours. A quartz copy loses nothing. A cheap automatic can lose 20 seconds a day.
- Confirm the return policy in writing before payment.
Legal position in the US
18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments under 19 U.S.C. 1526. Online marketplaces remove listings and close accounts. Buyers can lose the item and the money. Resale of a counterfeit as an original adds legal exposure.
What is unknown
Replica makers change factories and parts without notice. Two watches sold from the same listing photos can arrive with different movements. No independent lab tests these copies, so accuracy, water resistance, and service life are unverified.