A replica Omega Speedmaster Gray Side of the Moon is a non-genuine copy of the 2014 Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph in grey ceramic, reference 311.93.44.51.99.001. Replicas imitate the 44.25 mm grey case, the two-register dial with subdials near 3 and 9 o'clock, the date window at 6, and the tachymeter bezel. The differences sit inside and underneath: coated steel or alloy instead of solid ceramic, mineral glass instead of sapphire, and a quartz or basic automatic movement instead of Omega's Co-Axial caliber 9300.
What does the genuine Gray Side of the Moon look like?
Omega built this Speedmaster around a full grey ceramic case and a matching ceramic bezel with a printed tachymeter scale. The dial is grey with two subdials and a date at 6 o'clock, and the hands and markers carry Super-LumiNova. The caseback shows the Co-Axial caliber 9300 through a sapphire window, and the watch ships on a grey leather strap with a folding clasp.
How does a first copy differ from the original?
- Case material: genuine grey ceramic feels light and slightly warm; most copies use steel with a grey coating or PVD finish, which feels colder and heavier.
- Movement: the original runs a self-winding chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch; entry copies use quartz or a basic automatic with a chronograph module.
- Subdials: on many cheaper copies the small dials are decorative and do not count minutes or hours.
- Crystal: sapphire on the original, mineral glass or acrylic on most replicas.
- Dial printing: text weight, spacing, and the logo shape are the fastest tells under a loupe.
- Caseback: engravings often look shallow, and rotor decoration rarely matches Omega's finishing.
Which replica tiers exist?
Entry copies sell for roughly $80 to $150 and usually run quartz with a fixed chronograph layout. Mid-tier copies at $150 to $300 add a working automatic chronograph and a sapphire crystal. High-grade first copies, often called super clones, run $300 to $600 and copy dial layout, crown guards, and strap hardware more closely, though the ceramic case and movement remain substitutes.
What should you check before buying?
- Confirm the case size is listed as 44.25 mm, not the 42 mm or 38 mm Speedmaster cases.
- Ask whether the subdials actually function or are decorative.
- Request real photos of the exact watch, not factory renders.
- Check the date position at 6 o'clock and the tachymeter font on the bezel.
- Verify strap width, clasp style, and water resistance claims.
Are replica watches legal to buy?
Rules vary by country. Buying a replica for personal use is tolerated in some places, but selling one as genuine is fraud everywhere, and customs can seize shipments. A first copy carries no Omega warranty, no service support, and no resale value.