The fake Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy is a counterfeit or replica version of Omega's Silver Snoopy Award Speedmaster, the watch that honors the Apollo 13 crew and NASA's Silver Snoopy Award. Genuine examples are limited editions that trade well above retail, so the replica market fills the gap with pieces ranging from obvious quartz copies to detailed hand-wound builds. The fastest giveaway is the caseback, because the real watch animates while most fakes print a static scene.
How did Apollo 13 lead to the Silver Snoopy Award?
On April 13, 1970, an oxygen tank exploded aboard Apollo 13, and the crew used a Speedmaster to time a 14-second mid-course correction burn that steered them home. NASA later presented Omega with its Silver Snoopy Award, a pin astronauts give to people who contribute to flight safety. Omega marked the 45th anniversary in 2015 and the 50th in 2020 with two Silver Snoopy Speedmasters.
Which Silver Snoopy versions do replicas copy?
- 45th Anniversary, 2015, ref. 311.32.42.30.04.003: white dial, blue subdials and hands, silver Snoopy medallion at 9 o'clock, capped at 1,970 pieces.
- 50th Anniversary, 2020, ref. 310.32.42.50.02.001: blue dial, white chronograph hand with a Snoopy silhouette, and the Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 3861.
- Fantasy builds: sellers blend a 2015 dial with 2020 case parts or add text Omega never printed.
Both genuine watches use a 42 mm case with sapphire crystal front and back. The 2015 piece runs the hand-wound calibre 1861, a Lemania-derived chronograph that preceded the 3861.
How do you spot a fake Silver Snoopy Speedmaster?
Does the caseback move?
On the real 50th anniversary watch, Snoopy orbits inside a command module and the disc turns once per minute when the chronograph runs. Cheap replicas use a flat printed caseback with no motion, which is the clearest tell in a photo or a hand check. The 2015 model instead carries a fixed commemorative caseback, so understand which reference you are looking at before you judge it.
Is the Snoopy medallion correct?
Genuine medallions sit flush, with crisp edges and consistent polishing on the helmet and ears. Replica medallions often look soft, sit slightly proud of the dial, or show tool marks under magnification.
Do the subdials and hands line up?
Check the hand stack: the chronograph seconds hand should sweep cleanly and reset to zero without drifting. Subdial spacing on fakes frequently sits off-center, and the subdial rings can look flat rather than recessed.
What movement is inside?
A genuine 2015 watch ticks at 21,600 vibrations per hour with a smooth, mechanical sweep. Many fakes hide a quartz module behind a decorated rotor plate, which shows up as a jumping seconds hand. If the caseback opens, look for correct bridge shapes, engraving quality, and finishing on the chronograph levers.
What about engravings and paperwork?
Genuine pieces carry the reference number and a limited-edition number, such as a four-digit figure out of 1,970, engraved with sharp borders. Replica serials are often stamped rather than engraved, and the accompanying cards, manuals, and boxes rarely match the era of the watch.
What do replica grades look like in practice?
- Budget tier: quartz movement, printed caseback, mineral glass, and mismatched dial colors.
- Mid tier: automatic or hand-wound clone movement, sapphire crystal, but a static caseback and incorrect subdial spacing.
- High tier: close cosmetic match, correct 42 mm proportions, yet still missing the animated caseback and genuine finishing.
What should a buyer keep in mind?
Counterfeits infringe Omega's trademarks, and they cannot be serviced by an authorized watchmaker. Resale value is close to zero, and customs services in the United States and the European Union seize counterfeit shipments. If your goal is the Apollo 13 story, the standard Moonwatch Professional delivers the same 42 mm case and chronograph layout without the legal exposure.
FAQ
Is there a real Apollo 13 Speedmaster?
Yes. The Speedmaster Professional was flight-qualified by NASA in 1965 and used on Apollo 13 in 1970 to time the 14-second burn.
How many Silver Snoopy 45th anniversary watches exist?
Omega produced 1,970 pieces of the 2015 reference, a number tied to the year the award was created.
Can a replica ever match the genuine caseback?
No replica on the market reproduces the full animated disc, gear train, and finish of the genuine caseback assembly.