Short answer
A fake Speedmaster Apollo 17 is a counterfeit watch built to look like an Omega Speedmaster limited edition tied to the Apollo 17 mission. Omega has issued anniversary Speedmasters for Apollo 17, including editions for the 40th anniversary in 2012 and the 45th in 2017. Counterfeit copies of limited edition Speedmasters exist. Selling or importing them is a federal crime in the United States.
The mission behind the name
Apollo 17 launched on December 7, 1972. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt landed at Taurus-Littrow on December 11, 1972. Ronald Evans stayed in lunar orbit. The crew returned on December 19, 1972. It was the last crewed Moon landing.
NASA qualified the Omega Speedmaster for crewed spaceflight in 1965. Astronauts wore the watch on Apollo missions, which is why Omega ties Speedmaster editions to mission anniversaries.
What the genuine limited editions use
- Manual-wind chronograph movement. The Speedmaster Professional has no automatic rotor.
- Three subdials at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock in a tri-compax layout.
- Engraved caseback with the Apollo 17 mission patch and a number, for example 0007/1972.
- Certificate, box and warranty card that match the case number.
The 2012 edition was limited to 1,972 pieces. Reference numbers differ by edition and year. Omega's archive and a certified dealer are the sources to check. Public reference data for each Apollo 17 edition varies, so confirm the exact numbers before you compare dials.
Details that show up on counterfeits
- Automatic movement, or a quartz movement, behind a display back.
- Subdials at the wrong clock positions, or subdial hands that do not reset to zero.
- Laser-printed caseback art instead of engraved art, and the same limited number on many units.
- Wrong dial font weight, wrong tachymeter numerals, misaligned subdial rings.
- Pushbuttons that bind, crowns with rough threads, plated cases that show base metal at the edges.
- Photocopied warranty cards, blank certificates, boxes with no model sticker.
Counterfeit sellers describe watches as Swiss made or as a 1:1 clone. The movement inside is often an Asian caliber. There is no public count of how many counterfeit Speedmasters circulate.
Legal status in the United States
- 18 U.S.C. 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine for an individual.
- 15 U.S.C. 1117 allows statutory damages up to $2,000,000 per counterfeit mark per type of goods when the infringement is willful.
- 19 U.S.C. 1526 lets U.S. Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy imported goods that carry a counterfeit mark.
- eBay, Amazon and other marketplaces remove counterfeit listings and close seller accounts.
Checks before you buy a used Speedmaster
- Ask for the case number and compare it with the certificate.
- Request photos of the movement, the caseback engraving, the crown and the pushers.
- Compare dial print with photos of the same reference from a dealer.
- Check a completed-sales database for the current price range. A new limited edition at a price far below that range suggests a counterfeit.
- Pay with a method that allows a chargeback. Wire transfers and payment apps offer no recovery.