What I learned from this fake watch is that hype can be a very distracting beast. It can blind you from the truth or at least divert your attention away from the realities of what is right in front of you. It goes without saying that a Swatch x 1:1 replica Omega Speedmaster collaboration is punchy and shocking enough to drive serious interest at a broad level. The lines proved that.
But what happens when you’re the lucky buyer who was able to walk in, purchase one, take it home, and then own it? What do you really have?
You have exactly what was advertised: An AAA fake Omega Speedmaster but Swatchified. Instead of a metal case, the case is made from Swatch’s Bioceramic – a material crafted from a mixture of plastic and ceramic. It has a matte-like, rough, grainy texture to it and it is almost impossibly light. I’m not talking titanium light, but plastic light – like the difference between a steel fork and, well, a plastic fork.
I went into my experience with a clean conscience, but even I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the feel of this super clone watch. While $260 is not expensive, horologically speaking, it’s also no small sum. Knowing what brands like Seiko can do at a similar price point, I was frankly left wanting more by way of the quality of the case.
It gives off a very “3D-printed” vibe – as if this is how a watch prototype would normally be made, only, this is the final product. That being said, these same factors can actually be spun into a positive. I believe this is exactly what both brands were going for.
A Week On The Wrist: The perfect replica Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch ‘Master Chronometer’ Caliber 3861
Learn more about the cheap fake Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch from this edition of A Week on the Wrist.
Here’s what I mean. Creating an inexpensive, Swatch version of a Moonwatch has potential to be a dangerous game for a brand like Swiss made replica Omega. If you can get the same design DNA for under $300, why would you ever shell out upwards of $6k for the real thing?
In order to keep the two Swiss made fake watches separate, there needs to be a clear delineation of perceived quality. Nobody is going to buy the MoonSwatch and say to themselves “This is all I need.”
Instead, the Swiss movement fake Omega MoonSwatch represents a perfect companion to the real thing. MoonSwatch and Moonwatch coexist harmoniously. For new watch buyers, the Swatch can be the gateway to a future Speedmaster purchase. For current Speedy owners, it can be a fantastic addition to the collection. In a word, it’s fun.
I spent time with only two of the copy watches uk, as I mentioned previously. The Mission to Mars was something of a cult hit at launch. Its red case, and capsule shaped hands had people waxing horological about the cheap fake Omega Speedmaster Alaska project. Everyone wanted this watch.
What we have is a 42mm diameter case that has been designed and printed in Bioceramic to look identical to an Omega Speedmaster replica for sale. Everything from the crown guards to the lyre lugs to the “beveling” is all encoded into this case. It wears size-wise like a Speedy, as well. The only (rather significant) difference is in the weight. When you put on a MoonSwatch, you almost forget you’re wearing a watch at all – it’s that light.
Where the Omega Speedmaster fake Paypal UK is manual-winding by way of the modern 3861 caliber, the MoonSwatch is quartz-powered which is another way of keeping things both light (emotionally speaking) and inexpensive. If you turn over any MoonSwatch, you’ll notice the battery cover is designed in the likeness of the particular celestial body specific to the copy watch. This movement means that the chronograph function does not feature a sweeping seconds hand but rather a ticking one. And when the timing information is displayed it is done after the chronograph is stopped. Resetting the chrono results in a fun display where all the hands twirl around and return to their original 12 o’clock positions.
Dial details across the MoonSwatch line are also different from a classic Speedy. For one thing, the co-branding is printed directly on the dial (and on the strap). And the orientation of the text is different from what you would find on a normal top replica Omega Speedmaster.
What this release has taught me is that high quality fake watches still have magic – the ability to drum up excitement the way Apple can with a new iPhone. MoonSwatch represents a new day in the ongoing history of horology. But the question remains what that new day means. Is the cheap copy Omega MoonSwatch good for watches, or is it bad for watches? We’ll take it a step further and say: It’s great for watches.
