Short answer

Omega released the Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Limited Edition in 2019. The steel version is reference 310.20.42.50.01.001, limited to 6,969 pieces. A second version in 18k Moonshine gold was limited to 1,014 pieces. Both run the manual-wind Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 3861. Copies of both exist. Most copies fail three checks: the bezel insert, the caseback engraving, and the movement behind the sapphire back.

What the genuine watch has

  • Case: 42 mm, 20 mm lug width, 50 m water resistance.
  • Movement: calibre 3861, manual wind, co-axial escapement, 26 jewels, 50 hours of power reserve, 21,600 vph, METAS Master Chronometer certified.
  • Bezel: burgundy ceramic insert with Moonshine gold numerals. Moonshine gold is an 18k alloy of gold, palladium, and silver.
  • Crystal: sapphire front and back. The back shows the lunar surface and the Apollo 11 mission patch.
  • Dial: black with Moonshine gold hands and markers.
  • Production: 6,969 steel, 1,014 Moonshine gold.

Checks on a suspected copy

  1. Bezel insert. Genuine inserts are burgundy ceramic. Copies use painted aluminum or plated plastic. The color reads orange or bright red.
  2. Caseback. Genuine backs carry a laser-engraved lunar surface and a Moonshine gold ring. Copies print a flat image or glue a plate.
  3. Movement. Look for the 3861 through the sapphire back. A rotor inside a Speedmaster that should be manual wind is a copy.
  4. Edition number. Copies leave out the number or stamp a sequence that does not match the Master Chronometer card.
  5. Print and subdials. Genuine print stays crisp under a 10x loupe. Copies show thick text and uneven spacing.
  6. Papers. A genuine watch ships with a Master Chronometer card that carries the movement number. That number matches the case.

Price and market

Omega listed the steel version under US$10,000 at launch in 2019. The Moonshine gold version listed above US$30,000. Copies sell for a few hundred dollars. That gap is the first signal.

Law in the United States

Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at import. Selling a copy as a genuine Omega is fraud.

What is not public

Omega does not publish how many of each version went to each market. Auction results and dealer stock track current prices.