Fake Omega Speedmaster CK2998 311.32.40.30.02.001
While the 1:1 fake Omega Speedmaster strapped onto Buzz Aldrin’s wrist on the 24th of July, 1969 is the watch that takes the prize as THE first watch on the moon (that watch, by the way is unaccounted for, as per protocol, Aldrin sent it to the Smithsonian Institution – but it never arrived), it’s not the first time the AAA replica Omega Speedmaster has made it to space.
That honour goes to a watch that astronaut Wally Schirra purchased with his own money, and wore during the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission which saw him orbit the earth six times in the Sigma 7 spacecraft. The reference Schirra wore was the Swiss copy Omega CK2998, produced in eight variants from 1959 through to 1963, what is most important to note about this reference is the transition to a black aluminium bezel insert and narrower ‘Alpha’ handset.
Replica Omega Speedmaster Apollo 310.20.42.50.01.001
While privately purchased watches like Schirra’s were the first Omega Speedmasters replica for sale UK in space, it wasn’t until 1964 that NASA saw the need for a space-ready chronograph. And so, NASA sent out requests to around 10 brands to supply luxury fake watches for testing. Only a few brands responded, and in the end received NASA chronographs from Omega, Longines and Rolex.
These perfect super clone watches were submitted to 11 different tests, including tests at extreme temperatures, pressure, humidity, tests in pure oxygen environments, shock, acceleration, vibration and a range of others simulating the harsh conditions expected in space. The best quality replica Omega that passed all these tests, and was qualified by NASA was the Omega Speedmaster 105.003, a third generation watch with white baton hands.