A fake Apollo 13 Snoopy is a counterfeit copy of Omega's Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award, the watch that commemorates the Speedmaster's part in the Apollo 13 rescue. A genuine example has an Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer movement, a ceramic bezel, and a detailed Snoopy caseback, while a fake Apollo 13 Snoopy usually copies the outside shape and fails on the caseback, the subdial layout, and the paperwork. Start your inspection at the back of the watch, then work forward to the bezel and the dial.

Why this model attracts counterfeiters

NASA presented Omega with the Silver Snoopy Award in 1970, in recognition of the Speedmaster's role in timing the engine burn that brought the Apollo 13 crew home, and Snoopy has served as the agency's safety mascot since the 1960s. Omega marked the connection with anniversary editions in 2015 and 2020, both made in limited numbers. Limited supply and steady demand keep secondhand prices above retail, which is the exact condition that draws counterfeiters. Most of what circulates is not a complete clone, but a standard Speedmaster case dressed up with Snoopy decoration.

The two editions and what each should look like

45th anniversary (2015)

This version puts Snoopy on the small seconds counter at 9 o'clock, which gives you one clear reference point. On genuine watches that figure is applied metal with crisp edges and a consistent finish. On fakes it tends to be printed, flat, or slightly the wrong scale for the subdial. The caseback carries a silver Snoopy medallion and the line about 14 seconds, the time the crew needed to fire the lunar module engine.

50th anniversary (2020)

The 2020 edition is the one with the moving caseback. Snoopy travels around a rotating Earth disc in a command module, and the animation only runs while the chronograph is engaged. The dial is blue with three subdials, the bezel is blue ceramic with a white tachymeter scale in enamel, and the case is stainless steel.

Tells that expose a fake Apollo 13 Snoopy

  • Caseback: the genuine animation sits under a domed sapphire crystal with layered discs and a metal Snoopy hand. Fakes use printed film, a decal, or a static engraving, and the Earth does not rotate.
  • Subdial layout: check the position and spacing of the counters at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, plus hand lengths. Cheap chronographs shift these details and often sit too close to the center.
  • Bezel: ceramic with an enamel scale on genuine pieces. Fakes use aluminum, painted inserts, or a sticker, and the numerals look soft under magnification.
  • Crystal: box-shaped sapphire with anti-reflective coating. A domed mineral glass or plastic crystal is a strong warning sign.
  • Movement: genuine watches use a certified Omega chronograph caliber. If you can see the movement, mismatched rotor engraving, a quartz battery, or a balance wheel in the wrong place ends the discussion.
  • Dial printing: brand name, model text, and the markings near 6 o'clock should be sharp and level. Misaligned text or a different font weight points to a counterfeit.
  • Weight and finishing: brushing should run in one direction, polished bevels should be even, and the watch should feel dense for its size.

Paperwork, numbers, and provenance

Counterfeit sellers rarely bother with the full set. On a genuine Snoopy, the serial number on the case matches the warranty card and the pictograms card, and the reference number on the card matches the watch configuration. Look for the inner and outer box, the manual, a dated receipt, and service records if the watch is older. A seller who cannot provide close-up photos of the caseback with the chronograph running, or who refuses a viewing at a watchmaker, is worth walking away from.

Quick checklist before you buy

  1. Ask for a video of the caseback with the chronograph started, and confirm that the animation moves.
  2. Compare the subdial positions against official product photos at the same angle.
  3. Verify serial and reference numbers across the watch and all cards.
  4. Have an independent watchmaker open the case before money changes hands.
  5. Treat any price far below the current market as the first red flag, not a bargain.

Most convincing fakes fall apart on one of these points, and the caseback is where they fail first.