A replica Omega 3604 is worth your money only when the case profile, the dial print, and the movement match the vintage reference they claim to copy. Three checks decide it: a case diameter within about 2 mm of the original, a dial with centered logo and even minute track spacing, and a movement that hacks and hand-winds without grinding. Everything past that is cosmetic.
Know What You Are Comparing Against
Omega stamped numeric case references inside the casebacks of its mid-century watches. Builds sold under a 3604 number copy that pattern: a round case in the 34 mm to 36 mm range, slim lugs with a short lug-to-lug span, a domed crystal, and a plain three-hand dial with thin baton or arrow hands. If a listing shows a 42 mm case with crown guards and a ceramic bezel, it is a modern watch wearing a vintage reference number. Decide which one you want before you pay.
How to Check a Replica Omega 3604 Before Buying
- Ask the seller for the case diameter, thickness, and lug-to-lug span in millimeters, then compare those numbers with the published dimensions of the original.
- Request photos of the caseback, outside and inside, and look for stamped reference numbers with sharp edges and a caseback that sits flush against the case.
- Study the dial at 3x to 5x magnification and confirm the logo is centered above the 12 o'clock marker and the minute track spacing is even.
- Compare the hands to the dial and make sure all three share the same finish, the same length, and the same color as the original.
- Check the crystal height in a side profile photo, because a domed crystal should rise from the bezel line without a step.
- Confirm the movement type, its beat rate, and whether it hacks and hand-winds, since a 21,600 vph or 28,800 vph unit changes how the seconds hand sweeps.
- Ask about water resistance in plain terms and treat any claim beyond splash resistance as marketing, not spec.
- Inspect the bracelet end links, which should sit flush against the lugs with no gap and no rattle when you shake the watch.
- Get the return window and warranty in writing before payment, because a seller who refuses returns on a defect is a seller to skip.
Movement Options
- Japanese automatics such as the Miyota 8215 or 9015: reliable, easy to service, common in entry and mid-tier builds.
- Chinese automatics such as the Seagull ST21 or a 2824-style clone: closer case thickness, wider quality spread.
- Swiss ETA or Sellita movements: found in the top tier, smoother winding, higher price.
Expect entry builds in the low hundreds of dollars, mid-tier builds in the mid hundreds, and Swiss-powered builds above that. A seller who quotes a Swiss movement at an entry price is describing a decorated Chinese movement.
Practical Limits of Any Replica
- Omega will not service or authenticate a replica, and many independent watchmakers will decline to open the case.
- Resale value is low and unstable, so treat the purchase as money spent.
- Legality varies by country. Selling a counterfeit is illegal in the United States, and imported counterfeits can be seized at the border.
- Water resistance is not guaranteed beyond splashes regardless of what the listing says.
Bottom Line
Buy the build that matches the original proportions and carries a movement you can have serviced. Skip anything with soft caseback stamping, a flat crystal, or a seller who will not put the return terms in writing.