Quick Answer

A replica Omega De Ville Trésor 18K is a copy of a thin Omega dress watch. The genuine watch has a solid 18K gold case, a domed sapphire crystal and a manual-wind Master Chronometer movement. Copies use 316L stainless steel with gold plating, a quartz or clone automatic movement, and printed dial text. Plated copies sell for $50 to $900. No replica at that price has a solid 18K gold case.

Genuine Trésor 18K Specs

Omega builds the Trésor in 18K Sedna gold, yellow gold and Canopus gold. The current case is 40 mm wide and about 11 mm thick. Water resistance is 30 m. Small-seconds models use the Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8929, a hand-wound movement with a 72-hour power reserve and 15,000 gauss magnetic resistance. Each movement is certified by METAS. Specs change by reference number, so match the full reference before you compare.

  • Case: 18K Sedna, yellow or Canopus gold, 40 mm
  • Crystal: domed sapphire, anti-reflective coating inside
  • Dial: domed, applied gold markers
  • Strap: leather with a solid gold pin buckle
  • Certification: Master Chronometer, METAS

What Replica Versions Use

Most replica Trésor cases are 316L stainless steel. Gold color comes from plating, most often 3 to 5 microns of gold over steel or over a brass base. Plating rubs off at the lugs, the crown and the caseback edges. Solid 18K gold has a density near 15.5 g/cm3. Steel sits near 7.9 g/cm3. A steel case of the same size weighs about half of a 18K case, so the difference shows in the hand.

Movements in these copies fall into three groups: quartz, Chinese automatic (Seagull, Hangzhou and similar), and claimed Swiss ETA or Sellita clones. A quartz movement ticks one step per second. A 28,800 vph automatic sweeps at 8 beats per second. No replica movement carries METAS certification or a serial that matches the case.

Checks Before Buying

  • Caseback: Omega reference format is XXX.XX.XX.XX.XX.XXX. Shallow stamping is a copy sign.
  • Weight: a 18K case feels close to twice the heft of steel.
  • Second hand: one tick per second means quartz.
  • Plating: look at lug tips and the crown for gray or brass showing through.
  • Markers: applied gold on the genuine, glued or printed on copies.
  • Crystal: mineral glass scratches. Sapphire does not.
  • Buckle: solid gold on the genuine, plated steel on copies.

Price Ranges

  • Plated steel, quartz: $50 to $120
  • Plated steel, clone automatic: $150 to $400
  • Plated, claimed Swiss movement: $400 to $900
  • Solid 18K aftermarket build: rare, near used genuine prices

Legal Status in the US

Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments. Omega and the Swatch Group hold the trademarks and can act against sellers. A copy carries no factory warranty and no service support from Omega.