Short answer
A replica Omega Seamaster Diver 300 is a copy of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M, a 42 mm steel dive watch that Omega rates to 300 m. Copies run from about $80 for quartz models to $600 or more for automatic models with sapphire crystal. None use an Omega movement. None hold METAS Master Chronometer certification. Most do not hold the 300 m rating printed on the dial.
Genuine reference specs
Omega publishes these numbers for the steel Seamaster Diver 300M on a bracelet:
- Case diameter: 42 mm
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Case thickness: about 13.5 mm
- Water resistance: 300 m / 30 bar
- Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 8800, 55 hour power reserve
- Crystal: domed sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both faces
- Bezel: ceramic with a white enamel dive scale
- Helium escape valve at 10 o'clock
Replica grades
- Low grade. Quartz movement, mineral glass, stamped case back, plated bezel insert. Price range $60 to $120.
- Mid grade. Asian automatic movement such as an ETA 2824 clone or a Miyota 8215, sapphire crystal, 316L steel case. Price range $150 to $300.
- High grade. Decorated automatic movement with a rotor engraved to look like caliber 8800, 316L or 904L steel, ceramic bezel insert, solid end links. Price range $350 to $600.
Movement inside
Most automatic replicas use an Asian 2824 clone at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Some use a Miyota 9015 or a Seagull ST2130. Beat rate and date change behavior are the easy tells. The genuine caliber 8800 runs at 25,200 vph and has a jumping hour hand for time zone changes. A replica with a 2824 clone does not.
Water resistance
ISO 6425 sets the test standard for diver's watches. It requires a 100 m minimum rating, pressure testing of each watch or a sample batch, and checks on legibility, anti-magnetic properties, and strap strength. Replica factories do not publish ISO 6425 test data. Gaskets and case back threads vary by batch. A pool swim is the practical limit. Salt water and diving are not covered.
Case, crystal, bezel
Genuine cases use 316L or 904L steel. Most replicas use 316L. Weight differs by 10 to 20 grams on a full bracelet. Genuine crystals have anti-reflective coating on both faces, which shows a blue tint at an angle. Many replicas coat one face only. Bezel inserts on high grade replicas are ceramic with a printed or enamel filled scale. Lume is the other tell. Genuine Super-LumiNova holds a charge for about 8 hours. Replica lume fades in 1 to 3 hours.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine for an individual. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry. Importing a counterfeit watch for personal use is prohibited, and the shipment is subject to seizure and destruction.
What to check before buying
- Movement type and beat rate. Ask for the caliber number and a timegrapher photo.
- Crystal material. Sapphire, not mineral glass.
- Case back engraving. Genuine uses a wave pattern and a serial number.
- Weight. Ask for a scale photo of the complete watch.
- Bracelet end links. Solid, not folded.
- Return policy and payment method. Credit cards carry chargeback rights. Wire transfers do not.
Service and parts
A 2824 clone takes standard ETA parts. A watchmaker can regulate it, replace gaskets, and swap a crystal. Cost runs $40 to $100 in the US. Omega service centers do not accept replicas and will return them.