The first perfect replica Omega to break the barrier of our atmosphere is coming back down to Earth. The OMEGA Speedmaster Anniversary Series – First OMEGA in Space, aside from being an absolute mouthful, is a tribute to one of the seminal Swiss watchmaker’s most iconic creations. The latest timepiece revives the iconic design language of the 1959 UK shop fake Omega Speedmaster CK2998, which famously adorned the wrist of NASA astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra during the fateful Sigma 7 mission of the Mercury program. Harking back to a bygone era of space exploration, the Anniversary edition may appear to be a recreation, but inside, it’s a 21st-century stunner.
Admittedly, when you think of best copy Omega and space, your mind invariably – and rightly – wanders to the classic Moonwatch timepiece worn by Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. That model, the Speedmaster reference 105.012, has more than stood the test of time, becoming one of the Biel-based brand’s most popular and best-selling chronograph timepieces ever. Schirra’s reference CK2998, on the other hand, was produced a decade before Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins ever made their way to the Moon and has enjoyed a slightly more subdued patronage. But that’s not to say it hasn’t lived a remarkable life.
Joining Schirra on the Sigma 7 mission, which launched on 3 October 1962, the Speedmaster reference CK2998 has affectionately become known as the First UK high quality fake Omega in Space (FOiS). A highly collectible piece, the classic model is distinguished by its slender Alpha hands, symmetrical case, and dark bezel – all elements that differed greatly from the earlier 1957 Speedmaster model. The 2024 tribute piece takes a similar approach.
The latest cheap super clone Omega Speedmaster Anniversary Series – First OMEGA in Space model follows the same 2nd-generation style from 1959, complete with a symmetrical 39.70 mm case in polished-brushed stainless steel. The dark bezel ring has been reprised, this time produced in black aluminium, and features the Speedmaster’s tachymeter scale with the much-revered “Dot Over Ninety” highlight.
On the outside, the tribute model does bear a striking resemblance to the original FOiS; however, luxury replica Omega watches have elevated the design with a few modern touches. The dial features a grey-blue CVD coating that has been colour-matched to replicate the tone of CK2998 watches produced in the 1960s. Additionally, the brand has opted to fill the hour markers and hour/minute Alpha hands with vintage Super-LumiNova, while the central seconds “Baton” hand is white varnished to match the transferred markings. The aesthetic upgrades are subtle, but inside, it’s an entirely different story.
UK Swiss made fake Omega watches have completely overhauled the inner workings of the timepiece, introducing a Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 3861 movement, the latest evolution of the Calibre 321 featured in the original. With this addition, wearers will enjoy an enhanced 50 hours of power reserve, along with what Omega describes as the “highest standard of precision, performance, and magnetic resistance.” On the caseback, you’ll find a Seahorse medallion and the engravings “SPEEDMASTER,” “THE FIRST OMEGA IN SPACE,” and “OCTOBER 3, 1962,” in reference to its historic origins.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen online copy Omega dip into the archives to celebrate the efforts of Schirra and his Sigma 7 crew. In 2012, the watchmaker unveiled a tribute to the First OMEGA in Space, which was a more faithful recreation of the original 1959 watch, without too many modern adaptations. This time around, Omega watches have stepped up its game and left nothing to chance.
The UK 1:1 wholesale replica Omega Speedmaster Anniversary Series – First OMEGA in Space will be offered in three references, starting from AUD$13,075. The timepieces are available on either a black or brown leather strap with a buckle, or on a full metal bracelet with “flat links” and OMEGA’s patented comfort release adjustment system.