Quick answer

Replica Apollo 13 Snoopy watches copy the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary, reference 310.32.42.50.02.001. Better copies match the 42 mm case, the blue dial, and the 3-6-9 subdial layout. Most copies fail at the caseback. The genuine watch has a moving Snoopy and a rotating Earth disc tied to the chronograph. Replicas print a flat image or use a plain sapphire.

Apollo 13 and the Snoopy award

Apollo 13 launched on April 11, 1970. An oxygen tank in the service module exploded on April 13, 1970, US time, which was April 14 UTC. The crew was Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise. They used the lunar module as a lifeboat. Omega states the crew timed a 14-second course correction burn with a Speedmaster.

NASA created the Silver Snoopy Award in 1968. Snoopy is the agency safety mascot. The award is a silver pin that astronauts give to people and teams who improve flight safety. NASA gave the award to Omega in 1970.

The genuine watch

Omega released the Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary in 2020. Reference 310.32.42.50.02.001.

  • Steel case, 42 mm across, 20 mm lug width
  • Blue sunray dial with a white Snoopy print in the small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock
  • Caliber 3861, hand wound, Co-Axial, Master Chronometer certified, 21,600 vph, 50-hour power reserve
  • Sapphire crystal front and back, blue nylon strap with white stitching
  • Caseback with a silver Snoopy medallion and a rotating Earth and moon disc

Two earlier Snoopy Speedmasters exist. The 2003 Silver Snoopy Award, reference 3578.51.00, has a black dial. The 2015 Silver Snoopy Award, reference 311.32.42.30.04.003, has a white dial and a Snoopy small seconds hand.

What replica versions match

Case diameter and lug width are close on most copies. Dial color on the better batches is a dark navy with a sunray finish. The white Snoopy print sits in the 9 o'clock subdial. Hands and hour markers take lume. The strap copies the blue nylon with white stitching.

Where replicas fail

  • Caseback: the real animation needs an extra module and parts. Most copies use a printed image or a flat medallion. The Earth disc does not turn and Snoopy does not orbit with the chronograph.
  • Movement: a Seagull ST19 keeps the 3-6-9 subdial layout and hand winding. An automatic 7750 moves the counters to 12-6-9 and adds case thickness.
  • Beat rate: 28,800 vph on the common copy movements against 21,600 vph on the caliber 3861.
  • Dial blue: low-end batches use flat paint with a purple or green cast.
  • Subdial hands: length, thickness, and polish differ.
  • Case finish: brushing on the lugs is coarse on cheap batches.

Buying checklist

  1. Ask for photos of the exact watch in hand, not catalog shots.
  2. Ask for a video of chronograph start, stop, and reset.
  3. Ask for a caseback photo in daylight.
  4. Confirm the movement type and the beat rate.
  5. Confirm any water resistance claim. Do not swim with a copy.
  6. Check the return window and the payment method.

Price range

Copies of this reference sell for about $200 to $600. Genuine launch retail was under $10,000. Secondary asking prices for the genuine watch sit well above that. Omega does not service counterfeits and does not sell parts for them. Reselling a copy as genuine is fraud. Many replica sellers advertise free delivery, which changes the total cost by a small amount.