The Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award is one of the most counterfeited modern Omegas, and no replica gets every detail right. A genuine Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award (ref 311.32.42.30.04.003, 2015, limited to 1,970 pieces) or Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary (ref 310.32.42.50.02.001, 2020) shows a correct Snoopy applique, an enamel-filled ceramic bezel, matching caseback and movement serials, and a METAS Master Chronometer card that verifies through Omega. Fakes fail on the animated caseback, the subdial layout, and the movement itself.
What makes the Silver Snoopy so hard to replicate?
The 2020 Silver Snoopy 50th Anniversary carries a moving caseback: a Snoopy in a Command and Service Module that orbits a disc when the chronograph runs. That mechanism needs real micro-engineering, so replicas stop at a printed or engraved static image. The 2015 Apollo 13 edition is harder still because it was capped at 1,970 pieces, and the low supply is exactly why counterfeiters target it.
Both watches use a 42mm stainless steel Speedmaster case with the classic lyre lugs, twisted lugs and a symmetric, non-crowded caseband. Replica cases are typically 0.3mm to 0.8mm thicker and lose the sharp lug-to-case transition under raking light.
How do you spot a fake Silver Snoopy dial?
- Snoopy applique. The genuine figure is white gold or finely finished metal with polished edges and crisp engraved lines. Replicas stamp it from brass and paint the surface, so edges look rounded and lines blur under a loupe.
- Subdial layout. Subdial spacing, hand length and hand finish are movement-dependent. Replicas built on Asian chronograph movements push subdials outward or use short, flat hands that do not reach the ring.
- Printing and lume. Text kerning, the Omega symbol and the tachymeter font are laser-sharp on the original. Fakes show thicker strokes, fuzzy edges and lume plots that glow unevenly or not at all.
- Subdial color. The small-seconds subdial at 9 carries the Snoopy motif against a deep blue field. Replica blue tends toward flat navy or purple under daylight.
What does the genuine caseback look like?
On the 2020 model, a sapphire caseback reveals a rotating disc that moves only while the chronograph is engaged. If the Snoopy, moon or Earth disc sits still no matter what the chrono does, it is not genuine. The 2015 caseback uses Apollo 13 mission engraving and wording tied to the mission, and the lettering depth and finish are sharp, not laser-etched gray.
How do you check the movement?
The 2015 uses the Omega 1861 hand-wound chronograph, and the 2020 uses the 3861 Co-Axial Master Chronometer. Both are hand-wound, cam-actuated chronographs with a free-sprung balance, a co-axial escapement on the 3861, and roughly 48 to 50 hours of power reserve.
Fakes almost always hide an Asian automatic chronograph behind a decorative plate. A rotor that spins freely, a ticking beat rate of 28,800 vph with a wrong pusher feel, or an engraving that does not match the caseback number are all disqualifying.
Quick movement checkpoints
- Wind the watch: genuine Speedmasters are hand-wound, not automatic.
- Look for the co-axial escapement and the correct bridge shape on the 3861.
- Match the movement serial to the caseback and the METAS card.
Bezel, case, and crystal tells
The bezel insert is ceramic with an enamel-filled scale that sits flush with the surface and never fades. Fake bezels are painted or printed, so the scale looks raised, glossy or slightly crooked. The sapphire crystal has anti-reflective coating on the inside only, so a blue or purple tint on the outside face signals a replica.
Box, papers, and certification
Genuine Silver Snoopy watches ship with a themed presentation box, a warranty card and, on the 2020, a METAS Master Chronometer certification card. The reference and serial on the card must match the watch, and the watch should verify in Omega's database. Replicas come with generic boxes and loose papers, or with photocopied cards that never validate.
Price and seller red flags
A 2015 Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy trades well above its original retail because only 1,970 were made, and the 2020 model holds a strong secondary premium. Offers in the few-hundred-dollar range are counterfeit by definition, since no genuine example sells anywhere near that. Sellers who avoid serial photos, meet only in person, or push payment through wire or crypto are the biggest warning sign.
Is buying a fake Silver Snoopy illegal in the US?
Yes. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and US Customs seizes counterfeit watches routinely. Buying a replica also voids any service or parts support, and a counterfeit will never hold value.
FAQ
Is there a real Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy?
Yes. The Silver Snoopy Award is a NASA astronaut honor, and Omega has released two Speedmaster tributes: the 2015 Apollo 13 edition and the 2020 50th Anniversary edition.
How many Silver Snoopy Speedmasters were made?
The 2015 Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award was limited to 1,970 pieces. The 2020 50th Anniversary model was not numbered, but production stayed limited.
Does the fake Snoopy caseback move?
No. The animated caseback on the 2020 original is beyond replica tooling, so copies show a static image.
Can a replica pass as a Silver Snoopy?
Only in photos at a distance. Up close, the movement, bezel, crystal coating and serial matching expose it immediately.