Top pick: ST19-based 105.012
The fourth generation Speedmaster is reference 105.012. Omega released it in 1964. The 1957 watch is the CK2915, the first generation. Listings that say "1957 fourth generation" merge two references. Ask the seller for the case back text and the reference number before payment.
The 105.012 carries a 42 mm case, lyre lugs, crown guards, a dot-over-90 bezel and the word "Professional" on the dial. A replica that copies those four details is worth the money. A replica that misses them is a generic chronograph with an Omega logo.
Pick: a hand-wind ST19 model with a 42 mm steel case, a 13.5 mm thickness, a domed hesalite crystal and a 20 mm lug width. The ST19 is a Chinese copy of the Venus 175. It runs a column wheel and a horizontal clutch at 21,600 vph. The layout matches the original: no date, three subdials, a 30-minute counter at 3, a running seconds at 9 and a 12-hour counter at 6.
- Case: 42 mm, twisted lyre lugs, crown guards at 3
- Bezel: aluminum insert, dot over 90 at the 90 mark
- Dial: applied metal logo, "Professional" print, baton hands
- Movement: ST19, hand wind, 21,600 vph, about 40 hour reserve
- Case back: hippocampus medallion, single step, no NASA text
Option 2: A7750 automatic
The A7750 is a Chinese copy of the Valjoux 7750. It adds a rotor, which pushes thickness to 15 mm or more. The original 105.012 measures about 14 mm. Subdial spacing sits wider on most A7750 builds because the movement is larger. The chronograph second hand can stutter at start. Cost lands close to the ST19 build. Buy it if you want an automatic and accept the extra height.
Option 3: quartz
Quartz Speedmaster replicas sell for $40 to $90. The case often measures 39 mm to 40 mm. The chronograph second hand ticks once per second. A mechanical movement steps it 5 to 8 times per second. The subdial at 6 on most quartz builds is a 24-hour indicator or a running seconds, not a 12-hour counter. Weight is low. Treat it as a travel watch.
Option 4: "1861 clone" listings
Some sellers claim a cloned caliber 1861. No public evidence shows a full copy of the 1861 in production. The 1861 is a cam-switch design derived from the Lemania 1873. Treat the claim as marketing until you see photos of the movement and its bridge markings.
Checks before you pay
- Bezel: dot over 90. A dot beside 90 is a later bezel and wrong for the 105.012.
- Case back: hippocampus medallion. The NASA line belongs to the 145.022 from 1969.
- Hands: baton shape with lume fill. Broad arrow hands belong to the CK2915.
- Dial: "Professional" print below the Omega logo. All 105.012 dials carry it.
- Crystal: hesalite dome with an etched Omega mark in the center. Most replicas lack the mark.
- Thickness: 13.5 mm to 14.5 mm. A build at 15 mm or more uses an automatic.
- Movement photos: ask for a shot of the balance and the column wheel.
What a replica does not give you
Omega will not service a replica. Parts do not interchange with genuine 105.012 parts. Water resistance is unproven and the gaskets carry no rating. Resale sits close to zero. A genuine 105.012 sells in five figures at auction. A replica sells for $150 to $500 and stays at that level. Buy a replica as a look, not as an asset.