What gives a fake Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon away?
A fake Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon is a copy of Omega's 2014 ceramic chronograph, and the first thing it gets wrong is the date window. The genuine watch runs the Co-Axial calibre 9300, which places the date at 6 o'clock with two counters at 3 and 9. Most replicas use a 7750 layout with the date at 3 and three subdials, and no photo angle hides that difference.
Case material is the second giveaway. Omega machines the whole case from grey ceramic, so the watch feels light for its size and stays cool against the wrist. Fakes use steel or alloy under a grey coating, which feels dense and warms up within a minute of handling.
What is the Grey Side of the Moon?
Omega released the Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon in 2014 inside the "Side of the Moon" family, a set of Moonwatch-style chronographs built from ceramic. The model pairs a grey ceramic case with a dial that copies the surface of the moon. Buyers who search for a "gray side of the moon" watch are looking at the same reference, spelled either way.
Spec sheet for the reference, useful when you compare a seller's photos:
- Case: 44.25 mm grey ceramic, brushed flanks with polished edges
- Dial: grey ceramic with a laser-engraved lunar surface pattern
- Bezel: grey ceramic with a Liquidmetal tachymeter scale
- Movement: Omega Co-Axial calibre 9300, automatic chronograph with column wheel and Si14 balance spring
- Layout: subdials at 3 and 9, date at 6
- Caseback: sapphire display back with "GREY SIDE OF THE MOON" engraving
- Water resistance: 50 m
Which checks actually matter?
Dial texture
The real dial is ceramic, and the lunar pattern is cut into the surface with a laser. Light shifts and deepens as you rotate the watch. Replicas print a flat texture or stamp a shallow pattern that looks identical from every angle, so hold the dial under a lamp and look for depth.
Date and subdial positions
Date at 6, two counters at 3 and 9. Any other layout means a 7750 or a quartz module sits inside, and the seller knows it.
Bezel numerals
Omega fills the tachymeter numerals with Liquidmetal, a smooth alloy that sits flush with the ceramic. Fakes paint or print the numbers, so the edges look rough under a loupe and the color drifts toward yellow.
Weight and balance
Ceramic is lighter than steel and holds a cooler surface temperature. A coated steel fake carries more mass, and the difference shows the moment you pick it up. The strap or bracelet should also match the reference the seller claims.
Pushers and crown
Check the finish where the pushers meet the case. Genuine ceramic pushers sit flush with clean edges. Replica pushers often show steel under chipped paint.
Caseback and movement
The display back on the real watch shows a finished 9300 with Geneva stripes, blued screws, and a silicon balance spring. Replica casebacks show a plain 7750 rotor with laser etching that fades at the edges.
What do replica versions cost?
Replica prices fall into rough bands. A quartz copy of the Grey Side of the Moon sells for under $100, a mid-tier automatic sits between $150 and $300, and a high-end clone with a decorated 7750 runs $400 to $800. Sellers asking four figures for a fake are charging for the story, not the watch.
Can a good fake pass a close look?
No. Every replica of this model fails on dial material and movement layout. Anyone who has handled a ceramic Omega Moonwatch spots the substitution before checking the movement at all.
Red flags in a listing
- Photos shot at an angle that hides the date window
- The word "ceramic" in the headline but steel in the spec list
- Stock images instead of photos of the actual watch
- No caseback shot, or a caseback shot that is blurry and cropped
- Price far under the used market with a story about a quick sale
How to check before you pay
- Ask for daylight macro photos of the dial, date window, bezel numerals, and caseback, with no filters.
- Request a short video with the chronograph running and the camera on the dial, so you can watch the counters move.
- Ask for the reference number on the caseback. The grey ceramic model uses a 311.93 reference.
- Ask for the box, papers, and any Omega service invoice. A five-figure watch should come with a history.
- Pay through a method with buyer protection, or meet at a watchmaker and have the caseback opened before money changes hands.
FAQ
Is the Grey Side of the Moon ceramic or steel?
The case, bezel, and dial are all ceramic. Only the movement, gaskets, and internal parts are metal.
What does a genuine Grey Side of the Moon cost?
The real watch is a five-figure purchase new. Used prices track condition, box, and papers, so compare completed listings instead of asking prices.
Why do so many fakes get the date position wrong?
Because the 7750-based movement inside most replicas puts the date at 3 o'clock. Moving it to 6 calls for an extra gear and a modified plate, and cheap makers skip that step.
Can a watchmaker confirm a fake?
Yes. Opening the caseback takes a minute, and the movement, rotor engraving, and balance spring settle the question.