The Omega Speedmaster reference 323.10.40 is a 40 mm self-winding chronograph that Omega discontinued around 2017. Replica versions exist, but they are far less common than Moonwatch copies, and the smaller case, the date function, and the movement finishing make this reference hard to fake well. Buyers in the US also face import seizure, no factory service, and no resale value.
What the genuine 323.10.40 is
The 323.10.40 prefix covers a family of Speedmaster Date models, not one single watch. The full reference ends in dial and bracelet codes, so 323.10.40.40.01.001 means a black dial on a steel bracelet.
- Case: 40 mm stainless steel, polished and brushed, with a tachymeter bezel.
- Dial: three chronograph sub-dials, a date window, and a printed minute track.
- Crystal: sapphire.
- Water resistance: rated to 100 m.
- Movement: an Omega self-winding chronograph caliber.
- Bracelet: steel with a signed clasp.
- Status: discontinued, replaced by the 38 mm Speedmaster line.
Omega built this line for people who wanted a Speedmaster smaller than the 42 mm Professional. That narrower audience is one reason the reference gets less attention from counterfeiters than the Moonwatch.
Do replicas of the 323.10.40 exist?
Yes, listings use that reference number, but the supply is thin compared with the Moonwatch. Counterfeit production follows sales volume, and the 40 mm Date line never sold in Moonwatch numbers.
Most items sold under this reference are generic chronographs in a steel case with a printed tachymeter. They copy the look from across a room and little else.
Where replica versions fall short
- Case size and lugs: a 40 mm case with twisted lugs is not a stock shape. Many copies ship in a 39 mm or 42 mm shell.
- Date function: the date wheel has to line up with the dial cutout. A mismatched movement shifts the number off center, which is a common flaw on copies.
- Movement: the real watch carries an Omega chronograph caliber. Copies run on generic or clone movements, sometimes with a decorated rotor.
- Bracelet: end links and clasp stamping seldom match the fit and finish of the original.
- Finishing: genuine Omega brushing runs straight and even. Copies show soft edges, gaps at the lug line, and tool marks under a loupe.
Is it legal to buy one in the US?
Importing a counterfeit watch into the United States is illegal under 19 U.S.C. § 1305, and US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy the parcel. Selling a counterfeit also exposes the seller to civil liability under the Lanham Act, and repeat commercial sales can be prosecuted as criminal trademark counterfeiting.
Personal use is not a safe harbor. Seizures happen at the parcel level, and the buyer loses both the watch and the money in most cases.
Customs in practice
Shipments from overseas get screened, and a box marked with Omega branding is easy to flag. A seizure notice arrives instead of the package, and refunds from the seller are rare.
Service, parts, and repairs
No Omega service center will work on a counterfeit. Independent watchmakers can swap a generic movement, but dials, hands, case parts, and bracelets for this reference come from Omega and cannot be ordered for a copy.
How to tell a replica from a genuine 323.10.40
- Look between the lugs. Genuine Omega cases carry a reference and serial stamp there, and both should match the paperwork.
- Study the dial print. The Omega symbol and the "Speedmaster" text sit flat and sharp on the original. Copies show feathering at the edges under a loupe.
- Check the sub-dial hands. On the genuine watch they reach the tracks. On copies they often stop short.
- Inspect the rotor. A genuine Omega rotor is engraved with the caliber number and the brand mark. Copies use blank or poorly stamped rotors.
- Compare the price. A steel Speedmaster Date 40 mm trades in the low four figures used. A "new" one for a few hundred dollars is a copy.
What a genuine example costs
Secondhand prices for a steel 323.10.40 sit in the low four figures, with box and papers adding a premium. Dial color and overall condition account for most of the spread.
That price gap is the whole pitch behind replicas. It is also the reason to compare the real watch against a legitimate chronograph from Seiko, Tissot, or Hamilton before spending money on a copy.
FAQ
Is a replica Speedmaster 323.10.40 worth buying?
No, not if you want a watch you can keep, service, or sell. A copy cannot be repaired by Omega, holds no resale value, and can be seized at import. The same money buys a real chronograph from a brand that will stand behind it.
Why are there fewer 323.10.40 replicas than Moonwatch replicas?
Volume. Counterfeiters tool up for models that sell in large numbers, and the Professional Moonwatch outsells the 40 mm Date line by a wide margin.
Can a watchmaker tell the difference?
Yes, and fast. Dial print, caseback engraving, and bracelet stamping give it away before the case is opened.
Do any replicas use a real Omega movement?
No. Omega does not sell its chronograph calibers to outside buyers, so a counterfeit cannot contain one. Any movement inside a copy is a generic or clone caliber.
Does the 323.10.40 still have Omega service support?
Yes. Omega continues to service discontinued Speedmaster references, though parts for older models can take time to source. That support is one of the strongest arguments for the genuine watch.