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If you are searching for a replica Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy, you are almost certainly looking for the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award released in 2020. The blunt buying advice is this: pass on the replica and put the money toward the genuine reference or a standard Speedmaster Professional. Two features define the Snoopy Award watch, and both are the hardest things to counterfeit at a sane cost. The first is the animated caseback, where Snoopy flies in a command module style capsule and a small Earth disc rotates beneath him. The second is the hand wound Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 3861, an antimagnetic, METAS certified movement. A counterfeit shells out for neither. What you get instead is the right dial color, the right case shape, and a movement that came out of a factory with no relationship to Omega.

What the name actually refers to

The backstory matters because sellers lean on it. In April 1970 an oxygen tank exploded on Apollo 13 and the crew used a Speedmaster to time the critical mid-course correction burn that brought them home. Later that year, in October 1970, NASA astronauts presented Omega with the Silver Snoopy Award, which is the agency's own recognition for outstanding achievement tied to flight safety and mission success. Snoopy serves as NASA's safety mascot, which is why the beagle shows up on the caseback. The 2020 edition marked fifty years since the award, and an earlier 2015 edition marked forty five. Both are collectible, and both are widely faked.

What to look for on the genuine watch

  • Caseback animation. The Snoopy element is applied in a structured metallic finish and moves with the chronograph running. A flat etched sticker or a printed disc is the giveaway on any fake.
  • Movement and certification. Calibre 3861, manually wound, Master Chronometer certified, roughly 50 hours of reserve. Sellers should be able to show movement photos and a matching serial.
  • Dial and bezel materials. The blue ceramic bezel insert with enamel style scale, applied indices, and the small Snoopy medallion on the dial near nine o'clock. Look for sharp printing under magnification, not soft edges.
  • Box, card, and history. A METAS certification card, the correct inner and outer boxes, and a receipt chain. A watch that arrives in generic packaging is a watch you cannot resell.
  • Provenance. Ask for a photo of the movement, the caseback animation, and the serial together in one frame before any money moves.

Spec bands to expect on the real reference

  • Case size around 42 mm, lug to lug roughly 47 mm, thickness in the 13 to 14 mm range
  • Sapphire crystal on both sides on the 2020 anniversary model
  • Blue ceramic bezel, blue dial, applied indices, lume that charges and fades evenly
  • Manual wind chronograph with a certified movement and a documented power reserve near 50 hours
  • Water resistance rated around 50 m, which is splash resistance rather than swimming depth

Pitfalls to watch for

  • Import risk. Counterfeit goods carrying a protected trademark can be seized and destroyed by U.S. customs authorities. The money is gone and no refund follows.
  • No service path. Omega will not touch a counterfeit, and independent watchmakers struggle to source parts for clone movements. A broken fake is scrap.
  • Resale value of zero. The 2020 Silver Snoopy trades well above its original retail on the secondary market. A fake trades for nothing.
  • Reused photos. Many listings show genuine press images. Ask for a live photo with a dated note in the frame.
  • Vague descriptors. Phrases like Swiss made, top grade, or AAA tier carry no verifiable meaning. Treat them as marketing noise.

FAQ

Can a replica copy the moving Snoopy caseback?

Not convincingly. The genuine version uses a structured metallic rendering of Snoopy and a rotating Earth disc built into the display back. Fakes usually use printed graphics that look flat from any angle and do not move the way the original does.

Will a fake get stopped at the border?

It can be. Counterfeit trademarked goods are subject to seizure and destruction under U.S. customs enforcement. Sellers rarely refund a seized shipment.

What is a realistic alternative if the Snoopy is out of reach?

Buy a standard Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. It carries the same lineage, has a real movement, holds value, and can be serviced anywhere. Save the Snoopy purchase for when the budget genuinely reaches it.

Should I pay a premium for the 2020 or the 2015 edition?

Both trade above retail. The 2020 model is the more desirable of the two for most collectors, but condition, box, and papers swing value more than the year does. Buy the cleanest complete set you can find.