A fake Omega caliber 8605 is a Chinese-made copy of Omega's automatic GMT movement. Most fakes use a modified ETA 2836-2 or a Chinese 2836 clone with a GMT module, then add decorative plates and a fake rotor. They look close on a wrist, but the finishing, power reserve, and service parts do not match the real 8605.
What is the real Omega caliber 8605?
The genuine Omega caliber 8605 is a self-winding GMT movement. It has a co-axial escapement, a silicon balance spring, two barrels, and a 60-hour power reserve. Omega rates it as a Master Chronometer after METAS testing, with a deviation of 0 to +5 seconds each day.
The 8605 uses a 24-hour hand for a second time zone. The date sits at 3 o'clock on most models. Omega fits the 8605 in the Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT and some Planet Ocean GMT watches.
How do replica makers build a fake 8605?
Replica factories start with a base movement that costs less than the real 8605. Common bases include the ETA 2836-2, the Sellita SW220, or a Chinese copy of the 2836. To add GMT, they stack a module on top or use a 2836-2 GMT variant.
Next, they add a fake bridge and rotor. The plates get Geneva stripes or perlage, and the rotor gets an Omega logo and a fake serial. Some high-end fakes use a custom clone with a co-axial-like escapement. Even those clones use different steel, jewels, and tolerances.
Fake 8605 vs real 8605: key differences
- Power reserve: Real 8605 runs about 60 hours. Most fakes run 36 to 42 hours.
- Escapement: Real uses a co-axial escapement. Most fakes use a standard Swiss lever escapement.
- Balance spring: Real uses silicon. Fakes use alloy or steel.
- Finishing: Real has arabesque Geneva waves and a specific rotor cut. Fakes often show wrong pattern, rough edges, or laser engraving.
- Certification: Real 8605 comes with a METAS Master Chronometer card. Fakes have no valid card.
- Service: Omega services the real 8605. Most watchmakers cannot get parts for a fake 8605.
How can you spot a fake 8605 movement?
Check the balance and escapement
Look at the balance wheel through the case back. A real 8605 has a free-sprung balance with no regulator index. Many fakes have a regulator arm with a plus and minus sign. A real co-axial escapement has three pallet jewels. A fake with a lever escapement has two.
Check the rotor and engraving
The real rotor has a deep relief Omega logo and CAL. 8605 text. Fakes often use a flat laser etch that reflects light in one color. The rotor screw may be wrong. The real movement has a specific jewel count and a serial on the bridge.
Check the GMT function
On a real 8605, the hour hand jumps in one-hour steps when you turn the crown in the second position. The GMT hand stays put. On many fakes, the GMT hand moves with the hour hand or the date changes at a different time. Test the setting order before you buy.
Check the case back and paperwork
A real Omega 8605 has a case back with correct engravings, a serial, and a reference number. The Master Chronometer card has a matching serial and a METAS test result. Fakes often have mismatched numbers or a card with no database entry.
What accuracy can a fake 8605 hold?
A fake 8605 can keep time within 10 to 20 seconds per day after regulation. Some clones do better, some do worse. The real 8605 must stay within 0 to +5 seconds per day. A fake also loses accuracy when the GMT module adds friction or the rotor winds in one direction only.
Are fake 8605 watches legal to buy?
No. Omega owns the trademark for the name, logo, and trade dress. Selling or buying a counterfeit watch can violate trademark law in the US and many other countries. US Customs can seize fake watches at the border. The FTC warns that counterfeit goods can fail, break, and carry no warranty.
If you want a GMT watch with a similar look, buy a legal alternative from a brand that makes its own movement. That gives you service, parts, and no legal risk.
FAQ
Is a fake Omega 8605 the same as a real one?
No. A fake 8605 copies the look, not the engineering. The real 8605 has a co-axial escapement, silicon balance spring, two barrels, and METAS certification. Most fakes use a 2836 base with a GMT module and cosmetic plates.
How long does a fake 8605 last?
Life span depends on the base movement and the GMT module. A clean Chinese 2836 clone can run for years with service. The module often fails first. Parts for the module may be hard to find.
Can a watchmaker service a fake 8605?
Some watchmakers will clean and oil a common 2836 clone. Few will touch a custom clone or a fake 8605 with a co-axial copy. They cannot order Omega parts, and the fake parts may not fit.
What is the biggest tell on a fake 8605?
The balance and escapement. A real 8605 has a free-sprung balance and a co-axial escapement. Most fakes have a regulator index and a lever escapement. That difference shows under a loupe.