The short answer
The reference 323.10.44 is Omega's Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-Axial Chronograph in a 44.25 mm steel case, and it is a popular target for counterfeiters because a busy dial and a large case look convincing in photographs. It is also one of the easier references to verify, because the movement gives it away. The genuine watch uses Omega calibre 9300 in earlier production and calibre 9900 later, both automatic chronographs with a column wheel, a co-axial escapement and a silicon balance spring, visible through a sapphire caseback. Most fakes of this reference use a generic chronograph movement with a different subdial layout, a different date position, or a rotor and bridges that do not match the real finishing. Check the caseback view, the date position and the calibre engraving, and the question is usually settled.
What the genuine 323.10.44 actually is
The number 323.10.44 is only the front of a longer reference. The digits that follow change with the dial and bracelet combination, so a listing that quotes only 323.10.44 does not give you enough to check against anything. The watch itself is a bi-compax chronograph: one subdial at 3 o'clock, one at 9 o'clock, and a date window at 6 o'clock. Case size is roughly 44.25 mm across, thickness is close to 15 mm at the crystal, and the lug width is 21 mm. Water resistance on the steel models is 100 m, and power reserve is around 60 hours.
Details a photograph hides
- Movement finish: blackened screws, striped bridges, and the calibre number engraved on the rotor and the bridge.
- Date position: 6 o'clock, in line with the small seconds at 9 and the combined hour and minute counter at 3.
- Lug width: measure it with calipers. The genuine case takes a 21 mm bracelet or strap.
- Bracelet end links: they should sit flush against the case, with no gap and no side to side wobble.
- Lume: hands and hour markers should glow to the same brightness and fade at the same rate.
Numbers worth memorizing before you inspect one
- Case diameter: about 44.25 mm, measured across the case and not including the crown.
- Case thickness: roughly 15 mm. This is a thick watch on the wrist.
- Lug width: 21 mm.
- Movement frequency: 4 Hz, which is 28,800 vibrations per hour.
- Power reserve: around 60 hours.
- Water resistance: 100 m on steel references.
If a watch measures 42 mm across, takes a 20 mm strap, or ticks at 6 Hz, it is not this reference no matter what the listing says.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Trusting box and papers on their own. Packaging is the easiest part of a counterfeit to reproduce, so verify the watch, not the accessories.
- Buying from a listing that shows only dial photographs. The caseback, the clasp engraving and the movement are where the differences live.
- Assuming a service center will help. Omega and its authorized partners will not service a counterfeit, and independent watchmakers often refuse as well.
- Ignoring the legal side. Counterfeit watches infringe a trademark, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize them at import. There is no warranty, no parts support and no resale market.
- Paying in a way you cannot reverse. Wire transfers and payment apps with no buyer protection remove every option you have if the watch turns out to be wrong.
FAQ
Can a watchmaker confirm whether one is genuine?
Yes. A qualified watchmaker or an Omega service center can open the case, read the movement serial, check the calibre and compare the finishing against factory records. This is the only check that carries real weight.
Is it legal to buy a counterfeit watch?
No. Counterfeit goods infringe a registered trademark, and importing them into the United States is prohibited. Buyers also lose any legal recourse when the watch fails, because the transaction itself is not a lawful sale of the branded product.
Why do some fakes look convincing in photos?
Because the dial and the case profile are the simplest parts to copy. The movement architecture, the crystal clarity, the bracelet fit and the crown action are the hard parts, and those are exactly what a photograph does not show.
Do counterfeits hold value?
No. There is no collector market, no service network and no parts supply, so a counterfeit has essentially no resale value the day it arrives.
What is the fastest single check?
Ask for a clear photograph of the movement through the caseback and compare the layout with the calibre 9300 or 9900. Subdial positions, date placement and rotor engraving are difficult to fake and easy to compare.