Answer
210.30.42.20.01.001 is an Omega reference number. It identifies the Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial Master Chronometer 42 mm in stainless steel with a black ceramic dial. The hippocampus nickname comes from the seahorse on the caseback. A replica of this reference is an unlicensed copy. Omega does not make it, does not sell it, and does not service it. In the United States, selling such a copy is trademark counterfeiting under federal law.
What the reference covers
- Case: stainless steel, 42 mm diameter, 13.6 mm thickness, 20 mm lug width.
- Dial: black ceramic, laser-engraved wave pattern, date window at 6 o'clock.
- Bezel: black ceramic with a white enamel dive scale, unidirectional, 120 clicks.
- Movement: Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8800, automatic, 35 jewels, 55 hours of power reserve.
- Certification: METAS Master Chronometer, magnetic resistance to 15,000 gauss.
- Water resistance: 300 m, with a conical helium escape valve at 10 o'clock.
- Bracelet: steel with a foldover clasp, push-button micro-adjust, and a diver extension.
- US list price: about $5,900 from an authorized dealer. Confirm the current figure with the dealer.
How a copy differs
Copies marketed as super clone or 1:1 use third-party movements. Most are decorated versions of an ETA 2824 pattern or a Chinese equivalent. The genuine Calibre 8800 has a co-axial escapement, a silicon balance spring, and a free-sprung balance. The copy has none of those parts. METAS issues a Master Chronometer certificate and a test card with the genuine watch. A copy has no such record, or ships a card with a serial that does not appear in the METAS database.
Case finish differs as well. The genuine case has a mix of brushed and polished planes with defined edges. Copies show softer edges, deeper lug holes, and a crown thread that catches.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $2,000,000 for an individual. Repeat offenses raise the maximum to 20 years and $5,000,000. Civil claims run under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114. Statutory damages for willful use of a counterfeit mark reach $2,000,000 per mark under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c). US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit watch shipments at the border. A seized order is not refunded by the seller.
How sellers describe these watches
Listings use factory nicknames instead of brand names, plus labels such as AAA, Swiss made, and same movement as original. No such label comes from Omega. Serial numbers on copies are duplicated across units, so two watches from one seller can carry the same number. A claim that a copy holds a METAS certificate cannot be checked without the serial and the METAS record.
Checks that separate genuine from copy
- Caseback: the genuine has a wave-edged sapphire back with a seahorse medallion, deep engraving, and a unique 8-digit serial. Copy engraving is shallow and the font is off.
- Papers: the genuine ships with a Master Chronometer card and a serial that matches the case.
- Movement: rotor text and the co-axial escapement are visible on the genuine. Copies show a different balance and rotor bearing.
- Bezel: 120 clicks with firm detents. Copies show fewer clicks or a loose ring.
- Lume: the genuine uses Super-LumiNova that stays readable past six hours. Copies fade sooner.
- Weight: on a scale, the genuine steel bracelet version reads about 190 g. Copies read lower.
Unknowns
No public count exists for how many copies of this reference are in circulation. Factory names change and sellers rename the same product. Any stated production number is a guess.