A fake Seamaster Diver 300M is a counterfeit watch that copies the Omega name, the wave dial, and the 42 mm steel case. The fastest check is paperwork: every Master Chronometer Seamaster ships with a METAS certificate card that carries a test number. The second check is the movement. Omega watches built from 2018 run Calibre 8800 at 25,200 vibrations per hour. Counterfeits run a Seiko NH35 at 21,600, a Miyota 8215, or a DG2813.
Price splits the two groups. A steel Diver 300M on a bracelet sells near $6,000 at US retail. Counterfeits sell from $30 to $600. No counterfeit carries a valid METAS certification number.
Specs of the genuine Diver 300M, 2018 to now
- Case: 42 mm steel, 300 m water resistance, screw-down crown at 3 o'clock
- Movement: Calibre 8800, automatic, co-axial escapement, silicon balance spring, 55-hour power reserve, resistance to 15,000 gauss
- Dial: ceramic with laser-engraved waves, date at 6 o'clock
- Bezel: ceramic insert with a white enamel dive scale, unidirectional, 120 clicks
- Helium escape valve at 10 o'clock
- Crystal: domed sapphire with anti-reflective treatment on both faces, sapphire caseback
- Reference example: 210.30.42.20.03.001, blue dial, steel bracelet
- Warranty: 5 years from Omega
The earlier generation ran from 1993 to 2018 with a 41 mm case, an aluminum bezel insert, a printed wave dial, and an Omega Calibre 1120 or 2500. Older counterfeits copy that layout. Buyers of both generations need the same checks.
Movement and paperwork
Calibre 8800 shows through the caseback. The finish is arabesque Geneva stripes, blackened screws, and a skeletonized rotor with the Omega symbol and the words Co-Axial Master Chronometer. Serial numbers on the caseback, the movement, and the warranty card match.
Counterfeit movements show shallow rotor engraving, a plain balance bridge, and a flat finish. A timegrapher reads 21,600 vibrations per hour on an NH35 and 25,200 on Calibre 8800, so a beat-rate test separates the two in under a minute. Counterfeit cards are printed with blank fields, repeated numbers, or a number that returns no record in the Omega certification lookup.
Dial, hands, and logo
Current models use a ceramic dial with waves cut by laser. The relief is sharp and the light changes across the surface as the watch turns. The Omega symbol is applied metal with faceted edges. Hands are rhodium-plated and skeletonized, with white Super-LumiNova.
Counterfeit dials print the wave pattern flat. The logo is stamped and dull. Lume fades in 20 to 30 minutes. Date numerals on fakes sit thin, and the date disc lines up off center in the window.
Bezel, case, and helium valve
The ceramic bezel turns with 120 firm clicks and no back play. The dive scale is white enamel set into the ceramic, so the numbers do not sit on the surface. Brushing on the case sides is straight, and the lug chamfers are polished.
Counterfeit bezels turn with 60 or 90 clicks and move backward after each click. Painted scales wear at the edge. The helium escape valve at 10 o'clock unscrews by hand on a genuine watch; on many fakes it is a solid plug or a glued cover.
Crystal and date window
The sapphire crystal is domed and coated on both faces. Reflections stay close to colorless, with a faint tint at steep angles. Counterfeit crystals show a strong blue or purple tint across the dial. On the current model the date sits at 6 o'clock with Swiss Made below it; counterfeits shift the spacing and the font weight.
Weight and bracelet
Genuine bracelets use solid links, screw bars, and a machined clasp. Counterfeit bracelets use folded center links, pin-and-collar bars, and stamped clasps. A steel watch with a full bracelet feels heavier in the hand, and the links flex with no rattle.
Price ranges (2025)
- New steel Diver 300M on bracelet: about $5,900 to $6,300 at US retail
- Pre-owned steel versions: about $3,200 to $4,500, set by condition and reference
- Counterfeit tiers: $30 to $80 for entry copies, $350 to $600 for the top replica builds
Prices change with metal, dial color, and strap type. Confirm current numbers with an authorized dealer.
How to verify a watch in six steps
- Ask for the Master Chronometer card and check the certification number against the Omega database.
- Match the serial number on the caseback to the movement and the warranty card.
- Have a watchmaker open the caseback and confirm Calibre 8800 finishing and the 25,200 beat rate.
- Compare the dial wave relief with a reference photo from a boutique.
- Count bezel clicks and test the helium escape valve at 10 o'clock.
- Book a timing check at an Omega-authorized service center.
Legal note for US buyers
US law treats trafficking in counterfeit goods as a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments and can assess penalties on the importer. A watch bought abroad and shipped to a US address carries seizure risk, and no US service center will repair a counterfeit Omega.