Short answer
Omega does not use 1501 as a model reference in its current catalog. Current Omega references carry eight digits, such as 210.30.42.20.01.001. The number 1501 appears in two other places. Rolex reference 1501 is a Datejust built from the early 1960s into the 1970s. Vintage Omega watches from the 1950s and 1960s carry short case numbers, and sellers type 1501 into a title when a case back stamp is worn or misread. A "replica Omega 1501" is a listing term, not a factory model. Two groups of buyers search it: people who want a vintage-style Omega dress watch, and people who want a Datejust. Photos settle which one you are looking at.
Where the number comes from
A fluted bezel, a cyclops lens over the date, and a crown at 3 o'clock point to the Rolex shape. A smooth bezel, a thin case, and a 12 o'clock marker shaped like a triangle or a cross point to a vintage Omega Seamaster or Constellation. No Omega source documents a model called 1501. If a seller claims Omega made one, ask for a catalog page or a case back photo.
What replica sellers ship under this name
Most listings sold as replica Omega 1501 share a short spec sheet:
- Case: 34 mm to 36 mm, polished stainless steel or two-tone.
- Crystal: domed acrylic or flat sapphire with an inner anti-reflective coat.
- Dial: cream, silver, or black; printed logo; date at 3 o'clock.
- Strap: 18 mm or 19 mm leather, or a steel bracelet with folded links.
- Movement: Japanese quartz, a Chinese automatic such as a Seagull ST series, or an ETA 2824 clone.
Checks that matter
- Measure the case. Ask for caliper photos. A 40 mm case with a 20 mm lug width is not a 1501 shape.
- Read the dial text. Look at letter spacing and font weight. Thin or crowded print marks a low grade build.
- Check the date window. Edges should sit even with the dial print. Crooked frames show up on cheap cases.
- Ask for the movement name. "Swiss movement" with no caliber number is a marketing line.
- Request photos of the case back, the crown, and the clasp. Sellers who skip these shots hide stamping errors.
Price bands
Quartz versions sell for $40 to $90. Automatic versions with a Seagull or Miyota movement sell for $90 to $200. Two-tone and gold-plated versions with a Swiss-clone automatic run $200 to $400. A real vintage Omega Seamaster from the 1960s sells for $500 to $2,500, based on dial condition and service history. A real Rolex Datejust 1501 sells for $3,000 to $6,000. A listing above $500 that calls itself a replica sits outside these ranges.
Red flags
- Stock photos with no shot of the actual unit.
- Claims of "genuine Omega parts" on a watch that copies a Rolex reference.
- Water resistance claims above 50 m with no gasket photo.
- Payment by gift card, wire, or crypto with no refund term.
Open point
The origin of the 1501 label in Omega listings is not documented. Treat it as a search term, judge the watch on the case, dial, and movement facts in front of you.