What Is a Speedmaster 1957 3rd Generation Replica?
A Speedmaster 1957 3rd generation replica is a third-revision copy of the Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow re-edition, the watch Omega made to honor its 1957 original. The "3rd generation" tag comes from the replica factory and the buyer community, not from Omega. It marks a build where earlier problems with the dial, case shape, and chronograph movement have been reworked.
1957 3rd generation speedmaster replica
The 1957 Speedmaster look is easy to name: broad arrow hour hand, steel tachymeter bezel, black dial with three recessed subdials, and a slim case that wears smaller than a modern Moonwatch. Replica makers sell it as a vintage-flavored alternative to the standard Speedmaster Professional copies.
What Does "3rd Generation" Mean in the Replica Market?
Replica factories do not publish version numbers the way software companies do. A model gets made, buyers list the flaws, and the factory cuts new molds or prints new dials. The next batch becomes "v2," then "v3."
So a 3rd generation Speedmaster 1957 should be the third pass at the same watch. In practice, sellers use the label to signal "this one is fixed." Some apply it to any third batch, even when only the bracelet changed.
Replica Speedmaster 1957 3rd Generation Buying Guide
What Changes Between Versions
- Subdial spacing and the size of the three registers
- Case profile, lug shape, and pusher length
- Bezel insert printing, including the position of the dot near the 90 mark
- Caseback engraving depth and text sharpness
- Crystal height and anti-reflective coating on the inside
- Bracelet taper, end link fit, and clasp stamping
Specs to Compare Before You Buy
Case and Bezel
The 1957 case is thin and close to 39mm across, with straight lugs and a narrow bezel. A third-generation copy should share that profile. Check photos taken with calipers, since a case that measures wider than the original reads wrong on the wrist.
The bezel is where cheap copies slip. The tachymeter scale should sit under a steel or black insert, and the numbers should line up with the dial markers underneath. Watch the "90" mark and the dot beside it, because early batches got that detail wrong.
Dial and Hands
Look for broad arrow hands, a baton or lollipop seconds hand, and a stepped dial. The "Speedmaster" text should be crisp and the right weight. Subdials sit at 3, 6, and 9 on the original, and copies that pull them toward the center give themselves away.
Lume color matters too. The 1957 re-edition uses a light cream tone, not the bright green of a modern sports watch. A replica with neon-green lume in daylight looks like a different model.
Movement and Chronograph Function
Most 3rd generation copies run a hand-wound chronograph movement from the Seagull ST19 family. Budget versions use a quartz chronograph, which is easy to spot because the seconds hand ticks instead of sweeping.
Test the pushers. Start, stop, and reset should feel firm, and the chronograph hands should snap back to zero. A reset hand that lands off zero is hard to fix at home.
How It Compares to a Moonwatch Replica
The Moonwatch copy has a 42mm case, a dot over 90 bezel, and a taller profile. The 1957 copy is smaller and thinner, so it wears closer to a dress watch. On a small wrist, the 1957 shape sits better.
Price tracks the movement more than the case size. A hand-wound chronograph build costs more than a quartz one, and the third-generation label adds a small premium when the factory has a name for fixing flaws.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Blurry or misspelled caseback text
- Subdial hands that sit above or below the dial surface
- Bezel numbering that drifts off center
- Pushers that wobble or stick
- Listings that hide the caseback or use stock photos
How to Vet a Seller
- Ask for a video that shows the chronograph starting, stopping, and resetting.
- Request caliper photos of the case and a straight-on dial shot.
- Ask for timestamped photos of the exact watch you will receive.
- Confirm the return window and who pays return shipping.
- Compare buyer photos of the same version from other sources.
FAQ
Is a Speedmaster 1957 3rd generation replica a good first buy?
It can be, if you want a vintage Speedmaster look with a working chronograph. The hand-wound version asks for more care than a quartz watch, since you wind it yourself and the movement has more parts to wear.
Is it waterproof?
No. Treat every replica as splash-resistant at best. Gaskets are often dry or missing, and sellers do not pressure-test these watches. Keep it away from showers, pools, and the ocean.
Will a watchmaker service it?
Some will, some will not. Shops that work on the Seagull ST19 or similar hand-wound chronographs can service it, and parts are cheap. Shops tied to brand accounts may turn it away.
How do you tell a 3rd generation from a 2nd generation?
Side by side, compare the subdial spacing, the bezel print, and the caseback engraving. Sellers also list version numbers in the title. Without both watches in hand, the label is only as good as the seller behind it.
What Matters Most
Version labels help, but photos and a working chronograph matter more. A true third-generation Speedmaster 1957 replica should show correct subdial spacing, a clean bezel print, and a chronograph that resets to zero. If a seller cannot show those three things on video, the "3rd generation" tag means little.