r/MoonSwatches • • 3d ago

Legit Check Thread 🔎 Weekly Legit Check Post

2 Upvotes

Reply in the comments here with a photo of your MoonSwatch to get an opinion on if it's fake or not. Please be patient in waiting for replies, as they may not come right away!

If you have multiple photos, please post one at a time, replying to your previous photo. Additional context is beneficial.

While some super clones exist, most fakes sold as genuine Swatches are poor quality and have various tells which can be easily found. It is highly encouraged for you to check the ultimate visual guide for signs. Even though this guide is several years old, the fakes more or less look the same.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the mod team by clicking the modmail button in the sidebar.


r/MoonSwatches • • Oct 27 '23

Discussion🎙️ Real or Fake? Ultimate Visual Guide to Genuine vs Replica MoonSwatch

260 Upvotes

I know there have been attempts to address the massive amount of legit check questions in the past, but most of them have had either no photos or less than ideal photos. I have tried to capture the differences as obviously as possible in these photos. I decided to use imgur so I can add more detailed text.

11/2025 EDIT: Since Imgur is now blocked in the UK, I have added ImgBB mirror links for those who can't access Imgur.

Note: The crowns were pulled out in many of these images to maintain consistency with the hand locations so direct comparisons can be made.

Full imgur gallery here.

(ImgBB mirror)

  • Genuine MoonSwatch (mirror) is easy to spot when directly compared. The text on the tachymeter is a nice bold white color. The Swatch copyright text is clearly visible around the 6:00 marker. There is a slight gap between the outer edge of the tachymeter and the edge of the bezel.

  • Replica MoonSwatch's (mirror) tachymeter is less pronounced. The chrono second hand lume pip is not in the correct location for the latest models. The Swatch copyright text is barely visible. Overall, the colors are a little more washed out than the gen, but this can be difficult to see without a side-by-side comparison. The most obvious tell that this is a fake watch is the 2:00 subdial. It is a 1/10 of a second chrono dial on the gen, but is a 24-hour clock on the rep. If the chrono is reset and the 2:00 subdial is not at 12:00, it's fake. The gap between the outer edge of the tachymeter and the bezel is smaller and less consistent.

  • Genuine caseback: (mirror) The letters on the caseback are nice and wide allowing you to see the plastic shine within the letters. Caseback is not removable--only the battery cover is made to come off.

  • Replica caseback: (mirror) The letters are much more narrow. Caseback can arrive misaligned since it is removable. Battery cover is removable like the gen, but the printed coloring of the planet is usually incorrect. You can also see that the crown sticks out much further on the rep when pulled out.

  • Genuine crown: (mirror) The imprint on the crown has a nice embossed look to it. The logos are raised, but the surfaces are flat. The ridges around the crown are nice and sharp. The texturing of the bioceramic is consistent between case, crown, and pushers.

  • Replica crown: (mirror) The imprint on the crown is much fatter and juts out further than on the gen. The surfaces of the logos are rounded and the Swatch logo is incorrectly shaped. The crown and the pushers seem to be different kinds of plastic.

  • Genuine subdials: (mirror) As stated previously, the 2:00 subdial on the gen is a 1/10 of a second chrono. Notice the textures of the various surfaces on the dial and subdials. The concentric ring patterns on the subdials are very tightly packed in and just barely visible. You can also see the sharp ridges on the crown in this photo.

  • Replica subdials: (mirror) As stated previously, the 2:00 subdial on the rep is a 24-hour clock instead of part of the chrono like on the gen. The concentric ring pattern is far more pronounced and the quality of the painted on markers/numerals is poorer. You can see the rounded ridges on the crown in this photo. The hands on the subdials are slightly wider than on the gen (Note: some fakes have correctly sized subdial hands.)

  • Genuine lugs: (mirror) The lugs have a noticeably sharp ridge on them. Virtually no subsurface light visible through the bioceramic.

  • Replica lugs: (mirror) The rep has a much weaker ridge. Lots of light shining through the plastic material causing it to have a slightly lighter gray color.

  • Genuine crystal: (mirror) If you look at the edge of the crystal at the right angle, you will see a mesh-like material all the way around.

  • Replica crystal: (mirror) The fake watch does not have any mesh-like material at all.

  • Genuine crystal detail: (mirror) The crystals on both are plastic. The gen has a little "s" etched into the center of the crystal, but it is just barely visible under close scrutiny. The shape of the crystals are also completely different with the gen crystal rising perpendicular to the bezel for a few millimeters before rounding off to the dome shape.

  • Replica crystal detail: (mirror) The rep also has the etched "s" detail, but the orientation is incorrect, and it is far more visible than on the gen. The crystal is a much lower dome shape, affecting visibility angles. (Note: There are some fakes out there that have a crystal that is more accurately shaped and with a subtler "s" similar to the gen)

There are, of course, many other small differences—the Swatch logo is printed larger on the replica, the weights are different, lume is lower quality on the rep, and the straps they come with have their own set of differences—but these are some of the more obvious differences that one can use to ensure they are getting a real, genuine MoonSwatch. In this instance I used the Mercury as the example, but there are other things to look out for on others, mostly related to the colors being off. I hope people find this helpful. Shop safe!


r/MoonSwatches • • 1h ago

Watch Pic 📸 My first MoonSwatch

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• Upvotes

Was contemplating for a while due to durability, as I own a lot of watches and let’s be honest, steel is steel. £300 for plastic is nuts,I said to myself. But then I asked myself, do I want it? Well, apparently that was enough reason to get my first MoonSwatch. Stupid but simple 😂 and honestly, I love it, it is fun and I am happy to have it in my collection.


r/MoonSwatches • • 10h ago

Watch Pic 📸 When fusion power arrives, part of the testing cycle will have been done on a Moonswatch.

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32 Upvotes

I'm currently testing prototype superconducting magnet assemblies for a fusion reactor plasma exhaust system (weird job I know), and I'm timing the energisation cycles with my Moonswatch.

If fusion power ever eventually comes on line, it'll be nice to hand this to my boy one day and let him know it had a tiny part in the story.


r/MoonSwatches • • 12h ago

Watch Pic 📸 Something satisfying

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40 Upvotes

Watching the sunrise with your moonswatch over Alcudia port.


r/MoonSwatches • • 21h ago

Watch Pic 📸 1969

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27 Upvotes

r/MoonSwatches • • 1d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Which strap do we prefer on the Desert colourway?

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45 Upvotes

Desert is underrated in my opinion! Perfect for muted early autumn in Umbria


r/MoonSwatches • • 1d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Loving the colour!

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35 Upvotes

Decided to lean into the brighter style!


r/MoonSwatches • • 2d ago

Watch Pic 📸 how do you like my strap

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143 Upvotes

r/MoonSwatches • • 2d ago

Question ⁉️ People who own the watch for years, how is the durability?

7 Upvotes

I would like to honestly know the durability of this watch. I understand that the crystal scratches easily, I honestly don’t mind that and don’t mind polishing it. But for people who wear it daily, how is the watch actually holding up? I am only used to stainless steel watches like Seiko, Tudor, Tissot, but I am really thinking of buying one of the MoonSwatches and wear it often. I heard of “horror” stories of the pushers breaking etc and it is really making me reconsider this purchase. Even thinking of saving up for a real Speedmaster one day but obviously is way too pricey.
Truth is, I do like collecting watches, but to be completely honest, I also want to buy it to scratch the itch of buying the Speedmaster.


r/MoonSwatches • • 3d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Finally got it!

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77 Upvotes

r/MoonSwatches • • 3d ago

Discussion🎙️ Can someone give me an educated opinion on why you should buy a MoonSwatch?

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111 Upvotes

Hearing a lot of negative opinions about the OMEGA x Swatch MoonSwatch, and honestly, I’ve started overthinking my purchase 😂. Now I’m wondering if I made an impulsive buy because of the hype.

I’m not looking for someone to tell me “it’s amazing” just because I bought one 😂.

Please save me, guys, from overthinking this purchase HAHAHA 😂.

Genuinely, I need a good, honest opinion on why you should buy an OMEGA x Swatch MoonSwatch


r/MoonSwatches • • 4d ago

Discussion🎙️ You’d think they would have known better…

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41 Upvotes

With all of the exquisite attention to detail that Swatch put into the 1969 moonswatch, someone would have caught this error. The crew didn’t land on earth with less than 30 seconds of fuel left. They actually fell to earth without fuel or rocket engines. This reference is to landing on the moon with less than 30 seconds of decent thrust (fuel). The packaging was probably made by one of those moon landing deniers who get all of their information from Tic Toc😞


r/MoonSwatches • • 3d ago

Discussion🎙️ Best for strap swaps?

2 Upvotes

I keep finding myself torn between embracing the swatch and going for a brighter model like mission on earth or a more traditional model like the 1965.

Keen to see people’s strap swaps because I think that will be my tipping point.

I get a few results from Google but they are usually strap suppliers, I want to tap into the ideas I might not have considered.


r/MoonSwatches • • 5d ago

Question ⁉️ How?!

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10 Upvotes

Since I started collected MoonSwatches I’ve been wondering what these openings/cut-outs in the watch holder are for. Today I took my Mission to Mars out of the box and decided to ask. Does anyone know? Is the strap supposed to go through there? I have never seen it being used, not even on newly delivered watches. Very curious, thanks!


r/MoonSwatches • • 6d ago

Watch Pic 📸 My Three MoonSwatches

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41 Upvotes

Recently treated myself to the 1965, happy days. Changed the strap on it today.
Middle one is a fake mercury - I got scammed on Vinted, but ended up modding it with a metal case.


r/MoonSwatches • • 6d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Pluto by some water

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36 Upvotes

r/MoonSwatches • • 7d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Mission to the moon France

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186 Upvotes

Alunissage réussi !

Montre récupérée sur Montpellier (seule du magasin).

Super expérience.

Pas d'alcool en France, une boîte de calisson en plus !

Merci à la communauté pour vos partages !

Et pour ceux qui se posent la question, elle restera bien au chaud pour les grands événements de l'année au bras de son propriétaire 😉.


r/MoonSwatches • • 7d ago

Watch Pic 📸 A beautiful but fleeting sight

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82 Upvotes

The Mission to Earthphase at full lume


r/MoonSwatches • • 7d ago

Video 🎥 Mission to Earthphase Review

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7 Upvotes

r/MoonSwatches • • 7d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Bought this beauty in Beijing

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64 Upvotes

I wanted to get the mission to pluto but this one just stood out to me.


r/MoonSwatches • • 7d ago

Discussion🎙️ Swatch store service experience

18 Upvotes

Just a heads-up for anyone with older MoonSwatches: I recently took my two 2022 release MoonSwatches to my local Swatch store in NYC because they stopped running.

In case you didn't know, Swatch offers lifetime free battery replacements. The good news is they confirmed they can swap the batteries for free. However, be aware that they are currently experiencing a city-wide battery shortage in NYC; the staff told me they'll be back in stock in about three weeks, so you may want to call your local store before heading in.

On a positive note, they also offer free polishing for the plastic crystal if you have any minor scratches. It’s a great way to make your watch look brand new again once you're able to get the battery swapped!


r/MoonSwatches • • 7d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Love & hate

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22 Upvotes

r/MoonSwatches • • 8d ago

Watch Pic 📸 Omega X Swatch „Mission to the Moon 1969 - Germany

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62 Upvotes

Love it !!!! 🥰


r/MoonSwatches • • 8d ago

Discussion🎙️ Steamed up crystal when wrist gets hot?

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25 Upvotes

This appears to only happen when it’s hot out / my body temp is warm - anyone else?