A replica Apollo 13 Snoopy is a copy of the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award, the watch Omega released to mark the Silver Snoopy Award NASA gave the brand in 1970 for the Speedmaster's role in the Apollo 13 rescue. A good replica matches the 42mm steel case, the dial layout, and the Snoopy caseback artwork. A poor one gets Snoopy's shape wrong, and that is the first thing to check.
Where does the Snoopy name come from?
Snoopy is NASA's safety mascot, and the Silver Snoopy Award is a pin that astronauts hand to people and teams who make spaceflight safer. Omega received one in 1970 after Apollo 13. The link to that Moon mission is direct.
Apollo 13 launched on April 11, 1970. Two days later an oxygen tank in the service module exploded, and the crew shut down the command module and moved into the lunar module. To get home they needed a 14 second engine burn at the right moment, and they timed that burn with the Speedmasters strapped to their wrists.
That story is why the Snoopy Speedmaster exists, and why buyers still search for a replica of it decades later.
Which Snoopy editions do replica makers copy?
Two watches carry the Snoopy name in the modern lineup, and both have been copied. They look nothing alike, so know which one you want before you buy.
The 45th anniversary model (2015)
- White dial with black sub dials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock
- Black hands and a black bezel
- Silver Snoopy medallion on the caseback over a blue enamel Earth
- 42mm steel case, hand wound caliber 1861
This is the watch most sellers mean when they list an "Apollo 13 Snoopy." The caseback art is static, which makes it the easier model to copy well.
The 50th anniversary model (2020)
- Blue dial with a Snoopy figure riding a rocket as the small seconds hand
- Rotating Earth disc that moves with the chronograph
- Ceramic bezel with the dot over 90
- 42mm steel case, caliber 3861
Replica makers have attempted this one too, but the moving Earth and the animated caseback are hard to reproduce at a low price. Copies tend to simplify both.
What should you inspect on a replica Apollo 13 Snoopy?
Four areas decide whether a copy looks right on the wrist. Work through them in order.
1. The dial and Snoopy artwork
On the white dial model, check the sub dial spacing and the print weight of the text. Snoopy on the caseback should have a clear helmet, defined ears, and a round nose. Mushy or stretched engraving points to a low grade case.
2. The caseback
The real 45th anniversary caseback uses a silver medallion set into the steel with blue enamel for the Earth. Copies either stamp the image flat or cut it too deep. Look for sharp edges on the continents and a clean ring around the medallion.
3. The movement
Better replicas use a hand wound chronograph movement that mirrors the original layout, with small seconds at 9 o'clock and a sweeping chronograph hand. Quartz versions tick once per second, which anyone who knows watches will spot from across a table.
4. The case and crystal
Measure the thickness. A 42mm Speedmaster case should sit around 13 to 14mm tall. Copies with thick cases often hide a cheap movement and a spacer ring. The crystal should be sapphire or good mineral glass with an even dome, not a wavy plastic lens.
How much does a replica Apollo 13 Snoopy cost?
Prices fall into rough bands. Under $80 buys a quartz toy with printed caseback art. Between $150 and $250 buys a decent automatic or hand wound copy with a steel case. Above $300 buys the closest 1:1 builds, with better dial print, a real sapphire crystal, and a movement that mimics the original layout.
Pay more than the top band and you are paying for marketing, not parts.
Frequently asked questions
Does the chronograph work on a replica Snoopy?
On the better builds, yes. The pushers start, stop, and reset the chronograph, and the central hand sweeps. Cheap quartz copies often have pushers that do nothing but move a fake sub dial.
Can a jeweler tell it is a replica?
Yes, if the watch is in their hands. Weight, engraving depth, and movement finishing give it away. From a normal distance on a wrist, most people will not notice.
Is the Snoopy caseback animated on replicas?
The 2015 caseback is not animated, so a replica can match it. The 2020 caseback animation is a different problem, and most copies replace it with a static scene.
Will a replica Snoopy hold value?
No. It is a fashion piece, not an asset. Real Silver Snoopy Speedmasters trade above retail on the secondhand market, and replicas have no resale market at all.
What a replica gives you and what it does not
You get the look of a Snoopy Speedmaster on your wrist for a fraction of the cost, in the same 42mm case size and with the same dial layout. You do not get Omega service, a warranty, precious materials, or collector value. Treat it as a watch to wear, not a watch to store.
If you want the closest match, pick the 2015 white dial version. Its caseback is static, its dial is simple, and replica makers have had years to refine it.