If you want the short answer: there is no replica Omega 3604 worth buying. The number 3604 belongs to vintage Omega production, and a modern copy wearing that label is a generic watch with a logo applied to the dial. The realistic pick is a genuine vintage Omega reference 3604, and the criteria that matter are a matching caseback reference, a correctly numbered movement, an original dial and hands, and a seller who documents all three in writing.
What "Omega 3604" actually refers to
Search results mix three different things under one number: a vintage Omega case reference, a caliber number used in older catalogs, and third-party listing titles that borrow the digits because they sound old and collectible. Sellers of 1:1 replicas tend to repeat the number with nothing behind it. Before you compare anything, decide which of the three you are looking at. A genuine watch carries its reference stamp inside the caseback and the movement carries its own caliber and serial markings. A replica carries neither in any meaningful way.
Replica versus genuine: the real trade-offs
What replicas offer
- Low entry cost compared with a vintage Omega.
- A modern case size, sapphire crystal, and a movement you can wear daily without worrying about age.
- No waiting for the right example to appear at auction or with a dealer.
The costs of that choice:
- The watch is not the reference it claims to be, so the number on the caseback means nothing.
- No brand service, no parts support, and repair options limited to independent shops.
- Resale value is close to zero and buyer demand is thin.
- Import into the United States can end in seizure, and selling counterfeit goods is trademark infringement.
What a genuine vintage Omega gives you
- A documented reference with a traceable movement serial.
- Access to parts and to watchmakers who know the caliber.
- An asset that holds value and can be resold with records attached.
Where it costs you more:
- Higher purchase price, plus servicing on top.
- Limited supply and wide variation in condition.
- You have to learn the reference before you buy, or you will overpay for a redial or a frankenwatch.
Checks to run on a genuine reference 3604
- Caseback reference: match the stamp against the seller's description, inside and out.
- Movement: identify the caliber and confirm the serial sits in the expected range for the reference.
- Dial and hands: original finish and matching patina, no repaint, no relume that clashes with the plots.
- Crown, crystal, and case lines: correct profile, no over-polishing that has rounded the edges.
- Paper trail: service invoices, dealer receipts, and a written return window.
Which route fits which buyer
If you want a low-cost daily watch and the Omega name is not the point, buy a modern microbrand or a used Seiko instead of a counterfeit. If the reference itself is the point, save for a genuine vintage Omega 3604 from a dealer who will document the case, movement, and dial, and budget for a service the year you buy it. If you are buying as an investment, skip anything without paperwork, because an undocumented vintage Omega is hard to sell and easy to question at resale.
Where to verify before you pay
Omega publishes reference and service information and can confirm details through its service network. US Customs and Border Protection can detain or destroy counterfeit shipments. The Federal Trade Commission treats counterfeit goods as illegal merchandise. Verify the reference, the movement, and the seller first, then pay.