The top pick for most buyers is a 42mm manual-wind replica of the Omega Speedmaster Professional with the Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy dial and caseback engraving. It wins on three criteria: case proportions that match the original, a chronograph layout that reads correctly at a glance, and a Snoopy motif that does not look flat or misaligned. The other criteria are movement type, bezel insert quality, crystal clarity, pusher feel, and lume. This guide walks through each one so you can pick the version that fits your wrist and your reason for buying.

What the Apollo 13 Speedmaster Is

Omega's Speedmaster became NASA flight-qualified in 1965. In 1970, after Apollo 13, NASA astronauts gave Omega a Silver Snoopy Award for the watch's role in timing the critical 14-second mid-course correction burn. The modern Silver Snoopy Award Speedmaster editions, released in 2015 and 2020, celebrate that honor with a Snoopy dial and a caseback that shows the mission trajectory. Replica makers usually copy either the standard Moonwatch with an Apollo 13 caseback or the Snoopy dial version. The Snoopy version is the one most people mean when they search for a replica Speedmaster Apollo 13.

Criterion 1: Case and Dimensions

The original Speedmaster Professional is 42mm across, about 13.5mm thick, with 20mm lugs. A replica that gets these numbers right will sit on the wrist like the real watch. A replica that stretches to 44mm or squeezes to 40mm will feel wrong even if the dial looks good in photos.

  • Pros of a 42mm case: correct presence, fits most 6.5 to 8 inch wrists, takes standard 20mm straps.
  • Cons of a 42mm case: slightly large on very small wrists, and cheap versions can feel top-heavy.
  • Pros of a smaller 40mm case: easier for narrow wrists and casual wear.
  • Cons of a smaller 40mm case: it is no longer a faithful Apollo 13 tribute.

Use-case: if you want the Apollo 13 look, stay with 42mm and 20mm lugs. If you want a daily wearer and have a 6 inch wrist, a 40mm homage is a practical compromise.

Criterion 2: Movement Type

Manual-wind chronograph movements, often based on the Seagull ST19 or a similar Chinese column-wheel design, give the closest feel to the original. Quartz chronographs are cheaper and more accurate, but the subdials often tick once per second instead of sweeping, and the pushers feel soft.

  • Pros of manual wind: correct hand-winding ritual, smooth chronograph sweep, thinner case.
  • Cons of manual wind: you must wind it daily, and low-grade versions can run fast or stop.
  • Pros of quartz: set-and-forget, low cost, good for a beater.
  • Cons of quartz: the subdial at 6 o'clock often lacks the running seconds, and the ticking is obvious.
  • Pros of automatic: no winding, good for daily wear.
  • Cons of automatic: usually adds thickness, and many automatic chronograph replicas use a rotor that is not visible anyway.

Use-case: pick manual wind for a collection piece that mimics the Moonwatch. Pick quartz if you want a cheap Apollo 13 themed watch for casual wear and do not care about the chronograph feel.

Criterion 3: Dial and Snoopy Detail

This is where most replicas fail. The Snoopy on the 2020 Silver Snoopy Award dial is a small, printed figure in the 9 o'clock subdial, with a silver Snoopy emblem applied on the caseback. Cheap replicas print Snoopy too large, use a wrong blue or white color, or place the figure off-center. The Apollo 13 caseback engraving should show the mission patch and the trajectory line, not a generic moon landing scene.

  • Pros of a good dial: crisp printing, correct subdial spacing, Snoopy at the right scale.
  • Cons of a bad dial: blurry text, wrong font on Speedmaster, misaligned chronograph hands.
  • Pros of a detailed caseback: adds to the Apollo 13 story and looks good on a display stand.
  • Cons of a detailed caseback: many replicas use a sticker or laser etch that fades or scratches.

Use-case: if you plan to show the watch to friends, spend more on the dial and caseback. If it stays under a cuff, a simpler standard Moonwatch replica with an Apollo 13 caseback is enough.

Criterion 4: Bezel, Crystal, and Lume

The Speedmaster's black tachymeter bezel is a key visual. Original style uses an aluminum insert with painted numbers. Replicas often use a ceramic insert, which is more scratch resistant but glossier than the original. Crystal options are acrylic (hesalite) or sapphire. Acrylic looks period correct and shows warm reflections; sapphire resists scratches but can look flat.

  • Pros of acrylic: correct dome, easy to polish out scratches, lower cost.
  • Cons of acrylic: scratches easily and can cloud over time.
  • Pros of sapphire: clear, durable, good for daily wear.
  • Cons of sapphire: not period correct, and cheap sapphire can have a blue tint.
  • Pros of good lume: legible in the dark, a sign of quality control.
  • Cons of weak lume: fades in minutes, common on budget replicas.

Use-case: choose acrylic if you want the Apollo era feel. Choose sapphire if you will wear the watch at work or outdoors and do not want to baby it.

Criterion 5: Pushers, Crown, and Bracelet

The pushers should click with a short, firm travel. The crown should wind smoothly and screw down without grit. The bracelet or strap should use 20mm spring bars and feel solid at the clasp. A loose bracelet or a crown that wobbles is a sign of poor assembly.

  • Pros of a good bracelet: solid end links, no rattle, easy sizing.
  • Cons of a cheap bracelet: sharp edges, weak clasp, hair pulling.
  • Pros of a leather or NATO strap: light, comfortable, easy to swap.
  • Cons of a leather or NATO strap: not the Apollo 13 look unless you choose a period style.

Use-case: buy a replica with a steel bracelet if you want the classic Moonwatch look. Buy on a NATO strap if you want a lighter, more casual Apollo 13 tribute.

Which Version Should You Buy?

For a faithful Apollo 13 tribute, get a 42mm manual-wind replica with the Silver Snoopy dial, acrylic crystal, aluminum bezel insert, and a steel bracelet. For a daily beater, get a quartz version with a sapphire crystal and a ceramic bezel. For a gift or a first replica, a standard Moonwatch with an Apollo 13 caseback is the safest choice because it avoids the hardest part to replicate, the Snoopy figure.

Before You Buy Checklist

  1. Confirm case size is 42mm and lug width is 20mm.
  2. Ask for a photo of the actual watch, not a stock image.
  3. Check that all three subdials work and reset to zero.
  4. Check that the chronograph seconds hand aligns with 12 o'clock when reset.
  5. Confirm the crystal type and bezel insert material.
  6. Test the crown for smooth winding and the pushers for a firm click.
  7. Verify the return policy and shipping method.

The replica Speedmaster Apollo 13 is a story watch. Buy the version that tells that story clearly, and skip the ones that only look right in a thumbnail.