How to tell a fake Speedy reduced 3510.50?

Revo · Jun 21, 2021

Hi all

I’m looking at getting a Speedy reduced 3510.50 but a quick check online shows that there are “replicas” of this reference.

Are there quick checks and tells? I don’t mind popping the back off but are the movements also signed? Are the fakes good or e.g. do the chrono pushers not function?

Feel free to message me if you don’t want to post the giveaway tells on here, likewise if any OF members in the UK have one for sale

Thanks

padders · Jun 21, 2021

The fake ones will have inline pushers, work flawlessly for years and be cheap to service. The real ones...

#Dons flame suit 😀

Jokes aside, I am not aware that the Speedy Reduced is faked in any major convincing way. If you see an example that has you worried, post a picture here. Yes the movements are signed but don't usually have a serial number, often that is printed (not engraved) on the inner caseback.

Revo · Jun 21, 2021

padders
The fake ones will have inline pushers, work flawlessly for years and be cheap to service. The real ones...

#Dons flame suit 😀

Jokes aside, I am not aware that the Speedy Reduced is faked in any major convincing way. If you see an example that has you worried, post a picture here. Yes the movements are signed but don't usually have a serial number, often that is printed (not engraved) on the inner caseback.

Ha! And thanks.

blueteg · Jun 22, 2021

Revo
Are there quick checks and tells? I don’t mind popping the back off but are the movements also signed?

Here's a shot of mine.
When the rotor is in opposite position, you'll see this text on the movement:
SWISS FORTY FIVE 45 JEWELS

Revo · Jun 22, 2021

Thanks @blueteg - what’s it like as a watch? Always keen to get reviews from owners. Thanks again

blueteg · Jun 22, 2021

I really like it. The bracelet is very comfortable and watch feels very balanced on my 7" wrist. Sometimes with modern watches they can feel very bulky (due to weight or height, not necessarily case diameter). It's a great starter piece if the Speedy Pro is a little outside of your budget, or if you have even smaller wrists (6.5" or smaller?) and don't like the proportions of a larger watch. The automatic movement is a nice feature if it will be a daily driver for you.
Cons: I bought this always knowing that it would be the little brother to the more collectible (and expensive) Speedmaster Professional. I was fine with that. People complain about servicing these watches, but they are the very same price to get serviced from Omega as a regular Speedy Pro (currently at $750 USD). I guess looking back on it, if I had to find fault with it, the ratio of the cost of service in relation to the cost of buying the watch is a bit more costly than other watches. In other words, it's a little easier to justify a $750 service on a $5,000 - $10,000 watch vs. a $2,000 watch.

Revo · Jun 22, 2021

Thanks @blueteg that's really helpful.

So far I'm at:

Pros: size (I like <40mm despite having 7.5" wrists) + automatic + price
Cons: "it's not a real Speedmaster" + piggyback modular movement

I'm off to look at one this weekend.

Googling "3510.50 omega speedmaster replica" had me worried, hence the question in the OP.

S.H. · Jun 22, 2021

Revo
Thanks @blueteg - what’s it like as a watch? Always keen to get reviews from owners. Thanks again

The moonwatch can be serviced by an independent, not only by omega. The modular auto is more likely to be serviced by omega only, not many independents touch those movements. Not really a deal breaker, but good to know beforehand.

blueteg · Jun 22, 2021

S.H.
The moonwatch can be serviced by an independent, not only by omega. The modular auto is more likely to be serviced by omega only, not many independents touch those movements. Not really a deal breaker, but good to know beforehand.

I had my local (Omega qualified) independent do a full service on my Speedy Auto. His price was inline with Omega's price. I only use the $750 full service cost from Omega as an example since a common argument against these is that the movements are a pain to service and are expensive to service. When in fact they are the same cost (from Omega) to service as any other chronograph they make.

While not my experience locally, I have heard from some other members here that some indy's won't mess with them. So I agree with you that if you are partial to sending your pieces to your local independent vs. Omega, you should check with them to make sure they can service it and what that cost will be.

Archer · Jun 22, 2021

blueteg
So I agree with you that if you are partial to sending your pieces to your local independent vs. Omega, you should check with them to make sure they can service it and what that cost will be.

And I'll add that he should make sure they are going to fully service it, and not just cop out and service only the base movement. The module needs to be fully disassembled and serviced as well.

S.H. · Jun 22, 2021

Archer
And I'll add that he should make sure they are going to fully service it, and not just cop out and service only the base movement. The module needs to be fully disassembled and serviced as well.

Indeed. In some Cartier service centers they don't even bother and swap them, sending the old ones to be recombobulated at the factory where they come from. I would not be very surprised if it was the most common (and efficient) method for servicing these things.

Revo · Jun 22, 2021

S.H.
Indeed. In some Cartier service centers they don't even bother and swap them, sending the old ones to be recombobulated at the factory where they come from. I would not be very surprised if it was the most common (and efficient) method for servicing these things.

Recombobulated is a great word!

Alpha · Jun 22, 2021

Revo
Recombobulated is a great word!

Far better than discombobulated 😉

Archer · Jun 22, 2021

S.H.
Indeed. In some Cartier service centers they don't even bother and swap them, sending the old ones to be recombobulated at the factory where they come from. I would not be very surprised if it was the most common (and efficient) method for servicing these things.

Omega does the same.

wristwretch · Jun 25, 2021

Revo
Thanks @blueteg that's really helpful.

So far I'm at:

Pros: size (I like <40mm despite having 7.5" wrists) + automatic + price
Cons: "it's not a real Speedmaster" + piggyback modular movement

I'm off to look at one this weekend.

Googling "3510.50 omega speedmaster replica" had me worried, hence the question in the OP.

If you are interested in the reduced, you should also, I’d suggest, be looking at model 3539.50, which is by many aspects the better of the two reduced models from that era. Better clasp, 100m water resistance, sapphire crystal (ok, not a plus for some of you!) and no numbers on the dial. The reduced are great, reliable watches that are unjustly maligned by many who have never owned them and just repeat what they’ve read in threads that repeated uninformed speculation. For some, it’s just the right size and just the right watch.

Revo · Jun 26, 2021

W wristwretch
If you are interested in the reduced, you should also, I’d suggest, be looking at model 3539.50, which is by many aspects the better of the two reduced models from that era. Better clasp, 100m water resistance, sapphire crystal (ok, not a plus for some of you!) and no numbers on the dial. The reduced are great, reliable watches that are unjustly maligned by many who have never owned them and just repeat what they’ve read in threads that repeated uninformed speculation. For some, it’s just the right size and just the right watch.

Yes, I looked at the 3539.50 but it was out of my price range. I also really like hesalite! I did wonder if a transplant might be possible: get a loose 3539.50 dial and put it on my 3510.50, but really it's a lot of faff for not much gain.

As for the size: I might be wrong (an expert will be along shortly) but I reckon the so-called "reduced" is more or less the same size as the original, early Speedmasters (e.g. ref 2998), as resurrected for the FOIS.

padders · Jun 26, 2021

No it does wear smaller. The Pro is described as a 42mm watch but is really a 38.5mm watch with extra metal added (the pusher protectors). The Reduced is scaled down and more like a 36mm watch with extra metal added. The straight lugs like the FOIS are in fact exactly the same size dial and bezel as the Pro, the Reduced has a smaller dial and bezel and a rounder shorter case shape. That isn’t a plus or a minus as it will indeed suit some users better.

ps in response to the clearly irritated poster above saying that those who criticise the Reduced have clearly never owned one, guess again. 😉

Revo · Jun 26, 2021

Revo
As for the size: I might be wrong (an expert will be along shortly) but I reckon the so-called "reduced" is more or less the same size as the original, early Speedmasters (e.g. ref 2998), as resurrected for the FOIS.

padders
No it does wear smaller. The Pro is described as a 42mm watch but is really a 38.5mm watch with extra metal added (the pusher protectors). The Reduced is scaled down and more like a 36mm watch with extra metal added. The straight lugs like the FOIS are in fact exactly the same size dial and bezel as the Pro, the Reduced has a smaller dial and bezel and a rounder shorter case shape. That isn’t a plus or a minus as it will indeed suit some users better.

Aha! An expert was along shortly! Well, 24hrs in and I'm liking the Reduced (can we please stop calling it that?!) a lot. Less than half the price of the Pro and ticks more of my boxes (auto, not too big, 18mm lugs). The only things I'd change are the minute numbers on the hour hashes and the modular movement. But it's a joy to wear.

PJJ · Jun 27, 2021

I have two and love them both but find the white face easier to read and is slightly smaller depth wise. I have a very small wrist so they suit me. Being auto you can leave on winder, wear another watch, then swap without resetting time or winding. I was quoted £648 for service on white one by Omega which included new crystal etc but ended up getting it done for a lot less with no issues.

Revo · Jun 27, 2021

PJJ
I was quoted £648 for service on white one by Omega which included new crystal etc but ended up getting it done for a lot less with no issues.

Thanks, nice watches. May I ask who serviced it for you? (I saw it was in GBP£ and I'm in the UK, too, so . . . .) Thanks!

How to tell a fake Speedy reduced 3510.50?

Revo

padders

Revo

blueteg

Revo

blueteg

Revo

S.H.

blueteg

Archer

S.H.

Revo

Alpha

Archer

wristwretch

Revo

padders

Revo

PJJ

Revo

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