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Lex Stolk bought an Omega Speedmaster ’57, reference 3594.50, because it made him feel something the then-current Moonwatch did not, even though the Moonwatch had stronger specifications on paper. His reasons were the look of the dial and hands, a week of wearing the watch, and the daily routine of hand-winding it. The word “Replica” in his title is Omega’s own historical nickname for a 1990s re-edition. It does not mean the watch is a fake. The 3594.50 is a genuine Omega.
What “Replica” means in this context
Omega used “Replica” as an informal label for its 1997 Speedmaster ’57, a re-edition inspired by the original 1957 CK2915. Omega’s official history page describes the 1997 model as “sometimes referred to as the ‘Replica’,” and the reference shown there is 3598.50.00, which was associated with the Missions set. That is the Mission Case reference. The regular-production reference discussed in Stolk’s account is the 3594.50, which Fratello’s reference guide (2022) says arrived in 1998 and was made until 2003.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Omega Speedmaster '57 Mens Watch 331.12.42.51.01.001 | $6,710.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Omega Speedmaster '57 Co-Axial Chronograph | $8,250.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Omega Speedmaster '57 Co-Axial Chronograph 331.10.42.51.01.001 | $8,800.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Omega Speedmaster Chronograph Automatic Red Dial Men's Watch 332.12.41.51.11.001 | $8,750.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Omega Speedmaster '57 Mens Watch 331.10.42.51.03.001 | $8,800.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Keep the two references separate. The 3598.50 belongs to the Mission Case set; the 3594.50 is the steel regular-production model. Both are part of the same re-edition family, and the label “Replica” attaches to that family rather than to any single reference.
How close is the 3594.50 to the original?
Fratello’s guide explains that Omega based the 3594.50 on the Speedmaster Professional 3570.50 and changed several elements to evoke the CK2915. The result is a watch that looks like the 1957 original in places but is not a copy of it. The guide’s view is that, by present-day standards, the model is better understood as an early, imperfect re-edition than a faithful replica.
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The table below sets the three watches in Stolk’s comparison side by side. Where the sources do not give a value, the cell says so.
| Feature | Original CK2915 (1957) | Omega Speedmaster ’57 ref. 3594.50 | Then-current Moonwatch (as Stolk describes it) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case diameter | 38.6 mm (Fratello’s guide) | 42 mm, asymmetric case (Fratello’s guide) | Not stated in the source; Stolk says it was superior on specifications |
| Movement | Not stated in the source | Caliber 1861, hand-wound, no date function (Fratello’s guide and Stolk) | Not stated in the source |
| Dial | Original 1957 dial | Very dark gray dial, no “Professional” text, old-style Omega/Speedmaster typography, applied logo (Fratello’s guide) | Not stated in the source |
| Hands | Not stated in the source | Steel Broad Arrow hour and minute hands, small alpha-style subdial hands (Fratello’s guide) | Not stated in the source |
| Bezel | Not stated in the source | Steel bezel with engraved black tachymeter scale (Fratello’s guide) | Not stated in the source |
| Crystal | Not stated in the source | Hesalite, per Stolk’s account | Not stated in the source |
| Historical fidelity | Reference point | Inspired by, not a literal reproduction (Fratello’s guide) | Not compared in the source |
Why Stolk bought it
Stolk’s account is personal, and it is his judgment rather than a technical test. He describes it as a watch that has to connect with him emotionally: “To ‘click’ with a watch, I need to feel something.” The 3594.50 did that for him in three ways.
The look of the dial and hands
The combination that won him over was the steel bezel, the Broad Arrow hands, the very dark gray dial, the applied Omega logo, and the Hesalite crystal. Taken together, he found the watch more characterful than the Moonwatch he was comparing it with. The point is not that the dial is more accurate to the 1957 original; the point is that the details read as one coherent piece.
A week of wearing it
Stolk tried the watch on first and later wore it for a week. That week is what changed his view. He concluded that the 3594.50 “proved to me that the Replica is ‘my’ Speedy.” The phrase describes his own experience of the watch and should not be read as a general claim about how every owner will respond.
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- Model 331.10.42.51.01.001
Hand-winding as part of the routine
Caliber 1861 is hand-wound and has no date function. Stolk says that the need to wind it daily made the watch feel engaging, not like something that simply runs: “The fact that the caliber 1861 is a hand-wound movement also means that you interact with the watch a lot.” For a buyer who wants a watch they handle every day, this is the part of the experience that matters most. For a buyer who wants a watch that needs no attention, it is the part to weigh against the rest.
Where the specifications lost
Stolk acknowledges that the then-current Moonwatch was appealing and stronger on specifications. That was not the deciding factor for him. If your priorities are spec-sheet performance or the latest movement, his account points away from the 3594.50. If your priorities are the look and the interaction, it points toward it.
Bracelet and end-link configurations
Fratello’s guide reports that the bracelet changed across the production run. Before you buy, check which configuration your watch has, because the end links determine which straps and bracelets will fit.
| Bracelet reference | End-link reference | End-link width |
|---|---|---|
| Ref. 1499 | Ref. 842 | 20 mm, for an early configuration (Fratello’s guide) |
| Ref. 1498 | Ref. 840 | Not stated in the source |
| Ref. 1998 | Ref. 840 (retained from the previous configuration) | Not stated in the source |
The 20 mm figure applies only to the early configuration described in the guide. It does not establish that every strap of that width will fit every 3594.50.
What to check before you buy
Fratello’s guide specifically warns that some examples, especially earlier ones, show corrosion on the applied Omega logo or on the hands. A practical inspection of a candidate watch should cover:
- Condition of the applied logo and hands. Look closely for corrosion, particularly on earlier examples.
- Proof of service. Ask for documentation of any service work, and whether it was done by Omega.
- Box and papers. Confirm what is included and whether it matches the reference.
- Warranty status. Establish whether any warranty still applies and who would honor it.
- Bracelet configuration. Match the bracelet reference and end links against the table above.
Prices are not covered here. The guide’s price estimates, attributed to WatchCharts and Chrono24, date from 2022 and should not be used as current market values. Check live listings and recent sales before you negotiate.
If you plan to change the strap
Fratello’s guide mentions leather and NATO options as ways to change the look. Before ordering any strap, measure the end-link width on your own watch and confirm the fit against your specific end-link reference. The guide does not establish that any particular strap was tested on the 3594.50.
Who this watch suits, according to Stolk’s experience
Stolk’s account suggests a clear profile. The 3594.50 fits a buyer who values the dial, the hands and the hand-wound routine over specification leadership, and who is comfortable checking condition and documentation before buying. It fits less well a buyer who wants a larger movement feature set, a date function, or a watch that asks nothing of its owner each day. The watch is a genuine Omega with a deliberately imperfect re-edition design, and the case for it rests on how it looks and feels to wear.
Stolk’s original account was first published June 20, 2023, and republished September 30, 2026. The example he describes is from 2001 and was lightly worn. That is his individual watch and should not be taken as a description of every 3594.50 on the market.
Quick Recap
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