Quick answer
Reference 322.10.42 belongs to the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra line. The first block marks the collection, the 10 block marks stainless steel case and bracelet, and the 42 block marks a case in the 42 mm class. A full reference adds three trailing digits for movement, dial color, and version. Replica sellers use the short code to describe a 41 mm to 42 mm steel Aqua Terra with a smooth bezel, teak-pattern dial, date at 3 o'clock, and a three-link bracelet. Copies sell from about $60 for quartz units to $500 for automatic units with a Miyota 9015 or a copy of an ETA 2824. No replica is a genuine Omega. No replica carries an Omega warranty.
What the number tells you
Omega reference numbers carry data. The 322 prefix points to the Aqua Terra case. The 10 block states stainless steel. The 42 block states case size. Trailing digits state movement, dial, and revision. Two watches with the same 322.10.42 prefix can differ in dial color, hand style, and movement. Ask the seller for the full 14-digit number before you pay. A seller who lists only the prefix may not know which variant they hold.
Case and crystal
Genuine Aqua Terra cases in this size run about 41 mm to 41.5 mm wide, 13 mm thick, with a 20 mm lug width. A steel case and bracelet weigh about 150 g to 170 g on a kitchen scale. Replicas come in 3 g to 40 g lighter because of hollow links or a thinner case back. The crystal is sapphire. Genuine watches carry anti-reflective coating on the inside face. Many replicas add coating to the outside face, which shows a blue or purple tint under light.
Dial and hands
The dial has horizontal teak lines, applied markers, and arrow-tip hands. Genuine markers hold Super-LumiNova that glows for hours. Replica lume dims in 20 to 40 minutes. Check the date window. Genuine printing stays crisp at 10x magnification, and the date disc font matches the dial text.
Movement
Genuine watches in this family use Co-Axial calibers with a 60-hour power reserve and a 25,200 vph rate. Replicas use one of four movements: a quartz module, a Miyota 9015 at 28,800 vph, a Seagull ST2130, or an ETA 2824 clone. Ask which one. The Miyota 9015 keeps a 24-jewel layout and parts are easy to source. A rotor wobble at low speed points to a low-grade clone.
Water resistance
Genuine Aqua Terra models rate to 150 m. Replicas rate to 3 ATM to 5 ATM unless a seller pressure-tests the case. Gaskets in cheap copies dry out in 12 to 18 months. Do not swim with a replica unless a watchmaker has tested the seals.
Bracelet and clasp
Genuine bracelets use screwed links and a clasp with a push-button release and micro-adjust holes. Replicas use pin-and-collar links, stamped clasps, or screws with soft threads. Check for sharp edges on the clasp and a loose fit at the end links.
Legal status in the US
Importing a counterfeit watch is banned under 19 U.S.C. 1526. Customs and Border Protection can seize a shipment and destroy it. Selling a replica with an Omega mark is trademark infringement and carries civil damages. Buying one for personal use is not a criminal act in most US states, but the package can still be seized.
Points to check before you pay
- Full reference number, not just 322.10.42
- Movement name and beat rate
- Case width and lug width in millimeters
- Weight in grams
- Crystal coating on one face or two
- Return window and a payment method with buyer protection
Unknown: no public database confirms which exact dial variants shipped under the 322.10.42 prefix. Confirm with the seller and compare photos at 10x zoom.