The raging hype over the cheap fake Omega MoonSwatch has provoked a maelstrom of opinions. Some people believe it’s a bold collaboration that has reinvigorated the appeal of both Swatch and Omega. Others dismiss the MoonSwatch as little more than a marketing stunt that cheapens UK AAA replica Omega’s iconic Speedmaster and even risks diminishing its long-term appeal. As the discussion gets increasingly polarised, it’s interesting to see how elite watch collectors feel. After all, these are the people with the financial muscle and contact list to secure almost any super clone watch they choose.

Ed Sheeran definitely qualifies as a hardcore collector. And the pop star is clearly a perfect fake Omega MoonSwatch fan, too, after being snapped this week wearing the “Mission To The Moon” reference while sending a video message to a 15-year-old Australian boy battling cancer.

There’s no doubt that Sheeran is a man who boasts a truly formidable copy watch collection. How formidable? Well, highlights in his watch box include the best replica Patek Philippe Ref.1518 – the first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph in the world of which just 281 were produced – and the Patek Philippe Ref.5208P-001, a platinum-cased grand complication that is valued north of $1.5 million AUD.

What Sheeran’s enjoyment of the 1:1 fake Omega MoonSwatch suggests is that this is a watch that, despite its modest $380 price tag, can happily co-exist alongside the most baller timepieces that money can buy.

Clearly, the pop star appreciates the Omega replica for sale for what it really is – namely a harmless bit of horological fun.

As Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann said on the Swiss movement replica MoonSwatch collab: “It’s important to keep it in perspective. It’s a fun project and adds some light to an industry that can take itself too seriously.”