Something I haven’t seen yet, maybe somebody here has Infos or observations to share...

Movement : cal 321, 24.955.xxx
According to archives : 105.012, late 1967 delivered to Switzerland
Caseback (inside) : double reference 105.012-65 and 145.012-67 SP
Caseback (outside) : blank, double beveled correct for 105.012




My question is : do we know any other blank casebacks ? Or do you guys think it’s been polished to seahorse death ?

Look forward to learn

 

It's just polished off.

 

Couldn’t be polished off like that, but lathed off?

I have no idea. the double reference adds to the head scratcher.

 

More: http://speedmaster101.com/blog/145-003-whats-the-story/

Polished, lathed, removed.

 

Looks like the sterile casebacks on some unissued military pieces.

 

Ok, there is another double-ref caseback in William's post but nothing about the seahorse. @oddboy so you think all the casebacks had the seahorse with no exception?

 

That I don't know. But personally, I wouldn't buy one without one.

 

The thing that looks bizarre to me are the scratches on the back: they are all of the same depth and length. Plus the finishing of the caseback underneath looks brand new...
It looks a bit like a refinished caseback that was slightly scratched on purpose to give it a "vintage" look. Of course this is is a theory, and I could be 100% wrong, but it would still be an easier explanation than a "one-off" caseback made by Omega

 

Minor issue for me considering the rest of the watch. A perfect dial with perfect hands is my rule. It ticked the boxes, it's now with me. Will certainly find a 105.012-65 caseback with a seahorse as well as the low pushers one day...



I will ask the Museum about the caseback, will let you know if I have any additional infos to share.

 

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Double reference as well and look at the caseback...No hippocampus. A coincidence?

 

Ha no, I haven’t ! Thanks for sharing

Exactly the same Caseback inside and outside. Will have to investigate on this with museum, indeed.

 

You're welcome. Yes definitely worth an investigation

 

Looks like the shadow of a seahorse is still there on the one from the bay

 

It is my understanding that Omega made the case back with a deliberately shallow engraving so owners could easily remove it and place their own engraving onto it.

I do not think the double marking in the case back and the polished of case engraving are related other than they happen to be in this example on the same back.

I have a double marked back but it has the engraving.

 

Just found this in my father's drawer after sitting there for 50 some odd years. Runs like a Gem, I believe it was purchased in the late 60's or early 70's. Any information would be great? View attachment 472392View attachment 472393View attachment 472394View attachment 472395View attachment 472396View attachment 472397View attachment 472398View attachment 472399View attachment 472400View attachment 472401View attachment 472402Still waiting on a extract from the archives. View attachment 472392View attachment 472393

 

I also don't know how to start a new thread.

 

The caseback wouldn't bother me on a watch with that dial/bezel/hands/case either! Very interested to see what additional information you uncover.

 

We can see that!

Try going to the vintage watch subforum page: https://omegaforums.net/forums/vintage-omega-watches-help-discussion-and-advice.23/
Then clicking the POST NEW THREAD button on the top right.

 

thank you for your help.

 

As an eventual addition to the common knowledge - it seems that my "blank" caseback is not just polished off but eventually part of a small batch which has been produced and released as is.

In the meantime (9 months, since I started this thread) I have observed two other casebacks like mine. Both "HF", both "S 105.012-65", one of them has also the double reference 105.012-65 and 145.012-67 SP, like mine. The one strictly identical to mine (blank and double-ref) belongs to somebody from the Omega Museum staff.

Maybe we should simply reconsider the "fact" that all the casebacks were engraved outside