A Strange case(back) ?! [Speedmaster]

JMH76 · Jun 8, 2017

Chuck Maddox wrote that the current caseback was used as far back as 1971 s it could be original.

http://chronomaddox.com/moonwatch_casebacks.html

mr_yossarian · Jul 2, 2017

mr_yossarian
Checked that thoroughly and with MWO to be sure, yes, should be a '71. I think there are two possible reasons for the "wrong" caseback:

1. It left Omega this way if it was a quite late production '69. I don't know how likely that is, but a possible scenario.
2. The AD had this watch a while until it was sold in '72. He might "pimped" it then with a current series Caseback to sell a fully current watch.

I know that the owner gave it away to a watchmaker he knew once in his life, somewhen very early 80s, to have it checked and oiled. it was not send to Omega then or ever.

I received mail from Bienne yesterday. I tend to believe to have no clue wether the caseback was on it from delivery or put on by the AD. The one service mark inside the Caseback is not from the 80ies but 1999 I think, so this can be ruled out as source of a swap.
The Production date puts it in the 69s, as well as serial and DON ( which quite matches the aged appearance of the watch and is more unlikely to be a "later" replacement than the caseback.)
And as said, the seller and first owner didn't give me any reason to not believe him, he loved and kept it, wore it and never gave it out of hand. And he was sure he got them that way and remembered that the two he bought had different Casebacks.

But this all won't bother me too much, it's an authentic one owner watch, backed up by the documents and it decided to take it as it is: a beautiful worn vintage piece that was like it is from the first day of ownership in 1972. A beautiful find.

p.s. !!!
I asked for the Box, but the Boxes of both he bought that day ( a friend asked him to get him one too, they where cheaper in Switzerland than in Germany) are lost, he left them in Switzerland because otherwise he would have to pay VAT at the customs. The boxed watches would have clearly stood out on each side of his wife's bra...because that's exactly how he got the two Speedies to Germany 😀

Okay. Opinions or enlightments appreciated, now pictures. Enjoy.