If you look at the omega extract production date, is this the production of the caliber or the complete watch?
I other words: is it possible that a november 1968 145.00.12 can have a 69 backplate and a later
bezel withouth accent on TACHYMETRE ?
It has one of the last serialnumbers on the 321 caliber.

 

What does the caseback interior engraving say? Can you post a photograph please?

 

No its not possible unless the caseback or movement has been swapped. No 321 movement came in a -69 marked case. My 145.012-68 is dated 1st November 1968.

 

I dont have a picture but the caseback interior says 69.
Outside is the same like a 68.

 

The case is itself is one with the 145.012 lugs.
And in very good condition.
So why should they have swapped bezel and caseback ?
I presume that if bezel and caseback are worn and replaced , the case should be worn also ?
Serial is 26.554.1xx range

 

There are no known examples of casebacks marked 145.012-69, and all known literature and information states that the final production 321s came in 145.012-68 cases. Additionally, the Dot Over Ninety bezels continued into and through the transitional period, with many early examples of Ω861 145.022 receiving them. I believe through the 145.022-71 models (please correct me if I'm wrong)

 

Casebacks could be replaced if they are corroded, if the threading is damaged, or if the exterior was damaged aesthetically during removal (such as fast-fix shopping mall kiosk type outfit using a caseback wrench (!!) to open the watch, rather than the proper tools or dies used by trained professional independent watchmakers with Omega parts accounts or Omega service centre/factory service).

Bezels tend to be the first part to take the brunt of a glancing blow catching a door frame, etc. And historically, many people simply tossed their watches in drawers or in their briefcases at the end of the day, so bezels would tend to get beat up, and replaced at service intervals to refresh the watch.

Of course, we are all WAY more careful with our vintage watches today!!

 

I believe the DON-to-DNN (B1-to-B2) bezel transition occurred in mid-1970 within the pre-moon 145.022-69 range. MWO states that it happened in the vicinity of 30,59x,xxx.

To help the OP, photos are needed. His descriptions are too vague to interpret.

 

Thanks for the info

 

I may have asked this same question but only in the wrong place.

Is my 145.022-68, as shown on the inside of the caseback. Is it a 1968 birth year watch?
However my Extract shows that it was born June 27, 1969. Thus is it a 1969 birth year watch?

 

Think of it as being a -68 model, which was made for more than one year. And your was made/ assembled in 1969.

In the end, does it really make a difference? Thanks to the -68, you can still think of it as a 1968, if that is when you were born. I am '66, and would gladly get a -66 even though it likely would not have been assembled until 1967.

 

Thanx. Those were my thoughts, but I wanted to see if I was thinking correctly.
If I was born in 1968 I'd still be a young man. There are no birth year Speedys for me -1947.