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Another Ed White case conundrum…

M'Bob
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So I picked one of my ‘65 Ed’s, and notice a greater gap between the number 6 end-link and the inside of the lug than I anticipated.

My first thought: someone shaved the lug down. But then when I compared it to a ‘64, the answer was clear - the inside distance between the lugs on the ‘65 was just slighter greater than the ‘64. Anyone else notice this?

AEF8F10B-1178-4D14-A122-512151D81C12.jpeg
 
Dash1
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I’ve never noticed that exactly, but remember the -65 is made by a different case maker than the -64 so some differences are not surprising. I think -65 is also the only straight lug that originally had bevels.
 
M'Bob
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Dash1 Dash1
I’ve never noticed that exactly, but remember the -65 is made by a different case maker than the -64 so some differences are not surprising. I think -65 is also the only straight lug that originally had bevels.

I thought the ‘63’s had bevels too, no?
 
ext1
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I thought the -64 was the only one that had a no bevel variation, and all -63 -64 -65 has bevel?
 
M'Bob
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ext1 ext1
I thought the -64 was the only one that had a no bevel variation, and all -63 -64 -65 has bevel?

it’s my understanding that generally, the ‘64’s had no bevel, whereas ‘63’s and ‘65’s did, excepting some cases of overlap, which undoubtedly exist.
 
Dash1
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I thought the -64 was the only one that had a no bevel variation, and all -63 -64 -65 has bevel?
It looks fairly clear now that only the -65, manufactured by that one-off case maker, had clear cut bevels. If you see them on other examples they are either refinished or had a replacement case.
 
M'Bob
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Dash1 Dash1
It looks fairly clear now that only the -65, manufactured by that one-off case maker, had clear cut bevels. If you see them on other examples they are either refinished or had a replacement case.

From Speedmaster 101. Both photo, and William’s comments:

99DCBD42-9E57-452E-9BCD-F9F13EA5AEAD.jpeg


“The example above is marked -63 in the back. Note the movement has the correct clutch bridge, (asymmetric). Note also the pushers which appear original, certainly the are original specification and size, as is the crown. The sides probably been re brushed, but on a case that is still thick with good definitions. It is a very good example.”
 
ext1
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M'Bob M'Bob
it’s my understanding that generally, the ‘64’s had no bevel, whereas ‘63’s and ‘65’s did, excepting some cases of overlap, which undoubtedly exist.
Dash1 Dash1
It looks fairly clear now that only the -65, manufactured by that one-off case maker, had clear cut bevels. If you see them on other examples they are either refinished or had a replacement case.

So the combination of these two insights leads to the conclusion that 64 had no bevel, 63 has a bevel and so does the 65 but the 65 has a clearer cut?
 
Dash1
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So the combination of these two insights leads to the conclusion that 64 had no bevel, 63 has a bevel and so does the 65 but the 65 has a clearer cut?
The -63 certainly has a 'curve' rather than a clear bevel. The -64 does seem to be almost flat. The -65 has that clear cut bevel.
In the photos shown by @M'Bob the first has been re-brushed (as noted by William) and the second looks well polished. Box and papers has little effect on the originality of the case 😀.
You can certainly find examples of straight lug Speedies other than the -65 with clear bevels, but you will note that they have had work. Find a true unpolished example of a straight lug Speedy (not easy) and it will invariably turn out to be a -65, or just go through loads of photos on google and note the ratio of ones with bevels that are -65 to those of other ref's and you'll soon get a clear picture. Additionally NOS examples of other references show no bevel.
Here's a photo of a -65 that I strongly believe is un polished:
P1090068.JPG
 
M'Bob
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I believe, again, that most ‘64’s have no bevel, and most ‘65’s do.

So the question of the ‘63 is a sticky one: there are not many of them out there compared to the other years, and less so untouched.

That notwithstanding: did ‘63’s have bevels, and most were polished off during a service; or did most not have a bevel, and they were added at service. I’m going with the former.

Many of the bevels I’ve seen on intact 105.003’s were quite shallow, and very easily polished away when the brushed finish was re-applied at service.
 
Dash1
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M'Bob M'Bob
So the question of the ‘63 is a sticky one: there are not many of them out there compared to the other years, and less so untouched.
A very good point.

M'Bob M'Bob
That notwithstanding: did ‘63’s have bevels, and most were polished off during a service; or did most not have a bevel, and they were added at service.
I'm not sure I follow that, do you see more -63's with bevels or without?
I'm certainly not going to say that I know anything 100% with vintage Omega, but I would go with -63's (along with most straight lug Speedies, bar the -64 & -65) left the factory with the gentle curve 'bevel,' not a clear cut one like the -65. I've spent way too much time looking at these 🙁.
 
M'Bob
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Dash1 Dash1
The -63 cHere's a photo of a -65 that I strongly believe is un polished:
P1090068.JPG

Interesting. Is that yours? Does the brushed finish extend to the front lugs tips? Never seen that before…
 
ext1
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Dash1 Dash1
The -63 certainly has a 'curve' rather than a clear bevel. The -64 does seem to be almost flat. The -65 has that clear cut bevel.
P1090068.JPG

Thank you for the insight! Much appreciated.
I remember when omega reissued the EW 321 they said they went with no bevel because they found that every EW in existence were born with no bevel and the current examples have bevel added sometime from somewhere,
and although that's clearly incorrect, maybe if Gene Cernan's speedy was a -64 I understand why they would have done that. (which I don't think is a 64)
 
Davidt
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My unpolished -65. Literally never serviced until I bought it several years ago. It was used to time dingy races in the late 60’s then retired to a drawer.

9AAF8241-21D7-43AB-B93F-CF2051DF467A.jpeg
 
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