Difference about case back and service case back

[Aristoteles]

Hi,

i would buy a new original case back for my seamaster 300 (168.1640)

I have read the service case back are different to the original in the internal part.

The difference is the font of the internal engrave?

Someone can explain me or share a photo of the service case back?

Thanks a lot!

 

[josiahg52]

168.1640 is a case number used by a number of different Seamaster Professionals and not a specific watch reference. At least as I understand it. All that to say it might not matter as I've never heard of this service back issue regarding the SMP. It's plausible though, since Omega changes vendors over the years. It's just the way it is. This issue is more well known with the SM300 from the 1960s probably because that watch is referenced heavily by collectors and it's been around for decades.

 

[Aristoteles]

Thanks for the reply.

I add a photo of a 2531.80 caseback and the number is different.

On my 225450 the caseback was product from ""LL"" i might.....I would know if the actually is product from they and in the same way...

 

[josiahg52]

I'm still not quite sure what your asking. Reference 168.1603 and ref. 168.1640 are different case numbers. They're similar, some parts are probably compatible between the two, but they are for different watches. I'd expect a service case back for either would have no ref. number engraved or it's own ref. number

 

[Aristoteles]

Yes i think too....the service case is different from the original in font and engraved....

168.1640 case are use on 2254.50 / 2255.80

You know other reference use the same case?

 

[josiahg52]

Sure, the 2054.50, 2055.80, 2533.50, 2230.50, dozens more, probably the contemporary GMT and full-size quartz.

The 168.1603 was used on the 2531.80, among others, and began the Bond era.

These aren't service cases. Not sure why you keep calling them that. That is a stock, original case number used for a multitude of watches from the early to mid 2000s. If your concern is that the service case and/or case back has a different font or print than your original, well yeah. Your watch was made in 2006 and now it's almost 20 years later. There's going to be differences.

 

[Aristoteles]

Thanks for the reply, the quartz has another code.

Yes, i've called service for the difference. For example, if change the bezel they are like the same, it's very difficult see the difference, in the case back we see better.

 

[dsio]

Case numbers took a back seat to PIC codes in the modern era, so 2254.50 and 2531.80 are both PIC codes for the same case

 

[Aristoteles]

It would be interesting see the actual OEM omega caseback part for those case cod...

I can't find a photo on web

 

[josiahg52]

Aristoteles

It would be interesting see the actual OEM omega caseback part for those case cod...

I can't find a photo on web

The reference numbers 2531.80, 2255.80, etc. represent a model with specific, hands, dial, color, material, bracelet, etc. The number on the case back is a case number used on a multitude of models (references) that are built on the same frame/chassis (case).

I'm still not sure what you're after. You have a picture of a 2531.80. Here's my 2254.50 from 2006.


They're different cases, hence different numbers. They also happen to be different watches altogether.

 

[Aristoteles]

I mean, I would like to see the current replacement