I stumbled across this speedmaster caseback. the engravings on the back look hand made. he front looks good. can this be real?
I have the same here as a spare part, not mine (temporarily on transit). Double stamped 145.0022 and 345.0022 Edit: I will need to check the execution of the stamping when home again, if it is as bad as the one shown.
Probably a Friday afternoon job, after too many sherbets at the bar at lunchtime. Or an apprentice’s first attempt with a hand engraver . Back looks fine though
The inside of the case looks so amateurly done, it’s like had written. It screams fake, but I’m no expert. Here’s the interior of my case back for comparison.
I'm not sure what the answer might be for the inner engravings, but the back does look genuine... The NASA writing is thicker than vintage, which usually seems to be common on modern casebacks. and it has larger tool grooves, also consistent. Same goes for the oblique tail in Q, and the proper surface finishing for the various exterior surfaces. It's real, but still, I have no answer for the internal engravings. There are some situations where we've seen speedmaster engravings that look very hand done... but they're different enough that it's probably entirely unrelated.
The GX i think points to a later service case part. I think the JCB may indicate the case maker. Not sure who that would be.