HF-case vs CB-case, "correction" regarding caseband.

aprax · Sep 21, 2018

OK, now I got it.

kingsrider · Sep 21, 2018

kingsrider
Consider this hypothetical question.
Two Speedmasters laying side by side. Both are 105.012-66. One HF, one CB. Both of equal grade (good or collector). Pricing is identical (per Speedmaster 101).
Which one will you choose to buy?

Any guesses how the numbers/responses will be split?

Since only two responses to this question, I will post in a separate thread.

nonuffinkbloke · Sep 21, 2018

The only thing that makes the slight deflection on the main, ridge line, on a CB case, look right, is a clearly, defined, facet line. When this is polished away the ridge line just looks wrong. (This is the 2nd time I've made this point this evening, 2 very similar threads???) 😕

(Photograph from Speedmaster101)

gemini4 · Sep 21, 2018

To me it’s a tie
66CB is cooler but the 66HF is rarer.

But the rarest AND the coolest of all the 105.012 is the first Speedie Pro,
first with the asymmetrical case and with the the no TT dial,
The 105.012-63

Here are mine:

Ha
I actually meant to post this in the CB vs HF thread 😲

airansun · Sep 21, 2018

gemini4
To me it’s a tie
66CB is cooler but the 66HF is rarer.

But the rarest AND the coolest of all the 105.012 is the first Speedie Pro,
first with the asymmetrical case and with the the no TT dial,
The 105.012-63

Here are mine:

Dibs on your spare! 🥰

The_Walrus · Sep 26, 2018

aprax
I've read in this article that only one third of the 105.012-66 cases were produced by HF, the rest is CB.
If true, that would mean that the 105.102-66 HF is the rarer version and this should arguably be reflected in value?

But then we also have 2 different types of CB cases....

aprax · Sep 26, 2018

Interesting ...
I have interpreted this quote to mean that the polishing was done aftermarket by somebody other than CB. Not a different CB-version but simply unsatisfied customers.

The_Walrus · Sep 26, 2018

aprax
Interesting ...
I have interpreted this quote to mean that the polishing was done aftermarket by somebody other than CB. Not a different CB-version but simply unsatisfied customers.

That is the way I have interpreted it as well.
CB facets much more interesting to me.
Particularly when you have two variants of them..

Peter Lundberg · Oct 11, 2018

mr_yossarian
"Otherwise good"..but lacking a distinctiv feature. What is your actual question? If it's gone it's gone. Buy a air cooled Porsche with a water cooling..see what you ask?

Really....?

Peter Lundberg · Oct 11, 2018

Andy K
I would contend that if the facet is removed, even partially, then the case is no longer very good. Value should decrease. I mean, a polished case would diminish the value of any vintage Speedmaster, but the CB case's main distinctive trait are those facets, so it would harm value more than similar polishing on other examples.

If you run across a watch that has a CB caseback, no facets, but the case is very good, then you probably have watch that is put together - i.e. a HF caseband and a CB caseback. Value should also decrease in that example.

And since we're showing off CBs, here's mine:

Nice watch!

The_Walrus
But then we also have 2 different types of CB cases....

There you have the quote i´m thinking of! "Some of the 105.012 -66 cases of La Centrales Boites have had this particularity partially removed..." Do they mean that it was done at the factory? My watch has had the lines somewhat polished away. Of course I would have been even more happy if it still was there, but I do like to try to understand the history of my particular watch. I bought it from the original owner and he could tell me when it was serviced, by whom and when it lost its original bracelet. However he could not remember that his watchmaker had it polished. This does not mean that it was not polished, but still I do wonder? Knowing where the service was done and the over all appearance of the watch made me doubtful. That together with the comment in MWO-book had me thinking that maybe it was done "in-house" so to say.

Personally I enjoy thinking about the watch(es) history. Along the road, interacting with all you knowledgeable forum members, I do learn a lot. So thank you all for your thoughts on this matter!
: )

/Peter

Peter Lundberg · Oct 11, 2018

The_Walrus
That is the way I have interpreted it as well.
CB facets much more interesting to me.
Particularly when you have two variants of them..

The top one still have the facets I guess? My watch has the same thinner profile.

mr_yossarian · Oct 11, 2018

Peter Lundberg
Really....?

really. Buy a CB without the distinctive lugs is like buying a overpolished HF. Overpolished. Sharp cases get me, it's so different how they look and feel.

The_Walrus · Oct 11, 2018

Peter Lundberg
The top one still have the facets I guess? My watch has the same thinner profile.

Yes, on both of my cases facets very much present.

HF-case vs CB-case, "correction" regarding caseband.

aprax

kingsrider

nonuffinkbloke

gemini4

airansun

The_Walrus

aprax

The_Walrus

Peter Lundberg

Peter Lundberg

Peter Lundberg

mr_yossarian

The_Walrus

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