Hi folks,

may I ask you for your knowledge.

I came across a seamaster with a red pointed stripe on the caseback. Any ideas what this is.

Thanks for your help.
Greetz Duffy

 

The protective film of plastic.

 

Protective plastic film usually put on after watch has been refinished.

 

You were supposed to take it to Stonehenge during the Spring Equinox and align that with the sun's position, then the caseback would have unscrewed itself to reveal the location of the Lost Ark of the Covenant. Now you're gonna have to wait until next year.

 

Thanks for asking this question.
I was wondering about the red stripe also.

 

Damn - so I have to wait an other year

 

Thanks for your help.

So someone wore the watch all the time with that plastic film on the back?

Tell me if I am wrong but I do not expect that I can withdraw this film easily which is on the caseback for about 50 years.

 

It’s possible that was left there to indicate an Alien has taken up residence inside. The stripe emits a faint signal and the wearer will likely be abducted so that the watch can be opened and it’s inhabitants extracted.

 

Many watches come with this cover from the factory, but what is being suggested here is that it was put on the caseback after it's most recent service, just as a little protective cover if they polished the caseback to keep it looking new for the owner, but intended to be removed before wear. Like a plastic cover you get on the face of a new electronic device that you peel off. Some people keep these in place to keep the caseback fresh, but I always remove them. You can most likely peel it off and use something like rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip to remove and residue remaining. (Use only a small amount, don't soak it so the alcohol doesn't spread all over and risk getting in through the crown or caseback seam.) A safer method still is to use a piece of tape and stick it to the remaining adhesive over and over lifting bits until it's gone.

 

There's the Autumnal Equinox coming later this year, but you must remember to point the other end of the line at the sun otherwise the back will be screwed down even tighter.

 

Ok - I didn't know that they put on a film even after service.
Thanks for the tipps for removing it
Duffy

 

You can buy these on eBay. They don't really signify anything and certainly aren't a proof of service or NOS etc.

 

Thanks Davidt

 

Great for protecting vintage casebacks.

 

Once in a while I order a batch from Cousins, cost buttons and i.m.h.o. worth protecting the caseback.

This evenings wearer,

 

Not all do, I've never gotten one back with it on for example. Some people buy them to put on their own watches if they find the embossed logos or caseback notches cause irritation to their wrists. Some people use them to prevent wear marks from NATO straps. As @Davidt said it doesn't really mean much of anything. Some factory versions have logos or writing and those can be valued by some collectors who like to see how a watch came as new, tho I prefer to see the caseback itself.

 

Sorry, if you don't go bare the pleasure is greatly reduced. Use the tool as intended.

Rolex used to put a green sticker on the back with the reference number, you'd see 20 yo stickers degraded with years of sweat and skin mung. Ugh.