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FOUND Speedmaster 105.003-65 caseback

  1. airansun In the shuffling madness Aug 8, 2018

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    Looking for a nice -65 caseback, without gouges and without a lot of polishing. I know, I know. But if I don’t ask, then I’d never know what’s possible.

    I’ve seen a couple of them recently, here and eBay I think. Shame on me that it never occurred to me I’d need one. But, if you’ve seen the ‘Istanbul Ed White’ I recently picked up, you know somebody abused the heck out of that back. The watch itself deserves better. The watch is attractive and pretty squared away otherwise:
    14F6D3B0-8DC5-486B-8884-072EA52E4D9A.jpeg

    Anyway, this is what the back on the ‘UK Ed White’ looks like for reference. It’d be nice to find a back as good as this.
    36CA11D7-E145-446A-8A2E-5887C6DC4AB9.jpeg

    I can dream, can’t I? My hope is not to have to cannibalizes either watch, as they are both pretty nice.

    3DDCEBA0-A51D-4A6A-9C28-EE4729163FD5.jpeg

    Thanks for reading!
    Bob
     
    Edited Sep 20, 2018
  2. airansun In the shuffling madness Aug 11, 2018

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    Bump!

    I’m guessing there are at least a couple of these sitting in OF drawers around the world.

    ::popcorn::
     
  3. kingsrider Thank you Sir! May I have another? Aug 11, 2018

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    I think you could get that caseback restored.
     
  4. airansun In the shuffling madness Aug 11, 2018

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    Please tell me more. Is there a known person who has successfully repaired these? Maybe even somebody on this side of the pond?

    Here are a few more photos. If I can save this case back, I’d rather do that.

    34B89C2C-741D-48AB-9CE6-E69481BB68D3.jpeg 99EE1006-703C-4489-929D-A173202C9514.jpeg A3ED0F7C-E4B3-4D2E-BB48-003DCABEBB9C.jpeg
     
  5. kingsrider Thank you Sir! May I have another? Aug 11, 2018

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    I have an Omega Memomatic case currently being restored at ABC Watchwerks in Los Angeles.The caseback and case are in pretty rough condition and they tell me that they can bring it back to factory spec.
    I should be getting it back in a few days.
    2018-02-23 005.JPG 2018-02-23 006.JPG
     
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  6. airansun In the shuffling madness Aug 11, 2018

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    @kingsrider :

    Could you post photos when you get it back?

    Thanks!
     
  7. kingsrider Thank you Sir! May I have another? Aug 11, 2018

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    Sure. I was planning on doing this as part of a review of my experience with ABC.
     
  8. Davidt Aug 12, 2018

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    Which side of the pond are you on?

    Are you reasonably sure the existing caseback is original to the watch? If so, I'd leave it as is.
     
  9. padders Oooo subtitles! Aug 12, 2018

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    STS or maybe Simon Freese could put a sharp bevel back on that I am sure. They likely can’t do much where the seahorse is as it is only lightly etched but otherwise it would look a lot better.
     
  10. bags1971 Aug 12, 2018

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    this is mine off 105.012-65 some one in the past has tried to removed the name so far ive not bothered to do anything about it
     
    20180812_145408[1].jpg
  11. airansun In the shuffling madness Aug 12, 2018

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    I’m in California.

    Yeah, I am a little torn. Primarily, I’d like to have the bevel restored. But I worry that the end result will actually be worse than it is now.

    It’s a shame, because some fools damaged what had been a nice caseback, as evidenced by how nice the seahorse still is.

    I’ve emailed ABC Watchworks and sent them photos. I’m going to see what they say before deciding. But, you might be right. Btw, I have no idea if the back is original; one of the problems with an eBay purchase (from a large Istanbul dealer) is they won’t reliably know either. But, the caseback looks like it goes with the case band.

    It’s funny the things that will bother me about a watch and the things that don’t. As much as some here made fun of an OF member’s suggestion that a lot of a watch’s value is in the caseback, a bad caseback is a big turn off for me. Even though nobody can see it when you’re wearing it.

    I love nice casebacks!
    C586BC57-664E-424E-AF5C-0A61B11B3F68.jpeg 9D438D90-89E8-44A7-9BC7-DB3907E70791.jpeg

    Thank you everyone for the responses and feedback!
     
  12. Reborn Aug 12, 2018

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    Maybe the inner engravings will tell you if caseback is original...
     
  13. airansun In the shuffling madness Sep 20, 2018

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    Well, I’ve now discovered that my bad caseback is bowed outward as well as badly scratched and polished. Repair is no longer realistically on the table.
    836B52E6-01AF-46CD-92B6-75964393F596.jpeg 2CEFC999-75E6-4BF8-8DCB-8BD161FE36FB.jpeg

    I’m looking for a nice 105.003-65 caseback. If you’ve got a spare sitting around, please PM me!
     
  14. bags1971 Sep 20, 2018

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    airansun likes this.
  15. airansun In the shuffling madness Sep 23, 2018

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    Thank you for all the responses OF!

    Found one. Will post photos when I’ve got it on the watch.
     
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