Suspicious 2998-61 Caseback

kwh81 · May 16, 2026

Hi all! I was doing my online window shopping, and came across this watch being sold by a vintage watch maker/shop. The watch is described as being a one owner watch with provenance. Most of the parts like bezel and hands are described to be original. This caseback (no picture from the inside) is described as being correct for the watch. Asking price is 23 k €. To me, this caseback looks very suspicious: engraving looks rough but especially the scraches look symmetrical and deliberate, made in attempt to "age" the caseback.

Your thoughts on this?

M'Bob · May 16, 2026

How’s the rest look?

Starcrest · May 16, 2026

A watch of that age should have been opened by jewellers/watchmakers many times in its life - but that rim and the tool notches look far too pristine and fresh, as though they were made yesterday. The lettering also looks very uneven and amateurish.

kwh81 · May 17, 2026

Here are the rest of the pictures.

kwh81 · May 17, 2026

For the record, my focus was purely on the caseback, and the - to me - unusual looking scratches and look. I'm not implying any misrepesentation on the watch, I'm just trying to learn to notice relevant factors.

Larry S · May 17, 2026

I’d have to see the inside and an to make a determination but I agree that the back looks odd. It appears to me that someone went over the original engraving with a fine tip Dremel. .

AHW · May 17, 2026

I agree with the caseback. All the scratches are too similar and mostly going in one direction which does not look natural. And then the bevels on the side are pretty much scratch free.

The logo looks newly engraved and roughly done to me.

SOG53 · May 17, 2026

often there are more than 1 clue that a watch has been worked on, here the lugs have very pronounced bevel and are very shiny indicating polishing and case restoration.
So your suspicion may well be correct.

gege11br · May 18, 2026

I would suspicious by this caseback as well

Suspicious 2998-61 Caseback

kwh81

M'Bob

Starcrest

kwh81

kwh81

Larry S

AHW

SOG53

gege11br

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