Upgrade or Downgrade of my 105.012-65?

maxbelg · Oct 10, 2020

I bought this Speedy recently from Ryan, which he bought here. (Ryan was a great seller by the way!)

I like the provenance (and the added papers make it special to me) but I really like to see the Hippocampus on the case back, and this one had been worn down a bit. The case looks unpolished to me. Furthermore the crown wasn't the original A1Flat foot crown.

So I did 2 "upgrades":
1. Replaced the crown with the correct vintage A1 flat foot crown
2. Replaced the case back with another 105.012-65 case back in great shape.

I wanted to start a little discussion on whether these are considered "upgrades" by most or whether they're "downgrades", considering that the watch didn't leave the factory with this case back. I think most will agree the crown is better now but the case back?? Of course it isn't 100% certain that the previous case back was on the watch when it left the factory anyway. For me personally it's an upgrade as I value the watch more now, but your opinions are welcome! I'm NOT SELLING this watch, as I truly love it, just interested in opinions on originality vs condition!

Bjarven82 · Oct 10, 2020

Hello
I bought it from the first owner. where in the world do you live? I live in Gothenburg Sweden
With kind regards,
bjarven 82

Bjarven82 · Oct 10, 2020

maxbelg
I bought this Speedy recently from Ryan, which he bought here. (Ryan was a great seller by the way!)

I like the provenance (and the added papers make it special to me) but I really like to see the Hippocampus on the case back, and this one had been worn down a bit. The case looks unpolished to me. Furthermore the crown wasn't the original A1Flat foot crown.

So I did 2 "upgrades":
1. Replaced the crown with the correct vintage A1 flat foot crown
2. Replaced the case back with another 105.012-65 case back in great shape.

I wanted to start a little discussion on whether these are considered "upgrades" by most or whether they're "downgrades", considering that the watch didn't leave the factory with this case back. I think most will agree the crown is better now but the case back?? Of course it isn't 100% certain that the previous case back was on the watch when it left the factory anyway. For me personally it's an upgrade as I value the watch more now, but your opinions are welcome! I'm NOT SELLING this watch, as I truly love it, just interested in opinions on originality vs condition!

I prefer the original back cover because it is the original for the watch. if you want to hear the story about the watch, please feel free to contact me.

maxbelg · Oct 10, 2020

Bjarven82
I prefer the original back cover because it is the original for the watch. if you want to hear the story about the watch, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks for answering in this thread Bjarven82! I've sent you a pm. I was planning to sell the original case back, but will probably keep it now, so it can be restored when needed/wanted in future. I'm living in Gent, Belgium. I'm looking very much forward to hearing more about the provenance of this watch.

maxbelg · Oct 10, 2020

Thank you Bjarven82 for the additional information on this watch! After reading your pm, I apologised to the watch and re-installed the original case back 👍. I'll give it a good think, but will probably sell the "better" case back after all!

eugeneandresson · Oct 10, 2020

In this case I wouldn’t change the caseback. Only if it had the wrong reference. Crown, perhaps.

maxbelg · Oct 10, 2020

eugeneandresson
In this case I wouldn’t change the caseback. Only if it had the wrong reference. Crown, perhaps.

Thanks eugeneandresson for your valued opinion, I've already changed the case-back back again...I'll keep the original crown with the watch but leave the flat foot crown on the watch

padders · Oct 10, 2020

Very nice indeed. My 105.003-65 Ed White is on 22.82m and has an extract date just 2 weeks before yours.

Personally I like a sharp double bevel on an early Speedy back so yes assuming the reference is correct I would keep the better one.

Bjarven82 · Oct 10, 2020

maxbelg
Thanks eugeneandresson for your valued opinion, I've already changed the case-back back again...I'll keep the original crown with the watch but leave the flat foot crown on the watch

I also searched for the flatfoot crown, so it's fun to hear that you find one.

maxbelg · Oct 10, 2020

padders
Very nice indeed. My 105.003-65 Ed White is on 22.82m and has an extract date just 2 weeks before yours.

Personally I like a sharp double bevel on an early Speedy back so yes assuming the reference is correct I would keep the better one.

Yes, this is exactly what I thought too, but with the added information on the provenance of this watch, I think I'll stick to the original case back.

maxbelg · Oct 10, 2020

Bjarven82
I also searched for the flatfoot crown, so it's fun to hear that you find one.

They're not that difficult to find, providing you're prepared to pay 100s of Euros for an old worn crown with a dubious gasket...😉
For me it was worth it though, as all parts are now correct for the reference, including the beautiful wide short pushers which probably aren't water resistant anymore either...

mr_yossarian · Oct 10, 2020

What really irritates me is the caseband. Looking at the caseback the lugtips appear to be typical for a CB case. And the lower left lug seems to have traces left of a CB caseline.

Davidt · Oct 10, 2020

I'd keep the original case back.

I like to keep my watches as original as possible, warts and all.

eugeneandresson · Oct 10, 2020

mr_yossarian
What really irritates me is the caseband. Looking at the caseback the lugtips appear to be typical for a CB case. And the lower left lug seems to have traces left of a CB caseline.

Rogue reflection in one pic. Or still the whispers of last nights negroni’s 😉

padders · Oct 10, 2020

mr_yossarian
What really irritates me is the caseband. Looking at the caseback the lugtips appear to be typical for a CB case. And the lower left lug seems to have traces left of a CB caseline.

It shouldn't have any CB features, its a -65 not a -66.

mr_yossarian · Oct 10, 2020

eugeneandresson
Rogue reflection in one pic. Or still the whispers of last nights negroni’s 😉

No Negroni's for me yesterday. 😀 Then just focus on the backside of the case. Just what I instantly noticed.

mr_yossarian · Oct 10, 2020

padders
It shouldn't have any CB features, its a '65 not a '66.

I know.

padders · Oct 10, 2020

mr_yossarian
I know.

Fair enough, just saying!

mr_yossarian · Oct 10, 2020

padders
Fair enough, just saying!

Didn't intend to say there is something wrong with the watch,but I'm dead sure it has a CB caseband for reasons no one knows.

eugeneandresson · Oct 10, 2020

mr_yossarian
Then just focus on the backside of the case.

Here is a bad pic of mine (-66 CB), which has not seen a polish since it left the factory. Looks quite different to me (specifically the flat quadrilaterals of the bottoms of the lugs)

It’s Negroni-o-clock! (For me at least 😁)

Upgrade or Downgrade of my 105.012-65?

maxbelg

Bjarven82

Bjarven82

maxbelg

maxbelg

eugeneandresson

maxbelg

padders

Bjarven82

maxbelg

maxbelg

mr_yossarian

Davidt

eugeneandresson

padders

mr_yossarian

mr_yossarian

padders

mr_yossarian

eugeneandresson

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