Today I wanna talk about my little project with the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, the one with the open case back. So, I got this watch a while back, and I was always kinda fascinated by the idea of seeing the movement inside. You know, all those little gears and springs working together, it’s like a tiny city in there.
I started by doing some digging online. Found a bunch of forums and articles about the Speedmaster. Seems like this watch is a big deal in the watch world, especially the “Moonwatch” thing. Apparently, it’s the one that went to the moon, which is pretty cool, I guess.
Anyway, I learned that the classic Moonwatch usually has a solid case back, but some folks like to swap it out for an open one, also called an “exhibition” case back. There’s even a version, the calibre 1863, that comes with an open case back, I guess for this reason that many people like open casebacks. So I thought, “Why not give it a try?”
- First, I needed to find the right case back.
- I read that there were a few different types, depending on the specific model of the Speedmaster.
- Mine’s a newer one, so I made sure to get the right size and fit.
I didn’t want some cheap knock-off, so I spent some time looking for a reputable seller. It’s a real concern when buying this kind of stuff online, and I read that fake Speedmasters usually have bad subdial spacing or placement, and even the tachymeter scale or bezel markings are off. I finally found one that seemed legit, and it wasn’t too expensive, which is always a plus. Then placed the order.
Once the case back arrived, I got to work. This is where it got a little tricky. I’m not exactly a watchmaker, so I was pretty nervous about taking apart my precious Speedmaster. But I watched a few videos online and read some more instructions, and it seemed doable enough.
I carefully removed the original case back using some basic watch tools. Took my time, didn’t want to scratch anything. Once it was off, I could finally see the movement inside. It was pretty amazing, all those tiny parts moving in sync. It felt like I was looking into the heart of the watch.
Then I carefully placed the new open case back on and screwed it in. Made sure everything was lined up properly and tightened it just enough. I didn’t want it to be too loose or too tight.
The Result
And that was it! Now I have a Speedmaster with an open case back. I can see the movement whenever I want, which is pretty cool. It’s like having a little window into the watch’s soul. I know some people say it’s not “original” or whatever, but I like it. And hey, it’s my watch, so I can do what I want with it, right?
Overall, it was a fun little project. Learned a bit more about watches, and I got to customize mine to my liking. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, I say go for it. Just be careful and do your research, and you’ll be fine. After all, from what I heard, the Speedmaster generally keeps its value well, especially the limited edition ones. So, this little mod didn’t really hurt its value. Also, I think it’s way cooler now!
Click to consult