Written by Chuck Maddox on 24 February 2001, Last Revised: 30 November 2005, 4:07 GMT Certain Rights Reserved...

One of the questions that frequently gets asked of me both publically and via email is what should the case back look like on an Omega Speedmaster. Any article on a such a topic, even on the somewhat limited topic of Speedmaster moonwatch casebacks, is daunting. If you have additional information to share please contact the author... This article is an attempt to answer this question... And I doubt that this article is in any way a complete listing of the possiblities with Omega Speedmaster Moonwatches.

Index/Shortcuts:

Pre-Pro Speedmasters

Pre-Moon Speedmaster Pro

18k Gold Speedmaster Pro

1st Generation Post-Moon Pro

2nd Generation Post-Moon Pro

Apollo-Soyuz Limited Edition

Display Back c.863 First Version

Display Back c.863 Second Version

Display Back c.1863

25th Anniversary Special Edition

MIR Special Edition 90 Days

MIR Special Edition 365 Days

1957 Re-Edition Speedmaster

30th Anniversary Special Edition

Galaxy Express 999 Special Edition

Gene Cernan "Last Man on the Moon"

2003 Sapphire Crystal Displayback

Acknowlegments,

Certain Rights Reserved

Description:

Caseback:

Pre-Pro Speedmasters:

Notice the "two-step" nature of the sloped part of the back... This is the style that pre-pro Speedmasters possess. Note that there is a Hippocampus or "Seamonster" engraved on the caseback but it is difficult to photograph and is often faint due to many years of wear on people's wrists... This is what the original case back would look like on all Pre-Pro Speedmasters. Case Reference Numbers: CK2915, CK2998, ST105.003 and possibly the ST105.012...

Pre-Moon Professional Speedmasters:

For the First Professional models of Speedmasters Omega switched to a single angle beveled design for the case back. This is the case back that is typically found on Pre-Moon Speedmaster Professionals (ST145.012 and ST145.022)... I have not seen a ST105.012 at this point, so it's possible that they retain the older twin-angle slope instead of the single angle. If this is the case, it may be the only external way to differenciate between the ST105.012 and the ST145.012 without opening the case. Note: Again the Hippocampus should be present but is sometimes difficult to see.

18k Gold Speedmaster Professional (Post-Moon) NASA/Govt Edition:

Shortly after the sucessful moon landing by Apollo 11, Omega created a limited edition of 1,014 solid Gold Speedmaster Professionals with a gold dial and gold case back. 39 of these watches had a special back ( pictured at right) which were presented to the President, Vice President and Astronauts engraved with their name on the back. Click on the picture to open a window with an enlarged photo of Deke Slayton's example of this watch.

18k Gold Speedmaster Professional (Post-Moon) Public Edition:

At right is an example of the more common but still very rare displayback....

(Thanks to Brad (Watch Carefully) for his contribution of pictures of both of these casebacks for this section...)

Pictures courtesy of Watch Carefully

Post-Moon Professional Speedmasters (1st Generation):

Shortly after the successful landing by Apollo astronauts on the moon Omega moved to commemorate the event by means of a specially engraved caseback... The exact begining and ending date of this caseback is not well known, but usage started shortly after the Apollo 11 landing timeframe and lasted until 1971 when the modern caseback was adopted. This is the caseback found on ST145.022's dating from after the first lunar landing to some point in 1971

Post-Moon Professional Speedmasters (2nd Generation~Current):

The currently used caseback has been in use from 1971 through the currently sold non-commemorative non-display back model. This is probably the most common caseback one will find on the back of Speedmaster Professional moonwatches, as it has been in production the longest. (Thanks to Mike de Jong for his contribution to nailing down the time this back was adopted)

Apollo-Soyuz Limited Edition:

In 1975 to commemorate the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (a part of the SALT agreements signed between Breznev and Nixon), Omega produced a special Limited Edition run of 500 Speedmasters. These Speedmasters differed from the standard production run with a different dial (detail) and case back (shown at right)...

Speedmaster Professional Display Back c.863 First Version:

Starting with a comemorative edition in 1980 marking the 10th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing Omega used a highly decorated version of the c.863 movement with Côtes de Genéve on the bridge in conjunction with a special crystal display back to show off the movement. In 1987 the Display back model became part of the product line. It is important to note that the casebacks on the commemorative version and versions early in the product run (through at least 1992 - Ref. 3592.5000) do not state Speedmaster Professional as the example on the right does, but rather states: "Apollo XI - Speedmaster - <Blank or xxxx> and First Watch Worn On The Moon" instead... Special Thanks to David Greenspan for pointing out this tidbit to me!
 

Speedmaster Professional Display Back c.863 Second Version:

At some point in the early 1990's Omega changed the inscription of the c.863 Display Back models to read: "© OMEGA - Speedmaster - Professional and First Watch Worn On The Moon", while the previous models stated: "Apollo XI - Speedmaster - <Blank or xxxx> and First Watch Worn On The Moon". The rest of the watch and movement remains unchanged between these two models.

Speedmasters Professional Display Back c.1863:

In the 1996-1997 timeframe Omega and Lemania changed the plating of the c.861 and c.863 from gilt (or a gold-toned plating) to Rhodium (a silver-toned plating) and changed the name of each movement adding a "1" before the number to signify the change. Also in the c.861 movement a single part was changed from a metal component to a plastic one which wear's better and is self-lubricating. In the c.1863 the original metal part is retained because Omega didn't want display-back owners seeing the plastic part. Otherwise the movements are identical to their previous configurations. Click here for another picture (thanks Jerry Tollison)

Photo provided by Keith Downing

(click to enlarge)

25th Anniversary Special Edition (2,500 pieces):

This special caseback was produced for the 25th anniversary edition of the Speedmaster Moonwatch. This commemorative differs from previous 20th anniversary Special edition (which had a standard moonwatch caseback) by having "Limited Edition x/2500" engraved on the caseback, and differs from the 30th Aniversary Special Edition's "Hello Houston Tranquility Base Here"/Apollo 11 back.

Photo provided by Dru Sotherden

(click to enlarge)

MIR Special Edition 90 Days:

This special caseback to commemorate the Speedmaster flying for 90 days on MIR was made for a very limited production run of 10 Speedmasters. The inscription on the back states "90 Days Flight Qualified <cr> Spacelab MIR Dec. 90-Mar. 91 -- The First Watch Worn On The Moon"... The center medalion is the famous "Hippocampus" or "Seamonster"...

MIR Special Edition 365 Days:

This special caseback to commemorate the Speedmaster flying for 90 days on MIR was made for a very limited production run of 35 Speedmasters (7 Gold, 28 Stainless Steel). The inscription on the back states "365 Days Aboard <cr> Space Station MIR July 1993 - July 1994 -- The First Watch Worn On The Moon x/28" (for the Stainless Steel Models (x/7 for the Gold)... The center medalion is the famous "Hippocampus" or "Seamonster"...

1957 Re-Edition Speedmaster:

This "Non-Moon" engraved modern caseback was affixed to the 1957 "Broad Arrowed" Re-Edition of the original 1957 Speedmaster. The name "re-edition is a bit of a misnomer, because while the watch has a superficial resemblence to the original 1957, the closer one looks the more it becomes apparent that the Re-Edition has next to nothing that is exactly like the original 1957 model, the Bezel, hands, dial, case, caseback, bracelet, even the crystal, crown and pushers are different from the original. But it has a 1957 Retro look to it.

Click on the picture for an enlargement

Photo provided by Jeff Bagnall

(click to enlarge)

30th Anniversary Special Edition:

This special caseback was produced for the 30th anniversary edition of the Speedmaster Moonwatch. This commemorative differs from previous 20th, and 25th anniversary editions in that it has a truly different back. The Inscription reads: "Hello Houston, Tranquility Base Here <cr> The Eagle Has Landed -- July 21, 1969 02:56 GMT". Note: while most history books note July 20th as the date of the landing (as it was Houston Time), the date & time is proper for GMT. The center medalion is also changed from the Hippocampus to the Apollo 11 Mission patch.
 

Galaxy Express 999 Special Edition:

This special edition caseback was issued in 1999 to honor the animator of the TV series "Spaceship Yamato" known in the United States as "Star Blazers" and Galaxy Express 999... It is a limited edition of 1,999 made specifically for the Japanese Market.

Click on the picture for an enlargement:

E.A. Cernan "Last Man on the Moon" Special Edition...

This special edition released in 2003 to commemorate the thirtith anniversary of Apollo Astronaut (and Omega Spokesperson) Eugene Cernan's last footsteps made on the moon in late 1972. A limited edition of 3,000 examples, the only difference between this edition and the standard Moonwatch is the caseback.

Click on the picture for an enlargement:

Photo provided by Iain Bush

(click to enlarge)

Sapphire Crystal Displayback 2003:

In 2003 Omega finally answered requests for a Sapphire crystal Moonwatch in the form of a Saphire crystal Moonwatch with display back. While they were at it they also changed the wording of the display back from "Omega | Speedmaster | Professional" between three of the caseback slots, and "First Watch | Worn On | The Moon" on the other, The new text now reads: "Omega | The First | And Only | Watch | Worn On | The Moon" which is factually incorrect. Picture courtesy of Magnus, sharp eye credit goes to Sauron and Peter B.

Click on the picture for an enlargement

Photo provided by Magnus

(click to enlarge)

Acknowlegments:

I would like to thank Adam Gonzales, Jerry Tollison, Watch Carefully, Magnus, Iain Bush, Dru Sotherden, Jeff Bagnall and Keith Downing for their contribution of photographs to this document. I would like to thank David Greenspan for sharing his knowledge of his 1992 c.863 display back Speedmaster and it's history, Mike de Jong for his eagle eye in spotting a 1971 Speedmaster with the 2nd generation Moonwatch Caseback and Henry Lee for spotting a typo!
 

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Permission is granted for Damon, Derek Ziglar, Ross and RJ to include within the FAQ's they are writing as long as credit (and a link to this article) is given and proper acknolegement to the contributor's is included. Permission for personal, educational or non-commercial use is granted. The author retains all other rights not specifically mentioned here... For all other use please contact the author.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and knowing me should be taken with a grain or two of salt...