Alright, folks, let me tell you about this little project I got myself into. It all started when I got my hands on this classic Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. Beautiful watch, no doubt, but I really wanted to see the guts of this thing, the movement ticking away. So, I thought, why not swap out the solid case back for a transparent one?
I did some digging around, you know, the usual internet rabbit hole, and found out that Omega used to make a version with a display back, but they stopped making it years ago. Bummer. But then I stumbled upon this guy, Thomas Preik, who makes these aftermarket sapphire case backs. People online seemed to be pretty happy with them, so I decided to give it a shot.
I ordered one, and let me tell you, the anticipation was killing me. When it finally arrived, I cleared my workbench, got my tools ready, and treated it like a delicate operation. Now, swapping out the case back isn’t rocket science, but you gotta be careful, especially with a watch this nice. One slip and you could scratch it, or worse, mess up the movement.
The Process
- Popping off the old case back: This was the most nerve-wracking part. I used a case back opener tool, carefully applying pressure and slowly turning. You gotta make sure the tool is properly seated to avoid slipping and scratching the case. With a satisfying click, the old case back came off, revealing the beautiful 1861 movement inside.
- Cleaning: Before putting on the new case back, I made sure to clean both the watch case and the new case back. Any dust or debris could potentially get into the movement, and that’s a big no-no. A little bit of compressed air and a soft cloth did the trick.
- Putting on the new case back: This was way easier than taking the old one off. I carefully placed the new sapphire case back onto the watch, making sure it was properly aligned. Then, using the same case back opener tool, I tightened it back up. You don’t want to over-tighten it, just enough so it’s snug and secure.
And there it was! My Speedmaster, now with a see-through back. It’s like a whole new watch. Being able to see the movement in action is just mesmerizing. It’s a reminder of the incredible craftsmanship that goes into these timepieces.
If you’re thinking about doing this to your Speedmaster, I say go for it. Just make sure you get a good quality case back, like the one from Thomas Preik, and take your time. It’s a relatively easy mod, but it makes a huge difference. Now, every time I look at my watch, I get a little extra satisfaction knowing I can see the heart beating inside.
This whole experience was fun and now I get to enjoy my Speedmaster even more. What a cool mod!
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