Explore exclusive behind the scenes in how we carefully designed our version of the Speedmaster caseback.

When we set out to design our caseback for the 3861 Speedmaster, it would have been easy to stick with something familiar—the standard convex double bevel or even the single bevel design that already pre-exist in Speedmaster casebacks. However, we saw an opportunity to build upon the ergonomics and comfort of the watch while still paying tribute to the Speedmaster’s legacy.

A Brief History

To fully walk through our thought process when creating our Speedmaster caseback, it’s important to understand the evolution of Omega’s designs. The first versions of the caseback, such as on the CK2915, featured double-bevel designs with six key-slots for installation tools. The casebacks were also decorated with minimal engravings that were typically the name of the model line and the Venetian Hippocampus, affectionately dubbed the ‘Seamonster’ by collecting communities, which indicated each timepiece’s water resistance capabilities. Starting from the Professional 105.012-66 reference, the double-bevel was eliminated, and soon after, the shallow etching was replaced with the commemorative engraving celebrating the Speedmaster’s new space-faring heritage.

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​The engravings also became more detailed, with the Seamonster rendered in a coin-like medallion, staying true to the  Speedmaster’s marine heritage This design became the norm for the Speedmaster, remaining consistent through the Quartz Crisis and into the 2010s. In 2021, Omega iterated the Speedmaster with the introduction of the 3861 caliber. With it, the double-bevel was reintroduced, although variations of the commemorative engraving were retained for both sapphire and solid variations of the caseback. This was a return to form, a return to the design of the pre-moon Speedmasters, and saw the reappearance of other notable Speedmaster design hallmarks, such as the Dot-Over-Ninety bezel, step dial, and teardrop-end chronograph hand. The double-bevel design created a more layered and complex design, elevating visual interest.

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Our Caseback

When designing our caseback for the 3861, we did consider using the original double-bevel design, however we felt that it was our responsibility to differentiate ours from the design already in use to prevent it from being mistaken as an OEM component. We also wanted to build upon what Omega, as well as our own Standard Speedmaster caseback, have already been utilizing—the ergonomics and comfort of the wear. After numerous drafts and re-imaginings, we ultimately selected the concave double-bevel design, not to be confused with the convex double-bevel design. This distinction improves user experience by allowing the watch to sit lower on the wrist, a more comfortable design, while still paying homage to the original caseback design. In the standard watch designs, the caseback tends to be bump or bulge shaped, rarely flat.

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However, when designed properly, the caseback can be a powerful tool in slimming down the effective height of the watch by allowing it to sink into the wrist. Such intentional engineering has been evident in watches since the introduction of lugs, from cushion-cases to Rolex bubble-backs. We decided to improve upon this intentionality which is why we landed on the innovative concave design that simultaneously decreases the height of the wear without the need for the watch to sink too low into the wrist in order to sit flush, which can be uncomfortable. The concave profile takes up less volume, and thus sits lower while feeling less top-heavy and appearing slimmer.

By taking into account the modern and traditional designs, we were able to select a new configuration of the double-bevel design that still pays homage to the origins of the Speedmaster, but whose unique concave silhouette combines the perks of sitting closer to the wrist without digging into the wear uncomfortably. By offering this different design, we hope to give customers the best of both worlds—heritage and ergonomic.