Speedmaster Bezel Details by Gino Balbi:

Speedmaster Bezel Details by Gino Balbi:

First Model:

First model 1957 Speedmaster has a satin finish metal bezel with engraved tachymeter scale. Word letters and numbers black painted originally, the word TACHIMÈTRE is continued with the BASE 1000 and has '-' on 'E' after 'M' of 'TACHYMÈTRE' .

This bezel is present on Ref. CK2915 -1, -2 (1957 &endash; 1958)

Diameter of 39mm.

Second Model:

The second model is a black metal bezel with the same script 'TACHYMÈTRE BASE 1000' . Word letters and numbers are silver painted.

The letter 'C' of 'TACHYMÈTRE' is open and the '70' marker dot is positioned in low position (70.).

Third Model:

The third model come around the end of 1959, from CK2998 &endash; 3 on. Is the same black bezel but the script has lost the 'BASE 1000' and there is only 'TACHYMÈTRE'.

The letter 'C' of 'TACHYMÈTRE' is more closed and narrow and the '70' marker has the same writing as previous model (70.).

This bezel is present from Ref. CK2998 -3 and goes through all 105.xxx series, untill 145.012 (1959 &endash; 1968).

Diameter of 40mm.

Fourth Model:

From middle 1968 the new ref. ST145.022 (c.861) featured a new bezel.

There is no '-' on 'E' after 'M' of 'TACHYMETRE' and the '70' marker dot is positioned on side (70·).

This bezel is present on Ref 145.022 (c.861) (1968 &endash; 1990).

Diameter of 40mm.

Fifth Model:

At the beginning of the nineties the bezel featured a larger 'C', there is no '-' on 'E' after 'M' of 'TACHYMETRE' and the '70' marker dot is positioned on side as previous model (70·).

This bezel is present on Ref 145.022 (c.861) (1990 &endash; 1995).

Diameter of 40mm.

Sixth Model:

From middle 1995 the bezel change again, reappear '-' on 'E' after 'M' of 'TACHYMETRE' and the ' 70' marker dot is positioned lower than second and third model (70.).

This bezel is present on Ref 145.022 (c.861) (1995 >>>).

Diameter of 40mm.