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Caseback

United States government specification stamped caseback

Probable

The caseback of an issued US military wristwatch, stamped with the governing specification, a part or stock number, a contract number and a date. It carries the entire issued identity of the watch, which is why it is both the primary evidence and the most-married component in this part of the catalog: it unscrews, and it is the valuable part.

Part reference

Maker
Various contractors to US government specification
Material
Base metal or steel, by contract
Introduced
1964
Identifying marks
Specification number with revision letter, part/stock number, contract number and date, stamped with the shallow uneven depth of period tooling rather than laser-etched.

Documented variations

Classification

FactoryDocumented as shipped from the factory for this reference and period.PeriodNot original to this watch, but correct for its production period.ServiceFitted by the manufacturer's own service network. Not a defect.AftermarketThird-party part. Affects originality, not authenticity.ModifiedGenuine parts in a configuration the factory did not sell. Affects originality and value, not authenticity.CounterfeitDeceptive reproduction intended to pass as genuine.UnknownEvidence on file does not settle the question.

  • Period-stamped issued caseback on its original watch

    FactoryProbable

    Whole production

    Stamping depth and typeface consistent with period tooling, and a contract number and date that agree with each other and with the specification's production window.

  • Genuine issued caseback fitted to a civilian watch

    UnknownProbable

    Whole production

    The most common construction in this segment. The caseback is real; the watch is not the one it was stamped for. Judge the case finish, dial, hands and movement as a system and see whether they belong to the same contract period.

  • Reproduction stamped caseback

    CounterfeitProbable

    Whole production

    Uniform character depth, a modern typeface, and often a contract number that looks plausible but does not correspond to a real contract period. Laser etching in place of stamping is decisive.

Documented on these references

  • Hamilton GG-W-113Factory

    1964–1986

    The caseback IS the identity of the watch, and it unscrews. Never assess it in isolation from the case, dial, hands and movement.

  • Hamilton MIL-W-46374Factory

    Whole production

    Establish the revision letter first. It governs what the case material and movement should be.

Provenance of this record

Sources & Evidence

Primary sourceTechnical documentation

United States government wristwatch specifications GG-W-113 and MIL-W-46374

United States Department of Defense

Accessed
2026-08-19

Cited for

This referenceHigh confidence
Secondary sourceCollector research

Hamilton collector research on the electric calibers, named models and case reproduction

Collector communities and specialist dealers

Accessed
2026-08-19

Cited for

This referenceProbable

Last verified: Not yet reviewed