Is the detail, design and appearance of case back important?

The most important thing is that you can not see through it.

To me, if the case back is interesting, it's a bonus. But it's not important.

Yup, you are right.

The case back is always been ignore, but I think it is very important because it shows how care the watch maker is.

Agreed

Depends on the price, on a watch in excess of about £500-£600 it's definitely a plus, but still not something that's a deal breaker, for less than that, I'd rather they focus on making the watch as good as possible for as little money as possible.

Preferences in descending order:

1) Exhibition caseback (sorry, @OscarKlosoffWatch)

2) Caseback with a cool design that makes sense on the given watch

3) Don’t care otherwise

For me it can be what tips me into wanting a watch. Do I think the Glashutte Original Panomatic Lunar is gorgeous up top? Yeah. But the exhibition case back is what clinched that watch as a need to get for my collection . . . that level of detail and movement decoration at that price point is crazy.

Great point

Agreed, it’s better close case back with better design if their movement amis very basic, but if it is decorative one, I would like to see it without a lot of compromising in the durability and functionality

Same here! If I’m paying thousands for a watch, the bar is higher. I prefer an exhibition case back for nicer pieces, because it gives me a little extra enjoyment. Plus, friends have expressed interest in some of my collection, and it’s cool to be able to show a nice movement. Most of my collection has display case backs.

In my budget sub collection, I’m not particular. A $100 watch with a Seiko NH35 movement that keeps good time owes me nothing, and case back isn’t a concern.

Absolutely! Stunning watch in every way. It would have been a horological crime to put a solid case back on that baby. Do you have a Pano Lunar? What color? I have the current silver/white and love it! I’ll add a pic. If you have a different color, would you consider posting a pic? I love the watch and brand very much.

I always appreciate a cool case back, but it has no bearing whatsoever on whether or not I buy a watch.

Though i like a display caseback, where to be honest mostly is nothing to see, and i mostly own GShocks where the most have the same screw in caseback, i m not really caring about it

I voted no but I would love to have an automatic with a see thru case back. Have not added one yet.

It can make and break a watch. I always appreciate a well done case back, but some companies can go overboard with engravings and the wrong one can ruin a watch. This for example. Way too on the nose.

Many factors here. If you give me a plain case back and the watch is only 30/50 meters WR then I have many questions. Same if we have a very expensive watch like a Daytona and no nice case back but if you spend x amounts of money you can get one seems very scummy to me. Especially when a Seiko 5 gives you a case back regardless how plain the movement looks.

Daytona

Seiko 5

It's usually not a deal breaker, but I enjoy a display case back. Even with a common, undecorated movement. If that makes me an unsophisticated simpleton, that's fine. I like to see the gears and wheels spinning in there, and I look at it often. A plain solid case back is disappointing, a nice engraving is better, but for me... show me the gears!

Love the two example, one trying so hard to impress. On the other one trying to be a gold digger 😂

😂

If it was really important we would see a lot more photos of winders and boxes displaying the watches face down.

😂😂😂😂

I like an exhibition back myself, I'd rather see even a cheap movement than a fancy engraved/embossed design - unless it makes it prohibitively thick.

It is a nice bonus if a watch has a nice caseback.

I prefer a solid caseback on a dive watch , Sports watch , if it’s a beautiful movement then a display caseback is welcomed but not absolutely necessary. If I had a ALS or Bethune , Patek Vacheron etc then yes a display caseback is fantastic. If it’s a work horse movement as long as its rugged , regulated and reliable, I’m good .

Exactly! Unless it's some crazy high horology thing, keep that thing closed. I don't need the sapphire gripping my wrist with an additional seal or two.

Definitely depends. On a dress watch, I want to see the movement with some decoration. Otherwise I don’t really care.

My 3 favorite casebacks:

A sapphire one to display the hand engraving on the movement

A green one that makes me laugh

An extra thin one that improves comfort

On cheap watches I do not care as much. If I am paying $1,000+ then yes it is factor in the overall design and finishing of the watch in my opinion. I like open or exhibition casebacks since I can see the movement but if it does not fit the style of watch (like a diver), then at least put a nice design, text and/or logo on it. I am partial to Longines and Omega (before they went to open casebacks).

I completely agree for that level of watch. It does not have to be an exhibition caseback. Put something there (i.e. logo, text of the movement, chromometer, limited edition etc.).