Auto movement vs manual wind. Will they fit in each other's cases?

[shinynewbling25]

for example if I had a 299 and an 005 both noob cases, can I swap everything over, crystals, case backs and then have a PAM 104 if I wanted to see what it was like? Based on my reading the answer is yes but just wanted to confirm.


Thanks

 

[mysterio]

Umm, no. Just the rotor on the automatic movement would make it thicker thus require more clearance. Maybe a manual wind on an auto case, but not the other way around. My measurements on watch heads (I always forget to publish them) have 20mm difference on manual wind based PAMs as opposed to automatic movement based ones (these are both Luminor Bettarini cased PAMs, 1950s have different thickness). But you are free to try your theory out if you like.

 

[shinynewbling25]

Thanks. I was thinking it was only the movement holder which positioned the movement in the correct position to be in line with the crown tube and that the case back was thicker or deeper on the auto to compensate for the thickness. My 299 is about a millimeter thicker than the manual which I attributed to this thicker case back but I suppose it could be a combo of things. I didnt' think the crystal was shaped differently or crown tube drilled different or anything. I haven't seen any mention of "noob or h factor auto case or manual wind case" so thought they were the same just obviously a different movement holder and case back. I kind of don't want to mess with it if it won't. I'm just surprised no one here has mention doing it before. I guess with all the readily available reps they just buy the version they want or they're either an auto guy or manual guy and don't mix them much.