PAM: a pleasant side effect of chieftang's AR coating

[sssurfer]

Those among you who tried a watchmen cyclops surely remember that, while its mag power was great, it suffered from light reflections that actually reduced the date readability in comparison with the attained magnification.

The chieftang cyclops had less reflections, still not perfect.

Those among you who tried [chieftang's] single-side AR coating (especially made for PAMs) surely noticed that single-side AR is far less effective than double-side AR, as reflection from the crystal's outer surface stays untouched with single-side AR, that is applied only to the inner surface of the crystal.

This is an unavoidable issue with PAMs, as the gens are single-side AR coated as well.

I got two PAM crystals AR coated in the chieftang's single-side AR run -- one with a watchmen cyclops, the other one with a chieftang cyclops.

Well, on both them the AR effect on the cyclops reflection was stunning! The AR coat reduced the reflection down to about 10% on the watchmen cyclops, 5% on the chieftang cyclops.

This makes sense, as reflections in cyclops are due to the light reflected from the crystal's inner surface and the datewheel. Differently from reflection from the crystal's outer surface, both those components are cut out by the single-side (inner side) AR coat.

Now I am able to really enjoy the full mag power of those improved cyclopses!

I plan to post pics as soon as I'll also have a certain DW sticker (kindly provided by a great RWG member here!) installed. These are Asian 21J watches, and I don't want to ruin the great effect of the AR coated cyclops with a bad date font.

[cskent69]

ssurfer, that is great news. I have tried both the Watchmen and the Chieftang in my 063 and stayed with the Chieftang because it was a little clearer. That said - you are correct. The Chieftang still has a fair bit of reflection.

I will certainly want to take advantage of this when the next AR run happens.

I also still have the crystal with the Watchmen on it as well.

Which do you think is overall better? I think that the Watchmen is the correct size - but how is the distortion now that you can really see through it?

[sssurfer]

Which do you think is overall better? I think that the Watchmen is the correct size - but how is the distortion now that you can really see through it?

I tried both them on a 104, and the watchmen cyclops looks perfect. NO distortion, good magnification (just a little lower than gen). I could not even believe how good it came out.

But it is because the 104 has a small rehaut. This makes the chieftang cyclops a little underpowered on the 104, and the watchmen cyclops bringing no distortion.

On a higher rehaut model like the 063 I would try the chieftang cyclops first, even if it is a little inaccurate in its diameter.

Stay assured you will get very pleased with the results of (even) single-side AR on date readability!

[ahchard]

So you AR'ed the outside of the crystal I assume? I had no idea that the cyclops had the reflection issue...

Has anyone tried putting AR on the cyclops itself? Would this be possible?

Now I am not sure if I should put AR on my 029 when i install the watchmen cyclops...

[sssurfer]

No, the AR I told about was only on the inside of the crystal.

Besides of being the only accurate AR on PAMs, the inside-only AR has the benefit of being a low-temperature treatment. So it can get performed on crystals that already have a cyclops on them.

Higher temperature AR coating, like double-side AR, would make the cyclops' adhesive melt and the cyclops pop out.

The inside-only AR actually coats the cyclops, and that is why it is so effective on the date, differently from the rest of the dial.

Believe me, get your crystal w/watchmen or chieftang cyclops AR coated, you will get the best from your cyclops!

I hope this makes sense, my English did not help.

[HauteHippie]

I'd have to agree that single sided AR is almost pointless except when it comes to reducing glare in the cyclops. PAM should get their act together and start double coating their watches. This is 2007 afterall!!

Also I will add my $0.02 that the watchmen cyclops is preferable to the chieftang on the 063. I love mine with the watchmen.

[cskent69]

OK - done. I will get the both AR'd on the next single sided run. Now - when is that happening....... :-)

[sssurfer]

Many months later -- finally a pic of chieftang's single side AR on a watchmen cyclops on a cheap Asian 21J 104.

I took it now as I gave up with my hope to get a better Asian 21J datewheel.