jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 This may have been covered but it seems I don't get along very well with this search engine. About all I've been able to gather is to "use a crystal press" and seat the crystal! The crystals all seem to push out easily with thumb pressure after the movement has been removed. Upon doing whatever and cleaning everything up the time comes to re-install the crystal or to install a new crystal. Do you put the gasket on the crystal and press it in as an "assembly" or put the gasket in the case THEN press the crystal down into the gasket. I am inclined to think that the gasket should be installed into the case first but without the bottom of the crystal being beveled how does it start correctly/straight and keep from deforming the gasket or shaving off a chunk of it? Thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Which watch? When I tore this Mil Sub apart: I can see that the rubber o-ring is on the outside and is under the bezel ring~! The Crystal/Plastic goes on the inner slot/circle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Oh, yeah, this style is different than the ones I'm messing with. These are the cheapie Sub variants with the pressed in crystal that seats into a plastic/nylon "L" cross-sectioned gasket... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 "Sub variants with the pressed in crystal that seats into a plastic/nylon "L" cross-sectioned " Wat u tokin bout! So, do I need that "L" thing? Koz it's not there? The other reason why I stripped this down! I greased the cover o-ring and crown.....and it turned into a Submarine......from the inside, after the Water test!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackR Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 @JMB --> good inquiry... many folks are looking to send crystals to chief or others for double AR...and some of the trusted watchsmiths no longer offer the service of crystal removal/AR coordination/reinstallation...i, too, was looking for a tutorial on how to do this - knowing it can vary from watch to watch...but many of us do not have a crystal press - so knowing how and if it should be attempted at all is key... i found a tutorial over at RG on how to do this for a Navi World/GMT...which looks to be a process you can take for some similarly designed Breits... RG Navitimer bezel/crystal fix tutorial there's also one from Chieftang that uses a crytsal press here: RG Crystal removal with press @Hike --> nice parting of the Milsub... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Hike, why did you "brutalize" that poor watch!!?? You're meaner to 'em than I am!! I suspect you might be missing something or need to "pookey" the crystal in. Does the Milsub have a "click" bezel? If not, the O-ring probably puts tension/rubs on the bottom of the bezel to keep it in place after rotating to desired position. I've never figured out why the crystals aren't set with clear RTV as it's waterproof, lasts for years, and quite strong. Look at the big chunks of glass on racquet-ball courts and they are bonded edgewise with the stuff. I don't see what would be wrong with setting in a crystal like this with RTV, installing bezel to get everything centered, let it cure, remove bezel and trim off excess with a scalpel... hackR, this will be for Rolex style reps but I'll check out the links you provided. I have a cheapie press from Harbor Freight but am not 100% sure I'm doing things correctly and ofrei is back-ordered on gaskets for 30.0 mm crystals so I don't want to run the risk of tearing one up... When drilling lug holes I don't have a lot of choice other than removing the crystal. I tried "jigging up" a sub in my mill and even with light vise pressure with rubber padding the crystal shattered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 A few years back, I talked about a book I got hold of, called "The Watch Crystal Encyclopedia"..the author is Norman Helfand. It is put out by a shop in Florida, and is most instructive. Runs about 80 pages, and covers a multitude of topics including remove and install. Once read, we better understand that there are many different scenarios, and sometimes not one "right way" but a number of alternatives. I think this may help this discussion, and recommend that anyone wanting to get a better view of this subject, should chase a copy down. It was only like $16 or something, and worth 10X the price. Offshore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Offshore, do you have an ISBN (should be on back cover)? Amazon does not pull up anything relevant when searching on the title... Oh, hackR, those two tutorials didn't really tell me much more than I'd figured out but it seems there must be a better techique for ensuring the crystal is centered and straight than eyeballing it and hoping for the best! I know that doesn't work for pressing/driving in large oil seals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Hike, why did you "brutalize" that poor watch!!?? You're meaner to 'em than I am!! I suspect you might be missing something or need to "pookey" the crystal in. Does the Milsub have a "click" bezel? If not, the O-ring probably puts tension/rubs on the bottom of the bezel to keep it in place after rotating to desired position. I've never figured out why the crystals aren't set with clear RTV as it's waterproof, lasts for years, and quite strong. Look at the big chunks of glass on racquet-ball courts and they are bonded edgewise with the stuff. I don't see what would be wrong with setting in a crystal like this with RTV, installing bezel to get everything centered, let it cure, remove bezel and trim off excess with a scalpel... You should see what I did to the dial....it will gross you out! I picked up a few diff. kinds of glue that I'll try.....we'll see what happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 I've ordered some dials that look similar to that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 I can't wait.....set one of those aside for me, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbh Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 I'm no expert but after replacing plastic crystals in several older Rolexes, I haven't seen any gaskets or o-rings, at least not on Datejusts or Explorer models. I was under the impression you used ultra violet curing glue, which is crystal clear and dries in a few minutes with either direct sunlight or a UV lamp. Available on eBay or Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 I hope they look more or less correct, the watch pictures I "browsed" were fairly small. I don't even want to think about how many of these things I'm gonna have ot eat if there is anything seriously "incorrect" about 'em! I even found a [picture of a dial that the top line on the bottom was red in what looked "middle-eastern"! Maybe a rep of Osama's watch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Well, I picked mine from Hobby Lobby and they're suppose to be waterproof when cured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 KBH, that's interesting. I've not had any apart that had plastic crystals. So, let's say I wastrying to brew up a more vintage looking sub I could get one of the domed plexi crystals and just glue it in? I'm liking the sound of that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 You got a crystal at Hobby Lobby!!?? Kewl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 J....I think you could only put T-series plastic crystals on the older models....maybe before the 90's? Not exactly sure! Not the crystals! The GLUE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention! From being a machinist, hot-rodder (in a past life), and motorcycle restorer I've found yhat just about anything can be made to fit anywhere if you are determined enough! I just got in another "cheap sub" this morning that's itchin' to be vandalized. When the vintage dials get in (I'm trying to get some cheap riveted bands, too) I'll root through ofrei's catalog for a "tropic" plexi crystal and get to work on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Offshore, do you have an ISBN (should be on back cover)? Amazon does not pull up anything relevant when searching on the title... Oh, hackR, those two tutorials didn't really tell me much more than I'd figured out but it seems there must be a better techique for ensuring the crystal is centered and straight than eyeballing it and hoping for the best! I know that doesn't work for pressing/driving in large oil seals! No, not that sophisticated I'm afraid. His business is Florida Watch and Jewelers Supply. I think a few here have dealt with him for crystals. Norman Helfand.I can't find a web link but there was one at one time.He had traded on ebay, but can't find that link either. Re glue, I use Loctite 358, works a charm. O/S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention! From being a machinist, hot-rodder (in a past life), and motorcycle restorer I've found yhat just about anything can be made to fit anywhere if you are determined enough! I just got in another "cheap sub" this morning that's itchin' to be vandalized. When the vintage dials get in (I'm trying to get some cheap riveted bands, too) I'll root through ofrei's catalog for a "tropic" plexi crystal and get to work on it... I was at Ofrei earlier and found some tropics there! Go to the Rolex section! Could you pls send me some pix of the riveted bands if you have them? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 I don't have them yet, but I have requested a few if my "source" can get them and I'll post you a pic. It's through the same channel I get my dials from. I've looked at some of the Rolex crystals at ofrei but they are for particular Rolex case styles, part numbers, etc. I wish they were broken down in height and diameter! Oh, OK, I see the tropic 19s have diameters but the others don't... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 ooops...sori can't help you there! BTW: on the riveted bracelets, let me know if you like them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 I personally think they look kinda cheap and,rather, industrial from pictures I've seen. I just sent a couple of pics of the band and clasp and he told me he'd see what he could find. I'm more interested in non-SEL Sub bands and "modern" sub bands. He did find the DSSD bands w/Glide-Lock clasp but they're rather pricey... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Ive installed crystals while the white casket was on the crystal and i've installed the gasket first then pressed the crystal into it...both have worked well, I believe installing the crystal INTO the gasket after installing the gasket in the case to be the correct way. A lot of people change out the gasket after reinstalling the crystal due to it bending or warping and not holding its shape precisely, causing water to possibly leak in the case through humidity. I can see how installing a new gasket is a good idea but *may be* overkill for a simple reinstall unless you really damage the gasket. link to helfands ebay store as it was mentioned in this thread: http://myworld.ebay.ca/helfands/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 highoeyazmuhudee, thanks. I like having some spare gaskets on hand but ofrei is out of them and say 4-5 weeks for that size! If I had a diamond wheel (like for polishing stones) I'd be really tempted to grind the slightest hint of a bevel on the inner edge to help it get started easier. I'll just have to be super careful when I put the correct crystal back in my "cheaper 'n' dirt" no-date... Too bad, helfands no longer a registered user... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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