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The end of an era


Nanuq

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I took my old Sea Dweller in to the local Rolex AD and had them mount a gen Superdome T-39, the last step in restoring it to all-original condition. They picked the best of my stash of crystals and put 'er together, and boy does she shine!

So yesterday I took her back for a pressure and seals test, and she failed immediately. Huh?? :o He decased the movement and ran the pressure check against the case/back/crystal/crown only, and there was a HUGE leak at the 5:00 position, where the ring compresses the crystal onto the case.

Inspection under a loupe revealed the case, rehaut and retention ring to be in perfect condition, so we concluded that the crystal itself is stiff, perhaps brittle, from age. She's no longer waterproof.

So it's the end of an era. This one served as the diving timer for an instructor and master diver, and has been on the bottom of every sea and ocean for almost 39 years. Now it's time to rest ... no more swimming for the old girl. Although I'll miss knowing that she's ready for anything I can throw at her, she earned it.

dr_wabi.jpg

finished.jpg

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@B

I love the story behind this piece and how you acquired it...

And the fact that I've held it [and attempted to try it on but it wouldn't fit] even makes it that much more special...

Make sure to wear 'er occasionally, she needs the company...

M

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She looks great. I wonder if a newer more "Flexi-Plexi" Superdome (if you can find one) would solve the problem?

I think the point I it wouldn't be stock, but I happen to agree. Get her back up and diving, even if she's wearing a snorkel :)

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well, it's a documented fact that these tropic crystals will develop cracks in the bottom over time, which will make it lose its waterproofness. even NOS super dome crystals have these problems so that's why superdomes are now just for looks only.

link: http://www.network54.com/Forum/207593/message/1253996263/Here+is+the+lowdown+on+domed+crystals..fact+not+fiction..please+read.

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I think the point I it wouldn't be stock, but I happen to agree. Get her back up and diving, even if she's wearing a snorkel :)

Yep, me too. Put in a new crystal and save the old one. I retired after 38 years of service, but I didn't sit on a shelf. Old soldiers don't die, they fade away...

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Don't let a silly little piece of plastic stop you, B :) If the case, retainer and caseback are all okay, then sorting this one out should be a snap.

The best way to pay tribute to it's past is to enjoy it as much as possible in the present. I'd hate to see it go into storage just because of a crystal ;)

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Nanuq - I generally agree that it is probably best to retire the old girl from diving duty, but your experience demonstrates exactly why I left my gen T39 in its packaging & installed 1 of Clark's ($60 superdome) crystals. Fresh meat = good seal (though, with a collectible, just to be safe, I still would not dive with it).

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Ahhhh, scuze me for the false alarm... no way is she going into storage, she's just not going in the water any more!

Just this afternoon she accompanied me up McHugh Peak with the dogs, and we did the long glissade down the snowy couloir above the house. She was covered in snow but hey... that's not really water, eh? ;)

Thanks for the kind words gents. It hurts in a strange way to have "lost" that capability she bore with pride all her life. I guess that's all I was trying to say.

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That dial is in tip top shape. You may just find you enjoy her more now than ever before! :thumbsupsmileyanim:

Roger that, the watchmaker was astounded how perfect the dial and hands are. The nice thing now is, I don't have to lick the crystal to read the time! :tu:

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For some reason, picturing you licking your watch conjures up the image of Jeremy Clarkson licking his new (now ex-) Ford

Speaking of cars, I rolled up to the Rolex AD in my sparkly new vintage Land Rover and when I went inside, Connor said "I just knew that would be you in that Rover."

Hey it makes sense: both are old, both are red, both can be started by hand winding them up, and both idle at 330 rpm. :tu:

(Don't think I'll lick the Rover though)

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Licking the Rover after a cold Winters night in your part of the world would have the same result as the little boy with his tongue frozen to a pole.

It could be worse...

dog_hydrant.jpg

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Great watch, great story - but is it really a "she"? Surely such a tough old cookie is male?

You know, that makes a LOT of sense. :g: It's reliable, dependable, keeps track of time, has never lost a set of keys...

By cracky, she's a HE! :tu:

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