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Popping and re-installing the crystal on the 42mm Exp2


bklm1234

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Mickey Padge asked me to fix up his 42mm Exp2. I'm not covering the 1st part of the fix which was to rotate the dial so it's in the correct x-y axis (Mickey himself did that) and re-attaching the DWO to it (I got my watchsmith partner to do it).

This post is about popping and re-installing the crystal so the cyclop is lined up to the date window.

First, double-tape up the lugs

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Stick a utility blad between the case and the bezel

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Use a mallet to pound the utiltiy blade in like I did on this 39mm exp2

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You'll get a gap when the blade got all the way in

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You can then use a caseback knife to pry off the bezel

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Bezel is now off the case

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You wouldn't scratch the lugs. Scratches are all under the bezel so no problem there

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You need to use a press to press DOWN (not UP) on the crystal to get it out of the bezel. It's very tight.

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Now put back the gut. Line up 12 o'clock to the engraved coronet on the rehaut

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Wipe clean the crystal, fit it on the gasket, put them on the watch

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Crystal and gasket are on the watch squarely

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Position the bezel on the watch

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Press the bezel down with a press

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Finished. But crap!! The bezel shifted. It's not lined up properly to the dial. M***ER F**K*R! Start over.

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Finally done and lined up. This time I was holding the bezel as I advanced the press so it wouldn't shift. Should have done that in the first place.

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Happy modding.

-bk

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