Stem broke flush on the crown... Any idea to get the broken stem out of the crown ?

[Valty]

Hello RWG,

 

My WM just said me he broke a stem on my NOS 702 crown, really flush on the crown. I am not really happy about this...

 

Any ideas to remove the broken stem from the crown, considering it's seems impossible to catch the stem ?

 

Needless to say I don't really want to send the crown in the trash

 

Cheers !

 

R.

[Nanuq]

I read once that you can soak it in a solution of alum and that will dissolve out the stem fragment. Better Google that to make sure I'm not misremembering it!

[Nanuq]

Yep here are instructions

http://vintagewatchparts.co.uk/index.php?id=58

[correctime]

Very cool trick.

Thanks for asking and sharing.

[Rolexman]

Yes, I've done it a dozen times. Boil it in the alum water for instant results.

[correctime]

Geez...and a few months back I srapped a nice 703 crown because it had the stem broke off in it.

[mymanmatt]

Yes that does work. I broke a tap off in a sea dweller case, boiled it about 5 min, it came out. However because it was 316 stainless, not 901 stainless like rolex, it pitted the polished part of the case. Next time I will just put the side of the case with the broken tap in, that leaves only 1 side of the case to clean up.

[Valty]

Thanks for the answers guys :-) Very appreciated !!!

 

Just one question, is it better to dismount the crown to remove the spring before trying this ?

[Rolexman]

Soak it in Alum for about a week and it will dissolve the stem. You can buy alum at the grocery store in the spice area.

 Boil it and it takes minutes!

[trackpack]

I'm amazed and shocked that this works and can be done! wow you learn something everyday! I've always cut a small portion of the crown off around the stem to be able to grab the stem and unscrew it, it works but the new stem does not screw in as far(obviously...) 

[spooky driver]

wow why am i only hearing this now?