iceberg1459 Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 dont ask me how i did but i manage to scratch the glass of my explorer 2 with a ballpoint pen.. but how could a pen scratch a sapphire crystal? after some research i found this ballpoint pen balls got a hardness lvl of 9.0-9.1 because of tungsten... and sapphire got 9.0.... is there a way to remove it? or change it? otherwise i want to get rid of it if anybody interested pm me, im sure some modders can swap the crystal or polish.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 no suggestions, tipps or tricks to remove the scratch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I would use some type of light abrasive, like toothpaste, to make sure that it is not something that has been deposited on the crystal. If it is indeed a scratch, you'll need to replace the crystal. (Sapphire cannot be polished without extreme effort and special equipment/supplies). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjfesq Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I would use some type of light abrasive, like toothpaste, to make sure that it is not something that has been deposited on the crystal. If it is indeed a scratch, you'll need to replace the crystal. (Sapphire cannot be polished without extreme effort and special equipment/supplies). That Sucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted August 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 I would use some type of light abrasive, like toothpaste, to make sure that it is not something that has been deposited on the crystal. If it is indeed a scratch, you'll need to replace the crystal. (Sapphire cannot be polished without extreme effort and special equipment/supplies). what do you exactly mean with extreme effort and special equipment? maybe i can buy and do it myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreww Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 I think you would need an optical lens grinder. Forget it, replacing the crystal is the only answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve5793 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I think you would need an optical lens grinder. Forget it, replacing the crystal is the only answer. Greetings all.... I am new to the forum and was lurking through the old posts and stumbled upon this one. I have the same problem; damaged crystal on a rep Exp II. I replaced it with a different watch crystal temporarily, but it doesn't look right (crystal sits too low, cyclops a bit off and the bezel won't seat completely.) My question is; where can I get a replacement crystal that will correctly fit a rep? Thank you in advance for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elprimerozen Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 Forget it, replacing the crystal is the only answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 Greetings all.... I am new to the forum and was lurking through the old posts and stumbled upon this one. I have the same problem; damaged crystal on a rep Exp II. I replaced it with a different watch crystal temporarily, but it doesn't look right (crystal sits too low, cyclops a bit off and the bezel won't seat completely.) My question is; where can I get a replacement crystal that will correctly fit a rep? Thank you in advance for your help! Clarks parts on ebay, OR otto frei... Clarks is cheaper and i think more close to gen. i think clarks is sold by "nostalgia....." something on ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arty909 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 There's just no way to polish a glass crystal for all practical purposes. As a vintage Rollie enthusiast, I find it humororous that many fellow vintage lovers try to duplicate that injury to your watch, to make it look 'more 'vintage'. You're on the right track though; if you can't live with that scratch- sell it on this forum and order a new one from Lawrence for 90 USD shipped. http://www.houseofsouvenirs.com/rolexexplorer_005.htm Good luck, Arty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arty909 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 Here's mine, from Lawrence if you want to see... Arty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve5793 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 There's just no way to polish a glass crystal for all practical purposes. As a vintage Rollie enthusiast, I find it humororous that many fellow vintage lovers try to duplicate that injury to your watch, to make it look 'more 'vintage'. You're on the right track though; if you can't live with that scratch- sell it on this forum and order a new one from Lawrence for 90 USD shipped. http://www.houseofsouvenirs.com/rolexexplorer_005.htm Good luck, Arty I'm not a big fan of that rep from houseofsouvenirs.com. The silver hour markers are way too obvious. I'll just keep my eyes open for a replacement crystal. Thanks for your advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arty909 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I'm not a big fan of that rep from houseofsouvenirs.com. The silver hour markers are way too obvious. I'll just keep my eyes open for a replacement crystal. Thanks for your advice! To each his own. Peace, Arty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chubbchubb Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 @Iceberg... you definitely gotta be more careful with your Expl II crystals..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted October 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 @Iceberg... you definitely gotta be more careful with your Expl II crystals..... ok i tell you the whole story of it at work in company while walking a firend passed near me and the glasses of our watches "knocked" eachtoher and he said " oops, i hope i didnt damage your rolex, is it ok?" and i said "no problem man look" then i grabbed a pencil and striked to glass few times really hard then he was like "wtf lol i thought it was going to break,lol cool" then few secs later i sneakly checked if the glass really ok...but it was too late lol... people say only diamond can scrath sapphire which is WRONG lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 ..... ....people say only diamond can scrath sapphire which is WRONG lol or something just harder than sapphire... Carborundum, or fullerite. diamonds just a good benchmark. i think they advertise sapphire crystal as virtually scartchproof, meaning unless you deliberately try to damage it, during everyday wear you typically wont encounter something that will scartch it during work and play Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow75 Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 I've been able to remove scratches from saphire crystal. Buy this: http://global.ebay.com/gbh/viItem?ItemId=180140036177 And use dremel polishing tool. Scratch is gone in 30min Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) I've been able to remove scratches from saphire crystal. Buy this: http://global.ebay.com/gbh/viItem?ItemId=180140036177 And use dremel polishing tool. Scratch is gone in 30min for that price, just buy a new clarks crystal brand new, less labour, where as the old one may never be the same again. you cant undo something thats missing, you can only grind it down or fill it in. go brand new Edited October 21, 2008 by highoeyazmuhudee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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