Community Stories

help with acrylic crystals

jonathanjacks
Posts
70
Likes
22
hi my 1940s omega arrived today and i love it. the crystal is a bit scratched up and i’d like to get a new one. i’d ideally have one without such a large dome on it. i was wondering if one can buy a replacement crystal that is shorter than the current one? i don’t know if it would interfere with the hands or not. i just prefer the way the ones that aren’t as proud look and would sit much better on the case. i’m not sure if this one is original or not. the case ref is 2495 and i’ve seen another thread that states the omega piece number: 062PN1043
hope someone can help thanks
 
jonathanjacks
Posts
70
Likes
22
Dan S Dan S
Have you asked your watchmaker?
no i haven’t, probably a good place to start. i’m just looking at flat top glasses in the same diameter seems like it should fit but i’m not sure. will get in contact with a watchmaker thanks
 
OllieOnTheRocks
Posts
1,274
Likes
2,831
If you have a vernier calliper you can take this crystal out, measure the void and go on cousins website to buy generic acrylic low dome crystals in that size. I would buy 2 in the size you measured plus two 0.2mm wider this way if the first one is too loose you can fit the bigger one. These can often be push fit with your fingers. Or take it to a watch maker and they’ll do it for you for very little money.
 
jonathanjacks
Posts
70
Likes
22
OllieOnTheRocks OllieOnTheRocks
If you have a vernier calliper you can take this crystal out, measure the void and go on cousins website to buy generic acrylic low dome crystals in that size. I would buy 2 in the size you measured plus two 0.2mm wider this way if the first one is too loose you can fit the bigger one. These can often be push fit with your fingers. Or take it to a watch maker and they’ll do it for you for very little money.
ok good idea thanks, what do you mean by the void? also will i have to take the tension ring into consideration?
thanks
 
OllieOnTheRocks
Posts
1,274
Likes
2,831
jonathanjacks jonathanjacks
ok good idea thanks, what do you mean by the void? also will i have to take the tension ring into consideration?
thanks
This does not look like a waterproof model that would have a tension ring. I might be wrong though. If it has a screwback case it will likely have a tension ring and this will need a crystal press to fit.
 
jonathanjacks
Posts
70
Likes
22
OllieOnTheRocks OllieOnTheRocks
This does not look like a waterproof model that would have a tension ring. I might be wrong though. If it has a screwback case it will likely have a tension ring and this will need a crystal press to fit.
ok thanks it’s just a snapback case
 
Franco
Posts
565
Likes
740
Cousins has a number of low dome options, as said above. If you can’t fit it by pressing by Hans, you may need a watch press, which you can use both to fit crystal and to close push backs

60F7B123-6279-41C0-8969-A425E46C4AB8.jpeg
 
jonathanjacks
Posts
70
Likes
22
Franco Franco
Cousins has a number of low dome options, as said above. If you can’t fit it by pressing by Hans, you may need a watch press, which you can use both to fit crystal and to close push backs

60F7B123-6279-41C0-8969-A425E46C4AB8.jpeg
would one of these lifts work?
 
OllieOnTheRocks
Posts
1,274
Likes
2,831
jonathanjacks jonathanjacks
would one of these lifts work?
Because the current crystal is a high dome, there should be enough purchase as it were for one of these tools to grasp onto it to remove. It may not be useful to insert a low dome though because it would just slip off. I have a bergeon ones of these and they can be very useful.

But unless you’re doing this kind of work on watches all the time I wouldn’t bother buying these tools as it will be cheaper for a one off trip to your watchmaker and of course less risky. I generally have a rule. The more I love a watch, the less I “tinker” with it. ☺️
 
Franco
Posts
565
Likes
740
That one will work only if there is enough lateral to get a grip - and compressing then till dome up and get out. But if it is very flat, it won't grip:

IMG_4362.jpg
 
jonathanjacks
Posts
70
Likes
22
Franco Franco
That one will work only if there is enough lateral to get a grip - and compressing then till dome up and get out. But if it is very flat, it won't grip:

IMG_4362.jpg
ok i see thank you, so if i’m using a press will i need to get a crystal that is more true to size? since it is recommended to get a slightly larger one when using a lift. the diameter of the crystal is 30.35mm so i was going to buy a 30.4 but also a 30.6 to ensure a tight fit however if the crystal is not being squeezed by the lift tool should i just get a 30.4
 
Franco
Posts
565
Likes
740
Personally I would buy both and see how it goes, but a professional may advice you better than I can.
 
connieseamaster
Posts
1,372
Likes
1,996
Before you go through the trouble and risk of trying to replace the crystal, have you tried just polishing out the scratches with Novus or Polywatch. For about $15 and an hour of your time, you can work wonders on an acrylic crystal.
 
Franco
Posts
565
Likes
740
The reason why he wants to change it is because that crystal is too proud of the watch, not because it is scratched.

Have had watches where the previous owner had the crystal replaced during service, and the watchmaker used a crystal of the right diameter, but ridiculously proud of the watch, adding 2-3 mm to the thickness
 
OllieOnTheRocks
Posts
1,274
Likes
2,831
[but
Franco Franco
The reason why he wants to change it is because that crystal is too proud of the watch, not because it is scratched.

Have had watches where the previous owner had the crystal replaced during service, and the watchmaker used a crystal of the right diameter, but ridiculously proud of the watch, adding 2-3 mm to the thickness

Same, I replace more crystals than I save. I like my watches as thin as possible.
 
kaplan
Posts
2,455
Likes
2,816
One of the top things I like about Omega's is their thick crystals
 
jonathanjacks
Posts
70
Likes
22
Franco Franco
The reason why he wants to change it is because that crystal is too proud of the watch, not because it is scratched.

Have had watches where the previous owner had the crystal replaced during service, and the watchmaker used a crystal of the right diameter, but ridiculously proud of the watch, adding 2-3 mm to the thickness
yes exactly, ideally i’d have a nice low domed sapphire in there, flush with the bezel but that won’t fit
 
Franco
Posts
565
Likes
740
Sapphire would be not in the history of this watch. A low domed plexy is age- correct, sapphire crystals were not used in the 40s-50s

And, replying to Kaplan, these crystals have never been thick, nor is the one in the watch by the OP. It is just the wrong shape.
 
17 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

gbesq

Does Anyone Know Whether Generic Acrylic Crystals Are Available With Antireflective Coating?

gbesq Open Discussion
JwRosenthal
JwRosenthal
Posts
3
Views
494
kaplan

PSA: Don't mix Ammonia + Acrylic Crystals (And other cleaning agents can expose surface cracks)

kaplan Watchmaking
ExpiredWatchdog
ExpiredWatchdog
Posts
11
Views
2K
Omarrye

Help With Acrylic Crystal

Omarrye Other Watch Brands Forum
SkunkPrince
SkunkPrince
Posts
10
Views
726
V

Help with watch identification please.

Vlad_Bl Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
cristos71
cristos71
Posts
6
Views
2K
lenndon

Help with my Omega Constellation 568.0019

lenndon Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
lenndon
lenndon
Posts
7
Views
2K
F

Help with verification and diferentiation Omega 7320.34.XX

FelipeOM Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
F
FelipeOM
Posts
0
Views
766