If you could only have one...

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TropicConnie

·Aug 26, 2020

You have the choice between two identical vintage watches - exactly which reference is irrelevant since this is purely hypothetical, so use your imagination and imagine your grails.

One of the watches has the original crystal, but a generic crown, the other has the original crown but a generic crystal.

Which would you choose?

 

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kip595

·Aug 26, 2020

If it's in good condition, original crown example.

 

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gbesq

·Aug 26, 2020

kip595

If it's in good condition, original crown example.

Same.

 

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NikolShep

·Aug 26, 2020

Original crown.

 

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arkman

·Aug 26, 2020

Ditto.

 

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TropicConnie

·Aug 26, 2020

I tend to agree with everyone this far, despite the fact that a working crown is in many instances easier to find than an exactly fitting crystal. Curious to see if the consensus stands.

 

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Marsimaxam

·Aug 26, 2020

No brainer... original crown

 

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X350 XJR

·Aug 26, 2020·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Crown.

Much more obvious than a crystal.

 

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STANDY

·Aug 26, 2020·schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector

Crown always.

TropicConnie

I tend to agree with everyone this far, despite the fact that a working crown is in many instances easier to find than an exactly fitting crystal. Curious to see if the consensus stands.

Try finding a 10 sided Constellation crown 😗

Has been easier and quicker to find crystals on many references than correct crowns in my opinion.

 

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apsm100

·Aug 26, 2020·Noob taxpayer

Honestly an original Memovox (E855) crystal is pretty damn nice...

 

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alefar

·Aug 27, 2020

Original crown for sure!

 

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SteinsonOmega

·Aug 27, 2020

Definitely original crown.

 

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Tonyash

·Aug 27, 2020

Surely depends on watch and parts situation?.
I had my grandfathers Lanco dress watch serviced, crystal was shot and needed a new crown. Finding another crystal that looked correct and fit the oblong case was a frankly Herculean task. The crown however is a fairly common vintage crown and was easily replaced. In this case crystal.
On my first execution Heuer Carrera it would be crown, no brainer, original early unmarked large crowns for winding with driving gloves are significant in their unavailability. Crown.

Edited: Aug 27, 2020

 

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kaapstadflaneur

·Aug 27, 2020

Crown, especially for a gold or gold-plated watch. Can be tough to find gold crowns that exactly match the tone/alloy of the gold, especially for vintage pieces.

 

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efauser

·Aug 27, 2020

Since this is hypothetical, I'd choose both and put the original crystal on the watch with original crown.

 

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Twocats

·Aug 27, 2020·Married... with children

efauser

Since this is hypothetical, I'd choose both and put the original crystal on the watch with original crown.

A man after my own heart 😀

 

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Franco

·Aug 27, 2020

Totally depends on the model/reference, and which part is the easier to source original.

 

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LesXL

·Aug 27, 2020

Crown

 

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Zapatta

·Aug 28, 2020

It depends on model, but mostly correct crown. Im having hard time finding correct crown for my 2943.. 🙁