Replacement Crystal Help

I have this beautiful Seamaster and I would love to swap out the crystal. I took it to my watch repairer and he said the inner fluted ring is part of the original crystal so if I swapped it id lose it (he only looked through the crystal he didn't take it apart)

As this is what makes this watch special was wondering if anyone had seen any of them available as NOS or knew an alternate (or even if that wasn't the case that it is part of the crystal)

First, I would have to admit that there isn't very much to go off of here, because there isn't a clear photo of the ring or the watch as a whole. I would post more photos if you can.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but from what I can tell not much relating to this watch seems "original." It looks like you have a constellation "dog-leg" case with a seamaster dial that was likely too small for the case, so somebody fabricated a fluted ring to make up the difference.

I would guess that this ring is not part of the crystal and either sits around the dial (Glued?) or acts as some sort of retaining ring. Technically, the original crystal for this model would have had a metal retaining ring within the crystal. If the fluted ring is similar to those retaining rings, It can probably be separated and reinstalled on another crystal.

Thanks for that, really interesting now looking at it more closely i see that bezel doesnt sit flush all the way around. It was obtained amongst a group of watches and i was trying to fix it up to sell but will pull it apart and dig a little deeper.

Anything on the back of the case?

DON

No the back is blank, the balance wheel is wrong too. Ill get some pictures. Its a pretty watch overall even if it might be a frankenwatch.

Not a constellation case then. Might not even be an Omega case.

Have you seen the inside of the case back? Should be a reference number. Could be an orphaned movement placed into a custom case

DON