Community Stories

where to purchase a watch crystal

jeppe888
Posts
374
Likes
315
Hi
i would really like to expand my skills and i thought being able to change a watch crystal might be my next project.
i already have all the right equipment and a watch where the crystal needs to be changed, but i was wandering where to purchase a new crystal if you are based in Europe (Denmark)
i can find crystals on Ebay or Amazon but the shipment takes several weeks and i will have to pay import tax etc...
any recommendations, or should i just order a crystal on Ebay?
thanks in advance for the help
 
Canuck
Posts
14,135
Likes
40,671
What sort of watch do you plan on changing the crystal on? The equipment that you will require will depend on the watch, the crystal, and how it is fitted. You say you have the equipment. Please elaborate on just what equipment that you have.
 
gbesq
Posts
8,999
Likes
46,216
My sense is that this is not going to end up well . . .
 
sheepdoll
Posts
2,358
Likes
3,754
I have a cheap clone of that tool. There is the tool, and there is knowing how to use the tool...
Yesterday I had to make the choice to attempt using such a tool on an Ladies Geneve dynamic. Or wait a week and get the proper tool off eBay. I chose the latter.

Another thing to look out for. Many vintage watches from the 1890s through the 1950s used Radium. While low level active, if the metal dust from these is consumed bad thing can happen. (Like your teeth falling out. Which is what happens to the ladies who liked their brushes to point them when painting the dials.) There were several times when this happened. Each time management attempted to cover up the issue.

I got a Geiger counter to check for the presence of excessive radiation. Partly after I pointed a black light where some watch parts fell on the floor and the dust glowed. Fortunately this did not set the counter off. But some of my old dials do. In this era one has easy access to masks and gloves.


-j
 
jeppe888
Posts
374
Likes
315
thanks for the answer´s, i have a crystal lift and several "practice" watches so if i a m failing it's no problem at all.

i will of course make sure there is no Radium and be carefull - thanks for the tip.
 
sheepdoll
Posts
2,358
Likes
3,754
Do realize that omega watchs require special tools to replace the crystal. Especially ones like the speedmaster. (Which is why I am hesitant to work on my own speendmaster.) A lot of this style has a metal ring inside the crystal.

Crystal lifts and the cheap lever squeese presses are best used on modern quartz watches when replacing the battery.

-j
 
jeppe888
Posts
374
Likes
315
sheepdoll sheepdoll
Do realize that omega watchs require special tools to replace the crystal. Especially ones like the speedmaster. (Which is why I am hesitant to work on my own speendmaster.) A lot of this style has a metal ring inside the crystal.

Crystal lifts and the cheap lever squeese presses are best used on modern quartz watches when replacing the battery.

-j

yeah i am aware of that
 
Omegafanman
Posts
4,626
Likes
17,549
I think what the OP wanted was guidance on where to source crystals and plexi glass when working on watches as a hobby in Europe.
Cousins would be one option?
They seem set to give it a go and have done some research on the techniques and tools
 
Canuck
Posts
14,135
Likes
40,671
Crystal lifts are a last resort tool, and they are not suitable for many watch crystal replacement jobs. If you would show us the front and edge view of the subject watch, we could possibly help further. Consider having the job done if you have plans for this watch for the future.
 
gbesq
Posts
8,999
Likes
46,216
sheepdoll sheepdoll
I have a cheap clone of that tool. There is the tool, and there is knowing how to use the tool...
Yesterday I had to make the choice to attempt using such a tool on an Ladies Geneve dynamic. Or wait a week and get the proper tool off eBay. I chose the latter.

Another thing to look out for. Many vintage watches from the 1890s through the 1950s used Radium. While low level active, if the metal dust from these is consumed bad thing can happen. (Like your teeth falling out. Which is what happens to the ladies who liked their brushes to point them when painting the dials.) There were several times when this happened. Each time management attempted to cover up the issue.

I got a Geiger counter to check for the presence of excessive radiation. Partly after I pointed a black light where some watch parts fell on the floor and the dust glowed. Fortunately this did not set the counter off. But some of my old dials do. In this era one has easy access to masks and gloves.


-j
Masks and gloves do not stop gamma particles or radon gas and those are the principal dangers from being exposed to radium. You don’t have to ingest or inhale radium dust for it to be dangerous. Gamma radiation passes right through skin and radon gas is odorless. At high enough exposure levels, they will cause radiation sickness. Radium has a half life of 1,600 years, so any watch using radium lume is just as radioactive as it was when it was made. Most gamma radiation is constrained by the watch case as long as the case and crystal are intact, but opening a radium dialed watch without knowing what you are doing is not a good idea. The risk may not be great, but it‘s better to leave it to the professionals.
Edited:
 
AtomicGrog
Posts
123
Likes
72
gbesq gbesq
Masks and gloves do not stop gamma particles or radon gas and those are the principal dangers from being exposed to radium. You don’t have to ingest or inhale radium dust for it to be dangerous. Gamma radiation passes right through skin and radon gas is odorless. At high enough exposure levels, they will cause radiation sickness. Radium has a half life of 1,600 years, so any watch using radium lume is just as radioactive as it was when it was made. Most gamma radiation is constrained by the watch case as long as the case and crystal are intact, but opening a radium dialed watch without knowing what you are doing is not a good idea. The risk may not be great, but it‘s better to leave it to the professionals.

You forgot ',your skin will turn green and you will become muscular and dim witted'
 
gbesq
Posts
8,999
Likes
46,216
AtomicGrog AtomicGrog
You forgot ',your skin will turn green and you will become muscular and dim witted'
And don't forget having to replace your outfit after every transformation. Gets expensive. 😀
 
Omegafanman
Posts
4,626
Likes
17,549
This arrived in the post today …. Someone else using Cousins….
.
 
241959F1-C7A2-4315-AB1C-A28AD2BB4380.jpeg
Canuck
Posts
14,135
Likes
40,671
Omegafanman Omegafanman
This arrived in the post today …. Someone else using Cousins….
.

A crystal lift will not work with a flat mineral crystal.
 
Omegafanman
Posts
4,626
Likes
17,549
jeppe888 jeppe888
Hi
i would really like to expand my skills and i thought being able to change a watch crystal might be my next project.
i already have all the right equipment and a watch where the crystal needs to be changed, but i was wandering where to purchase a new crystal if you are based in Europe (Denmark)
i can find crystals on Ebay or Amazon but the shipment takes several weeks and i will have to pay import tax etc...
any recommendations, or should i just order a crystal on Ebay?
thanks in advance for the help

You might be better to try the MWR website … they will tend to answer the properly posed questions in a direct fashion ;0)
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

B

Omega 1944 30T2SC Watch Crystal & Second Hand

Bigoldal Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
B
Bigoldal
Posts
0
Views
1K
P

Anyone ever purchase a watch from Little Switzerland?

ppk487 Open Discussion
perks713
perks713
Posts
4
Views
2K
Reacher

(Pics) I Where to purchase the correct omega plexus or crystal for my vintage seamaster 600. Model

Reacher Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
STANDY
STANDY
Posts
5
Views
1K
K

HELP - purchase a watch to remember my deceased father

kennyklee Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
NikolShep
NikolShep
Posts
31
Views
5K
C

1998 Omega seamaster pro 300 bezel click spring, where to purchase?

codrock Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Dan S
Dan S
Posts
2
Views
976
Paulomega

General Question about watch Crystal

Paulomega Open Discussion
Paulomega
Paulomega
Posts
4
Views
739