Would you expect the crown gasket to be replaced during a full service of a vintage Constellation?

Neeb · Mar 20, 2023

As above. I read somewhere that the gaskets on vintage Omega crowns are somehow not replaceable and that the watches were designed to have the whole crown replaced at service. But I'm pretty sure that my vintage high-end Seikos have always come back from service (from a Seiko specialist) with a new gasket on the old crown.

Davidt · Mar 20, 2023

Depends on the crown. Many vintage Omega crowns aren’t designed to have replaceable gaskets.

Peemacgee · Mar 20, 2023

The simple answer to your question is no.

Some members have posted that they have successfully replaced the crown gasket on a Constellation but they are not designed to be replaced. (So wouldn’t be replaced in a standard service)

Neeb · Mar 20, 2023

OK, good to know. I don't know the details of it but it seems odd that it would be extraordinarily difficult to replace any gasket, even if it wasn't designed to be replaced.

Obviously I'm not going to be immersing any vintage watch in water, but I worry a little about accidental splashing and condensation in humid conditions for a watch that doesn't have any sort of gasket at the crown at all.

X350 XJR · Mar 20, 2023

Neeb
watches were designed to have the whole crown replaced at service

This.

Peemacgee · Mar 20, 2023

If you require more certainty then ask your watchmaker to replace the crown.
Unfortunately some styles of Constellation crowns are no longer available new.

Canuck · Mar 20, 2023

Japanese water resist crowns are totally different animal to the typical water resist crown. The Japanese crown has a small “0” ring which slips on over the neck of the stem. Easy on the Japanese crown, but not so on a regular water resist crown.

Edited to change “neck of the stem” to “neck of the CROWN”!

Neeb · Mar 20, 2023

Canuck
Japanese water resist crowns are totally different animal to the typical water resist crown. The Japanese crown has a small “0” ring which slips on over the neck of the stem. Easy on the Japanese crown, but not so on a regular water resist crown.

Makes total sense - I had noticed the different design of the gasket on my vintage King Seiko crowns.

The more I get into other brands the more I appreciate the practicality of my vintage Seikos..

But I also now feel very lucky to have managed to find a NOS gold-capped crown with intact gasket for my vintage Girard Perregaux.

Archer · Mar 21, 2023

Generally speaking, the only Omega crowns that are designed to have their seals replaced are screw down crowns.

Dan S · Mar 21, 2023

Many vintage Seiko crowns are also not designed to have seals replaced, the seal is captive behind a washer that is crimped in place. However, as well documented on the internet, people have developed a clever way to pop off the washer and remove the seal, so a number of Seiko specialists are willing to replace the seal and washer for a cost.

PlainVanilla · Mar 21, 2023

Archer
Generally speaking, the only Omega crowns that are designed to have their seals replaced are screw down crowns.

American references of Seamaster de Ville have a replaceable crown gasket.

Archer · Mar 21, 2023

PlainVanilla
American references of Seamaster de Ville have a replaceable crown gasket.

That's why I said "generally speaking"...there are almost always exceptions.

PlainVanilla · Mar 21, 2023

Archer
That's why I said "generally speaking"...there are almost always exceptions.

Oh I didn't imply that you were wrong, I just gave another example.

Archer · Mar 21, 2023

PlainVanilla
Oh I didn't imply that you were wrong, I just gave another example.

Can you post photos of this crown? Might be good to show examples of the designs that allow easy replacement.

PlainVanilla · Mar 21, 2023

Archer
Can you post photos of this crown? Might be good to show examples of the designs that allow easy replacement.

I'll post a picture when my watch is back from service.

EDIT: actually you can see the gasket on this picture here:

hoipolloi · Mar 21, 2023

Screenshot_20230321_172512_Samsung Internet.jpg

Doesn't look right to me. The original gasket is square with flat surface.
This one has a round O ring like the cheap ones sold on eBay.

sathomasga · Mar 21, 2023

Not a Constellation, but when I had my Seamaster 30 serviced last year, I specifically asked about replacing the crown gasket. The watchmaker said he could do it, but it would require sourcing a replacement crown, as the crown and gasket weren't separable. Since my gasket didn't show any excess wear, I opted to keep it.

PlainVanilla · Mar 21, 2023

hoipolloi

Doesn't look right to me. The original gasket is square with flat surface.
This one has a round O ring like the cheap ones sold on eBay.

The picture doesn't show but this one has flat surfaces. It will be replaced during service anyway.