How are the crystals removed from these replica watches? I'm assuming they are probably glued in. I have one that the cyclops is a couple of degrees off from being perfectly centered over the date window.
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Crystal "adjustment"
- Thread starter jmb
- Start date
May very well be wrong but believe that the crystals are pushed out from the inside and that normally don't have any cement but if so there is a special crystal cement.
If it is just the date cyclops you may be able to adjust this by warming the glue and then moving. I've never tried it but think I read a comment from someone on here saying that this is possible.
A search in the tutorials will probably throw up a guide as this is a fairly common flaw.
If it is just the date cyclops you may be able to adjust this by warming the glue and then moving. I've never tried it but think I read a comment from someone on here saying that this is possible.
A search in the tutorials will probably throw up a guide as this is a fairly common flaw.
What kind of watch. Sapphire crystals are generally pressed in with crystal gasket holding them in place. Plexi's are often glued in.
Most of the crystals are not glued in at all. The only ones I am aware of that use glue are the vintage Rolex's.
98% of the crystals are pressed into a thin plastic gasket (just like the gen versions).
If you are speaking of a Rolex, then you will need to remove the crystal from the watch and the gasket in order to heat it enough to get the UV activated glue to soften. I tried to remove the cyclops from a GMT IIc without removing the crystal once. The heat needed is so great that the gakset started to bubble and then would not seal properly.
I use a soldering iron to heat both sides of the cyrstal (cyclops side and inside) and it still takes a few minutes. KNOW that the crystal will get VERY hot and cannot be touched. And do it in a place where if the cyclops pops off (and when I say pop, think explodes off...) you can find it. AND DONT just pick it up with bare hands!!!
Almost all of the Rolex reps cyclops are slightly off... and most can be made much better by moving them. Get some UV activated clear drying glue to put it back on!
98% of the crystals are pressed into a thin plastic gasket (just like the gen versions).
If you are speaking of a Rolex, then you will need to remove the crystal from the watch and the gasket in order to heat it enough to get the UV activated glue to soften. I tried to remove the cyclops from a GMT IIc without removing the crystal once. The heat needed is so great that the gakset started to bubble and then would not seal properly.
I use a soldering iron to heat both sides of the cyrstal (cyclops side and inside) and it still takes a few minutes. KNOW that the crystal will get VERY hot and cannot be touched. And do it in a place where if the cyclops pops off (and when I say pop, think explodes off...) you can find it. AND DONT just pick it up with bare hands!!!
Almost all of the Rolex reps cyclops are slightly off... and most can be made much better by moving them. Get some UV activated clear drying glue to put it back on!
So, the proper way would be to actually remove and reinstall the cyclops instead of rotating the crystal a couple of degrees? Will the usual suspects, i.e. ofrei et al, have the proper adhesive?
Hope you are feeling better...
Hope you are feeling better...
Proper way for a Datejust is to first pry the bezel off with a small pocket knife blade or a razor blade. If you're very lucky you might get the crystal out from the top since most of what holds the DJ crystal in is the pressure from the bezel. If not you will need to press it out from the inside. Move it to where it looks right and then make sure the gasket is in correct and press it back into the little groove it sits in. Then using a crystal press, press the bezel back down till it touches the case.
I'll need to find some pix of a crystal press so I can build one... [smilie=banghead.gif] But, other than that, it doesn't sound too difficult but will still need to relocate cyclops if it's not centered in the "X" axis after rotating it... Maybe I'll tell the ol' lady it's supposed to look like that - nah, she'd never buy it... [smilie=icon_geek.gif]
Let's see, my first two "easy" jobs are requiring me to build several tools, probably learn how to change hour and minute pinions...
Oh, I just looked for crystal presses on flea-bay and didn't realize they would be that cheap! I figured they'd be some multi-hundred dollar arbor press sort of gizmo. One is on order...
Let's see, my first two "easy" jobs are requiring me to build several tools, probably learn how to change hour and minute pinions...
Oh, I just looked for crystal presses on flea-bay and didn't realize they would be that cheap! I figured they'd be some multi-hundred dollar arbor press sort of gizmo. One is on order...
I've only taken one cyclops off and it wasn't as easy as they make it sound. And I've got soldering irons and brazing torches. It ended up coming off in little pieces. I'd try not to go there if I was you.
By the way, if you have a Harbour Freight store near you, they have a decent crystal press for around $10. They also carry a nice case back opener for <$10.
By the way, if you have a Harbour Freight store near you, they have a decent crystal press for around $10. They also carry a nice case back opener for <$10.
