Remove AR without removing crystal(pics)

[mattswanson49]

I'm a noobie without any watch tools and I love my new PAM111h. However, the blue AR coating drove me crazy so I decided to tackle the project.
Here is the case with movement removed. I poured some acetone inside and let soak for a few minutes. I used a scotch brite pad and elbow grease to remove as much as I could from the crystal.

After some serious scrubbing, I still had a ring of AR around the edges of the crystal so I used a small screw driver and cut pieces of the Scotch Brite pad. I pressed hard with the screw driver into the pad and scrubbed the edges. This took a while and I repeated the process probably 10 times until I had completely removed the AR coating.

Result

All in all...this process took about an hour. I know a lot of people worry about removing and re-installing the crystal. Now you don't have to.

 

[acharria]

And now what?, are you going to use a new AR? or just using it as it is now?

 

[mattswanson49]

I'm happy with how it looks now.

 

[COLDI]

WOW this is awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Fiddo]

Nifty information. Thanks for posting it.

 

[mattswanson49]

Thanks Coldi. I'll be honest....I had full intentions of popping out the crystal but I couldn't get it to budge. My excitement made me rush into scrubbing and after a minute or so, I had reached the point of no return. I improvised from there and found a nice solution. Again...I'm very happy with the result.

 

[fakemaster]

Without any blue switch will spot it right away.

 

[mattswanson49]

Fakemaster....what do you mean? No AR will prove to be a rep? It has to be better than the glowing blue finish?!?!?

 

[midasmook]

I'm assuming this was a saphire crystal cos I tried the same thing only to find the crystal was mineral and the results are not nice. This was before you had posted this I might add.

 

[fine dd]

I am sorry but i can not recommend your methode.

First it will only work with saphir crystal, please don´t do it with mineral glas.

Second you can not remove the AR from the crystal that is under the watch case.

So you will have in any case a refektion in this area.

 

[takashi]

As fine dd pointed out. This is not recommended and you risk yourself scratching the rehaut finishing.

Still, take out the crystals to remove the AR. On mineral crystal, usage of strong acid solution is highly recommended (the stuff is not off the shelf, you need license to get this thing).

 

[ZBezel]

I had my watch man remove the AR off my 111H today.
($50) He called to ask where I got the watch -I said its a knock-off. (I have a don't tell policy on reps)

If someone can find good AR PAM Sapphires there should be a market.

 

[ziomax]

Great Operation!!

 

[rangers158]

Great try. But not recommended. The scetone might also damage the silicone crystal gasket. And if it is, you might find the crystal coming loose or the watch no longer water proof. Get the crystal out and get proper tools, unless you want to end up with a arts and craft project type of watch.

 

[HB212]

Aren't Cape Cod cloths known for removing the AR on crystals?

 

[DMS]

A liitle steel polish on sapphire does the trick to remove AR! Tried it on my PlopProf and it came out a treat. No scratches.