Hey guys,
like many of you I took building a true 1675 very serious and have spend way too many times sourcing parts which are gen spec (I do own a gen 1675 gilt from 1964).
I started my journey with a cheap Milk case set - I would probably not go that route again. The case is okish for the price, but the bezel assembly doesnt fit inserts without sanding them down and the bezel looks pretty bad overall (wrongly polished, too high etc). I did order a 1675 bezel from the german company ernst westphal which is 10x better. Below are some pictures of both bezels (the one installed is the good one from ernst westphal).
Now when it came to crystals I started out with a Clarks t38 (approx 30€). This one proved to be a problem with the 2836 gmt pinion height and the second hand would drag against the crystal - just not enough clearance. This one did look the best out of the cheap options (!) It is mounted on the watch in the last picture but had to be removed for clearance issues.
I then tried a lobtime crystal which is veeery highly domed and doesnt look too good. I ended up purchasing a truedome 38 and the difference is literally night and day. But I guess that's what you get for a crystal that costs 300$. The clarity is insane. Build quality absolutely top notch. It will go onto my gen 1675, but for my next build I would definitely get one again. They are just too good to pass up.
So in essense best crystal -> T38 TrueDome (expensive), then T38 Clarks (cheap but have to watch for correct pinion height clearance).
Bezels -> Ernst westphal is top notch. Unfortunately it doesnt come as full assembly so if anyone knows where to find a good gen spec retainer ring, then let me know.
I know the pictures can be a bit confusing since there are a total of 4 crystals shown (T119 EW, T38 Clarks mounted on last picture, T38 tobtime - mounted right now, super high dome, and T38 TrueDome, shown on the very right when comparing the 3 crystals with highest clarity)
like many of you I took building a true 1675 very serious and have spend way too many times sourcing parts which are gen spec (I do own a gen 1675 gilt from 1964).
I started my journey with a cheap Milk case set - I would probably not go that route again. The case is okish for the price, but the bezel assembly doesnt fit inserts without sanding them down and the bezel looks pretty bad overall (wrongly polished, too high etc). I did order a 1675 bezel from the german company ernst westphal which is 10x better. Below are some pictures of both bezels (the one installed is the good one from ernst westphal).
Now when it came to crystals I started out with a Clarks t38 (approx 30€). This one proved to be a problem with the 2836 gmt pinion height and the second hand would drag against the crystal - just not enough clearance. This one did look the best out of the cheap options (!) It is mounted on the watch in the last picture but had to be removed for clearance issues.
I then tried a lobtime crystal which is veeery highly domed and doesnt look too good. I ended up purchasing a truedome 38 and the difference is literally night and day. But I guess that's what you get for a crystal that costs 300$. The clarity is insane. Build quality absolutely top notch. It will go onto my gen 1675, but for my next build I would definitely get one again. They are just too good to pass up.
So in essense best crystal -> T38 TrueDome (expensive), then T38 Clarks (cheap but have to watch for correct pinion height clearance).
Bezels -> Ernst westphal is top notch. Unfortunately it doesnt come as full assembly so if anyone knows where to find a good gen spec retainer ring, then let me know.
I know the pictures can be a bit confusing since there are a total of 4 crystals shown (T119 EW, T38 Clarks mounted on last picture, T38 tobtime - mounted right now, super high dome, and T38 TrueDome, shown on the very right when comparing the 3 crystals with highest clarity)