Breaking down the Screw Down Crown - Watch and Learn #71 

Thanks for taking the time to explain this part. I guess I never really gave the screw down crown much thought. From now i will take a little more care in using it !!!

I’ve learned so much in this vid post. Wondered why about the crown wobble! Keep the Watch and Learn coming.

Brilliant! This alone solved almost all my questions and concerns about my various watches. Thank you so much!

Received my SKX today. Its my 2nd diver (if you can count the 1961 LLD). I have a Ventura and a regular Seiko, so you cab see my surprise with the crown, I thought I might break it. 10 minutes of a pleasant video and I’m much wiser. Thank you very much, Mark. I subscribed. Impressive stuff. Keep it up! Regards from Czech. :)

Great video, Marc. I used it to reply to a thread by someone worried about damaging the stem when they screw in the crown.

Thanks for this. I never believed that crown wobble was anything to be freaked out about. So many people think it's a defect in design or manufacture.

This was awesome, perfectly explained and it answered all the questions i would have wanted to ask, as this is something i've wondered about for ages. Thanks Mark.

Hi, when screwing down the crown, how tight should it be? My worry is I might damage the gasket.

you solve my concern. i thought my orient kamasu crown broken because it is wobble. but now i get the answer and it is totally fine. thank you sir 👍🏻 much love from Malaysia 🇲🇾

Learned something once again. Thanks for the informaton Mark! Hope to see more of these Watch and Learn videos from you. Happy Holidays!

Very helpful video. Always wondered how the screw down assembly works. Thanks Marc!

Excellent video. I did indeed have a question for you though. Can you think of why a screw down diver's crown being too tight would cause the watch (quartz movement) to stop? I have a watch that does this at around 5 to 20 past 7. It's like the hands catch on the glass (if not each other) because of some sort of deformation due to the increased pressure. But from what you're saying the crown not impart any extra pressure on the stem nor advance further into the mechanism. I'm curious to hear your opinion as to what might be going on. No watchmaker or jeweller has thus far been able to repair it. There was harness around the mechanism which I deliberately put a small split in myself which improved the situation - made the watch less sensitive to the "over" screwing down. But the problem persists. Edit: why not just be gentle screwing down the crown, you might ask. It's incredibly difficult to gauge the difference between too tight and having it spring open.

Very happy to see the watch & learns back. There's so much going on that I would not otherwise be aware of were it not for your content! Thanks very much for what you do!

Very educational -- thank you, Marc!

Very interesting. Thanks for showing!

What is the potential issue if the crown tube is coming off the case with the crown still threaded to it?

Thanks Mark.

Nice video 👍, but I have a Question, is it a good idea to put some fine oli on the screw down crown?

Good information Marc! Thanks!👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

If it is 100 meters waterproof and you wash with the crown pulled to the second position is any problem?

i over tightened my crown and now it won't screw fully it just keeps spinning

Hi Mark, great video. I have a Tag Heuer 4000 and I cannot tighten the crown. Any idea on what parts I need and can you recommend a parts supplier. Thanks

If I need to fit the crown with a new stem (since I replaced the movement) how do I get the stem off that crown spring mechanism so that I can put the new crown on and lock it down? Is that even possible?

Marc, I recently purchased one of your islander watches with the dual time bezel. Do you have a video on how to use the dual time bezel? Thanks

I have an old Body Glove watch with a screw down crown that stops the movement when screwed down partially. The mall watch repair shop said it wasn't repairable. Is that true?

I can hear sound while I screw in my crown on my preowned marathon gsar. The screw requires much more force than I had with my Helm Vanuatu. Any ideas?

My crown won't pop back in any advise its a tag heuer aquarqcer

Hello Marc. Crown-wobble,, most divers I have had in my hand has a bit of a wobble. My bright yellow Vostok Kommenderski has a bit more then others, Vostok is like that. When I unscrew the crown on mine it kind of hangs on a slant....

Good video Marc, thanks. Question: my DOXA only requires half a turn to lock down the crown whereas most of my other divers require from 3-4 turns. I don’t feel that the DOXA crown is really securely locked notwithstanding your assurance that it will not negatively impact water resistance. The DOXA has an ETA 2824-2 movement???

Top great for help!

So all the time the crown is screwed down a very small amount of pressure is pushing the stem against the movement

How do you remove the crown and the stem?????? You just skipped the most important part! What the heck??

Seiko is a trash watch?

I don't like screw down crown... much easier usual crown

Second!

Never stop doing these Watch and Learns. It's refreshing to see how these things work with the demonstration right on camera.

Hello sir thanks for this amazing viedo. Is there a way to glue back together the stem and the crown in case they get apart?

Hi Mark, FEA engineer here. For the crown DOFs I think you mean 3 fixed translational and one fixed rotational (axial - fixed relative to the stem), with the other two rotations free. Had a consulting job doing forging simulations on crowns a couple of years back, and am working on case forging now. You wouldn't believe how many operations it takes just to make the crown. Cheers.

Another great video on screw down crowns. Just a question. Can one overtighten a screw down crown? With my previous watches, TAG Hauer, Christopher Ward, I have always tightened them securely to the point where they butt up against the collar and have had no problems with sealing. However, I have just acquired a new SMITHS Everest and the instructions say that you should only screw down until you feel the crown gasket engage with the tube. It is not necessary to screw it down hard until it touches the case, saying that damage may occur if screwed down too hard. This was a little strange to me, since with my other watches, mentioned above, I tightened the crowns down securely and never had a problem. However, unfortunately water has entered the watch, also misting up the glass. Fortunately, the situation was salvaged before any damage occurred. The watch was only immersed in a tub of water for about 10 minutes, so nothing excessive. I am now reluctant to get the watch wet, although water resistant to 100metres. Could it be a damaged crown gasket? and I am not sure how far to tighten it. My gut feel is to tighten it securely, with the tube and crown contact not allowing further tightening as with my previous watches. Obviously, I don't apply excessive force when screwing down. Your comments on this would be much appreciated. Thanks, James

As a watch novice I really appreciate your watch and learn videos. Thank you!

Thanks this is a great demonstration. It really shows that the only benefit to screw down crowns for water resistance is that it prevents the crown from getting bumped open while under water. I think high water resistance and screw down crowns tend to go hand in hand because if they engineer good seals in the crown they’ll likely also add a screw down crown. Seiko push crowns tend to be very water resistant. Where as a brand like Hamilton gets flooded from rainwater. It’s all about the design, tolerances, and quality of the seals.

I own some Russian Vostok Amphibia watches which also have a wobble on the screw down winding crown; this was designed in to de-couple the winding crown from the movement: therefore any shock to the crown will not be transmitted to the movement.

How tight is tight enough when screwing down the crown? Thanks

Great video. Simple concept and yet so much I didn't know. I have a question... I have a few watches that feel like they are still "hand-winding" as I screw in the crown. Do I understand correctly that the stem might be too short, and therefor the crown doesn't have enough "travel" to disengage the stem? Thanks!

I just got a watch yesterday, and never knew about screw down crowns. I accidentally pulled it out with plyers. Now it won't set the date, and struggles with setting the time. Ive opened the watch and have a big mess. Plz help!!!

Crown wobble - you're a patient man with all the wannabe engineers out there Marc! Keep up the good work sir!

Hey Mark, Very good video explaining how this all works. I have a couple of watch modding questions related to this. I got a knockoff SKX013 case I plan to migrate my SNK809 into, dial and all. I've got a new stem for it (two actually, in case I stuff one up), but I'm now concerned about putting the screw down crown together. Would I just assemble it and affix the crown to the spring at the end of the assembly using the same Loctite I'd normally use to secure a crown to a stem? Also, is there any specific way to measure the stem length vs how you would measure it for a non-screw down crown? Cheers

One tip for avoiding cross-treading your watch crown is to push the crown in while (at the same time) turning it counter-clockwise until you feel it click away from the thread and then its properly seated onto the thread for screwing it (clockwise) into the watch without misthreading it.

Great video! I actually have an Orient Triton and this video clearly explains why I have a slight 'wobble'. It's nothing to worry about and I've seen several reviews of this watch that pick on that 'niggle'... Guess they need to watch your video too!

Mark, do you recommend screwing it down every time? I don't dive, and I am afraid it will wear the thread.

Hi Mark! What adhesive do I use to stick the crown back in place? Is superglue okay?

Thank you! I thought my watch was broken, this was helpful

Mark, thank you for taking the time to explain this. I never gave it much thought until I tried to upgrade an old SKX I had last year. Completely ruined it in the process.

Any chance we can learn about how push buttons look like inside and how they're water resistant?

@Mark, I have a question about a slightly gritty, slightly rough crown feeling when UNSCREWING a screw down crown: Could a somewhat rough feeling come from the spring inside the crown and not from some rough crown threads as usual? Or put differently: Is the spring inside the crown in contact with any moving part while unscrewing the crown? Thanks a lot. Thanks for the cool video!

Excellent tutorial, very informative thanks. I just purchased a Luminox Master Carbon Seal watch with a screw-down crown. Given, the stem does not move further inward when the crown is being screwed back in, is there any fear / possibility of over-tightening the crown and breaking / damaging anything / damaging the crown itself? I mean how tight is tight enough for it to remain waterproof, (I know the usual advice with any screw is to tighten it till you feel solid resistance, but as we all know that what can be considered as 'tight' can be be subjective from one person to another...

I have a watch with a crown that has about a millimeter gap between the case and the crown when screwed down, is this something that can be fixed by a repair shop?

I have a Deep Blue Juggernaut IV dive watch with an SW200 movement and the crown no longer screws down. It's still springy but it won't catch threads when I try to screw it down. It just pops back out. It seems like something is stripped. I wore the watch pretty seldomly so I'm surprised it broke so easily. Is this an expensive fix?

If you are putting that screwdown crown assembly together, what glue do you use to permanently hold the crown on? Can it be put back together with glue? Or would you have to replace the assembly?

I own a Invicta 29179, with NH35a movement. at night I take it off leave it on the table then when I wake up, it slows 5 or six seconda during the night. I wear it during the day and it speeds up 5 seconds while I wear it. At night, I repeat the same routine every day. during a month, every day al 22:00 I take a reading (compare wit GMT time)and record it. during a month, found out that it has an error of 10 seconds I mean a month, Ist that COSC standards?

Great video, question for you..Say you have the crown in the unscrewed position and you accidentally pulled on the crown thinking there was another setting position but wasn't. What stress/damage could be done? Watch still works as intended and functions the way it should, just curious to know if this could lead to a problem or am I over thinking.

I have an Invicta pro diver, ETA mvt. And the crown will not wind the spring; seems as though the stem is trying to drive a gear that has stripped. How do you suggest I proceed… in your opinion, is the watch worth fixing..or is it a pricy fix? Is Is the company’s reputation good about service/❤

Hi, I was gifted a Diesel DZ1610 couple of years ago. Unfortunately the crown is snapped and I don’t know whether it’s a pull push or screw crown, and no clue on the size, would you be to help please, I so much want it up and running.

Hard to believe that skinny little stem can do so much. Thanks Marc!

Hi Mark. Can you tell me where I can find a battery clamp micro screw for a TAG Heuer Aquaracer (CAN1010.BA0821)?

I don't feel the 'click' anymore on my skx013 when I go to 1st and 2nd position... What could be wrong!?!

I have experienced that when screwing down the crown on some watches I've made that when tight it will stop the watch. in order for the watch to run I would need to leave the crown loose. Back off a turn or two in order for the watch to start running again. Why is this happening?

I've been wearing dive watches on and off for 15 years and never understood how that crown worked. Thanks for this!

Hi everyone! My watch crown is not pushing in and I hear very loud noises of the rotor. It's an automatic watch. Can anybody help?

That crown wobbling drove me nuts. Thanks for explaining it. Don't know how I haven't figured it out by myself. Although I must say that on my Omega Seamaster Professional it doesn't wobble even when unscrewed, probably there is another mechanism to keep it steady.

What is the main different between screw down crown and pull push watch...i want to know how can i find this is screw down crown or this is pull push watch please tell me i didn't know that so...

my orient kamasu crown fail off in first day and i don't know if it's fixable because the crown fall alone and the stem staid inside the watch can someone help me with this?

Can the glue on the island watch melt sitting in the sun at, for example, 110 degrees Fahrenheit ambient?

Great video! Very educational on these little details of these wonderful machines...if you simply think how much engineering is going on...Cheers V.

I just received my Islander 01 and I understand exactly why you made this video. The Islander takes twice as many turns to screw in as an SKX which seems odd at first and I'm sure you have gotten many questions about it. Thank you, now I understand. I am extremely happy with my purchase and I have recommended the Islander to many people.

Look at all the fibers getting into the movement and gasket 😂😂😂 get silk gloves the link the swiss watch ADs

great vid

I literally thought I broke the screw down crown of my mom's rolex datejust watch 😱

great video thanks! did you use a soldering iron to reheat the glue to reattach the crown ?

Can you make a crown replacement for orient ray 2? The factory crown is terrible to operate.

watch crown wont snap into locked place seems crown release gate is missing ???? please help

What is we store the watch for a long period of time? Do we leave the crown screwed down or unscrewed?

Well came to learn how to set the time on my new watch - and absolutely still none the wiser🙄.

What a great video! Thank you very much! 👍

I have a helluva time getting my skx crown to start on the threads is this normal?

Never thought I'd be gleefully devouring mechanical watch maintenance vids but you are a sheer pleasure to listen to sir and you do truly appreciate these micro marvels of Art. Wait, God forbid, and see how very, very interested digital watch owners will be to get a hold of a mechanical automatic if an EMP/solar flare fries their little chips! God forbid, Amen.

can you repair loose screw thread locking?

Informative as usual! Thanks Marc!

is there a way to repair the thread? Mine may be stripped and cannot crew in the crow.

"hit the stem release"?...why didn't you show that step?

Can i ask where you got that clock in the background?

Great tutorial, I always enjoy them ! I have a question though, it seem I’ve seen screw down crowns with an “O” ring on the crown tube, and also heard mention of crowns with a “gasket” in them which seats on the end of the crown tube (?), do different manufacturers have different ways of sealing ? And is it to avoid patent infringement?

I hate screw down crowns...

Can you install a screw down crown on an nh35?

Great video! Thank you for addressing crown wobble with a screw down crown! What about crown wobble on a push/pull crown? Does this mean it's loose from the stem?

I didn’t even know there was 2 clicks

fantastic video! Answered so many questions.

I have a Hamilton and the crown just sheared off while I was winding it. It was past warranty and the dealer I bought it from was no help. My local watch repair guy said it was not well made.

Great video, and it answered all my questions. Thanks!

very helpful