Happy St Patrick's day from the emerald Isle!. Wish they were happier circumstances, stay safe. It was you who inspired me down the rabbit hole of horology, thank you. Adrian ☘️☘️
Also as far as MI and EMP for the one you installed. These vintage crystal descriptions are mostly French terms. "mi" as in "mi emp" or "mi concave" means medium or middle and describes the height. "Empire" loosely translated means "up there" or "on top". Empire crystals are raised towards the outer edge and flatten off towards the center. Thought someone could find this helpful.
Thank you, this us very helpful. I have a fusee that has a crystal like that, it's beautiful...it comes up and flattens in the center like a bullseye. I love it!! Ty for explaining!! 🌷
Thank you. When I get motivated I will do more. I have a container with a bunch of pocket watches that need balance staffs and mainsprings replaced. I already worked on those types before and don't like to repeat for the same type but something different might come up. Different is good. That is how we learn.
Watching your vids makes me think it may just be possible for me to fix the half dozen or so watches I have sitting around. Not even going to start with my Bull's Eye. Going straight for a Waltham. 100 or so crystals for $5 at a thrift store and didn't even need the crazy glue it seems. Good stuff you're putting out. ty.
Thank you for the video I have just started to collect and already have over 10 I'm hooked. Crystals were the first issue is tackled i found a guy who custom makes them any size any style new German glass. I have been getting the measurement from the old crystal or the inside edge of the bezel and have press fit three so far no glue and they fit so well its wild. To me as far as i can tell if you have that little lip on the inner track of the bezel then you can press fit as long as the bezel is true and the crystal is the right size. If you go for NOS plastic crystals they are even easier as they bend a bit but glass just looks better.
Lucky you. You have a crystal guy. Maybe I should send you some measurements. Now and then I get one to snap into place. I think I read some place that they used to heat the bezel up a little bit to make it bigger. I don't know how they would handle it then.
Enjoy your videos and you've helped me out a great deal in my new quest to repair watches! Have my grampas Hamilton 18S 925 Sidewinder from 1900 and I'm having a hard time trying to find a crown for it. Got any leads?
Okay, that was just too easy, lol!! Can you post 1 that is more difficult to show us how you deal with something different when it requires a little glue or using a tool to attach one? Tyty, LilyMarlaina
I don't have a tool for this job, and I have glued in crystals before but I didn't think you would need a video on how to do it. You clean the surfaces and then apply the glue to the bezel then insert crystal. The instructions are on the box.
Every thing is fine. Thank you for your concern. I several watches that need fixing and hope to work on one soon. Or maybe I can take the easy way out and do a show and tell.
That is the crystal size. I think the unit of measure is called a Lignes. This crystal confuses me because it is usually one number or a number with a fraction. Hunter case crystals always have two numbers, one for the diameter and another one for the height.
@@bunnspecial Thank you for the quick reply. From what I’m understanding, in the olden days, a watchmaker would heat the bezel to expand it then install the glass crystal. As the bezel cools and contracts, the crystal is “locked” into place. Have you ever tried this method?
@@bunnspecial If I run across someone doing this successfully and find out more specifics, I will let you know. Maybe you have an old bezel lying around to experiment with? 🙂
@@bunnspecial I have a Waterbury made in 1894. Runs well but the pendant will not pull out so I can not set the time. I need some advice. I don’t want to get too rough with it and mess it up until I get some info. I like this little watch. It is like a dollar watch but it has some jewels. I lucked into it and once I got it home , I got really impressed with it. SS case and thick glass crystal. Not something you find here in Texas much. Nor can I take it out of the case without pulling out the pendant.
Now I know how I just need to find a crystal... Lol no, I'm sure it is harder than that. Mine is a hunter watch so the crystal goes on a flimsy pop up bezel that doesn't retain its shape without a glass in, when you unclip it from the main body.
@@bunnspecial yeah someone pointed that out to me, the glass needs to be high enough to allow space for the hands which are almost as high as the bezzle, leaving not a lot of space to the next cover...
I am currently using synthetic watch and clock oil from Nye Lubricants. I wouldn't say that I prefer it, it's just that I got a lot at a low price. I don't know how it stacks up to other oils. I should get some grease also but this is just a hobby.
Hate to say it but that luck you had with that crystal just popping in did no help for those learning how to fit glass pocketwatch crystals. No offense but it's a bummer on our side.
I bought a bunch of crystals from ebay and try them till one fits or will fit with a little material removal. The problem I see with crystals from ebay is that these are the ones that the watchmaker didn't use. The popular ones were used and those are the ones you want.
@@bunnspecial I can definitely understand that. I've been trying to heat up an Illinois pocket watch bezel with my heat gun on the high setting as it sits on an enameled heat plate. I left the heat plate off though. I must not be getting the bezel hot enough. It's a nickel plated bezel. Any tips you can share? The crystal is domed as well as beveled. It's slightly larger and not very old from a company in San Fran ca. They make them. I'm at work would have to let you know the company name if so requested. Thanks for your time.
@@jockoharpo2622 I heard that you are supposed to heat the bezel but how do you handle it when hot? Currently I do it cold. I figure I am stretching the bezel a little bit to fit them in because they don't just drop in.
@@bunnspecial One worked great. It was an Elgin movement I put in a Open face 16s that has the front opening only with the movement frame that pivots outward. It's a Star brand nickel plated case. It laid flat on the hotplate and I gently dropped the crystal down onto it and it fell into place. It cooled and was stuck on t here..
