In today's video I answer a viewers comment about how to install an Acrylic Watch Crystal using a Chinese Crystal Press. Watchmakers Tools. Links mentioned in video: Is Polywatch the best Crystal Polish? • Is Polywatch the BEST ...
This video answered categorically the question I had! I have this press which I bought for case backs but i'm destined to replace a couple of crystals with two watches purchased recently, they are on their way! Thanks heaps :)
Ha, looks like I wasn't the only one curious how you get it done with that press. Really cool! Kinda makes me wish I hadn't also picked up the GS press, but oh well! 😂
@@watchasilearn So today I finally tried to insert a wristwatch crystal but couldn't. I came back here to closely watch your press in operation and discovered while mine has a slightly different design, it also had an issue with it's factory assembly that prevented it from closing enough to bend a crystal, thus why it had only worked as a rigid press for me. I reassembled it properly and it's usable. Thanks again
Hi: I bought the same red gaged to hopefully reapply the snap on back to my watch but not sure how to use it.Can you show another vid on how to correctly reapply the back to my watch. Thanks
Or you can buy an old GS chest that has a nice installation tool built into the chest and it works with a pedal. It also has all of the sleeves and is usually full of plastiv GS crystals.
Nice vids! I have an old Westclox Pocket Ben that runs well but I'm not sure of the correct direction to turn the crown when setting the time, as I don't want to damage the mechanism. When setting the time should the hands be moving clockwise or counterclockwise? Thanks.
I’m not sure about that particular watch but in general you want to turn the hands in the direction that they would turn during to normal operation of the watch…so clockwise. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
My acrylic crystal has a compression ring. Would the same apply? BTW many thanks for spreading your knowledge.The manner with witch you explain watchmaking helps me understand not only how but why I should do things.
I want to say “Yes”, this press can be used with tension rings however I don’t have any first hand experience with those types of crystals. Thanks for the kind words, I’m so glad you found it helpful!!
You should not do this like the video does for a crystal with a compression ring. I just learned my lesson and cracked my crystal instantly. Of course the author here warns not having tried this and so do others. So just for anyone else searching later: For my Seiko 6106 I found just pressing the crystal in as if it didn’t have a tension ring (case on bottom, crystal on top, press into it with a Delrin ring a little under the diameter of the compression or tension ring) works perfectly fine.
I don't believe so. This press actually flexes the acrylic crystal effectively making it smaller so it can fit inside the bezel. Sapphire crystals don't flex, they shatter. Thanks for watching!!
So I've actually ordered from a few places. Ofrei.com and Esslinger.com are places that I have had success with. There are others such as Cas-Ker and Jules Borel that I've heard are good.
I wouldn't use this one on a crystal with a tension ring. takes too much force and your crystal will yield first. Also prob a good idea to put a piece of film between the crystal and press, both sides. I think the nylon could be harder than the acrylic and imo Chinese tools have horrendous finishing - lotta burs.
I never claimed this would be a good way to install a crystal with a tension ring. Also, at approx. 3:20 into the video I commented that I usually use a piece of plastic between the crystal and the press insert to avoid scratches but for clarity of the demonstration I left it out. And as far as this tool goes, the finishing is pretty decent. No burrs noted. Thanks for watching!!
I get irritated by people who just can't be bothered to search for anything on their own. And it's not enough to ask someone on his WRT forum to take 5 seconds to post a link, or explain its usage in a single sentence. I see this tool used in practically every watch restoration video on RU-vid.
