Seiko dive watch crystal replacement advice

pretorius

I've watched many tutorial videos on this so I think I know what I'm doing, but I'm running into some trouble, so would like some advice.

I managed to get the current cracked crystal out of the watch. I measured it, or what's left of it, and it measured 30.7mm diameter x 3.04mm thickness, so that's what I ordered from eBay. When I tried to put the new one into the case though, the thing just didn't go in, but just cracked instead. I tried inserting it from both directions - outside in and inside out.

Questions are:

  1. Should I be pressing the new crystal into the case from outside in or inside out? What's the correct method for a diver watch? This is what I want to know the most, because it might be the main problem.

  2. Would a 30.6mm be a more appropriate choice? My guess is no but maybe it will fit perfectly? What do you think? (There is a gasket inside the case that sits below the crystal, if that makes any difference in answering this question.)

  3. The crystal press tool I have isn't a nice one. It's some China-made POS that came as part of a kit. Could that be the weak link in the process?

Please share your thoughts. Any constructive advice is appreciated!

Cheers!

#replacement #seikodiver #adviceneeded #advice #crystal
Reply
Beanna
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https://youtu.be/T0Zqit4r0wM?si=Mb9LVebHkeVyPSOa

pretorius
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Beanna

https://youtu.be/T0Zqit4r0wM?si=Mb9LVebHkeVyPSOa

I'll watch this again, paying better attention this time, hopefully. 👍

pretorius
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For those of you "in the know" is the crystal size I'm looking for a common one? Most of the replacement ones I'm finding are around 1mm thick, whereas this is 3.04mm when measured with calipers!

Is that a normal size to have?

pretorius
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pretorius

I'll watch this again, paying better attention this time, hopefully. 👍

OK, thing to note:

  • Crystal removal was done from inside out

  • New crystal insertion was done from outside in

pretorius
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Image

It might help to see the watch I'm working with! The movement and old crystal have already been removed.