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Hello everybody, I'm glad to be part of this forum, its nice to see a lot of people really interested on watch repairing together, since i'm from Mexico and there's almost no one interested on watches in general and even less interested on watch servicing and repairing. I've bought some vintage watches to start learning this art, and its really exciting. I've bought some tools of on amazon and other tools I've made them myself (some of those tools either are expensive or they don't sell them in my country). So happy to have all of you people here willing to help

Less than 1 hr using a rotary tool. Don't even think doing it without.

I think I had better change the crystal, possibly with the right methods and product the crystal could be made to look better, it would need many hours of hard work. I am now thinking get the best crystal I can find and fit it and keeping the old crystal.

To be fair looks like there is a semi-circular crack @8 in the picture above, that can't be repaired. Other scuffs and scratches are not a big deal.

Ceriumoxide or diamondpaste is used for removing the last scratches on the mineral crystals. Before that you have to use wet and dry sandpaper to remove the deep scratches. It's a lot of work. I have used the kleinwatches crystal a lot of times and have never had any problems with fitting them. Both fit well and look like the original. Never tested the sternkreuz but have had a few problems with 6139 that was fitted with acrylic AM crystals. And SK gaskets aren't that good. If the original gasket is in good and it's in one piece? Use that. Seiko crystal gasket are usually okay.

+1, crystals and cases can be polished. You need the techniwque and the right tools, there are many videos on how this can be done correctly.

It's not a matter of miracles but using the correct products and technique. If you haven't restored a crystal (or anything else on watch) before, you can't know. You can search "polish watch crystal" on this forum, or on Google, or on YouTube, there are many examples, although some are wrong.

Wouldn't be right avoiding costly experiments and preserving original parts when possible?

Wouldn't it just need the matching SK crystal gasket ?

I would be cautious using these: The 330.821 IS a Sternkreuz crystal but it is slightly over-sized in both diameter and height. Several fellows have had issues trying to fit this into some watches.Seiko's EC3340B04 gasket DOES NOT interchange with the long D/Cd EC3260B04. Trust me, I tried this years ago, prior to discovering the huge amount of incorrect info on Borel's pages. http://www.thewatchsite.com/21-japanese-watch-discussion-forum/26281-need-gasket-part-number-seiko-auto-chrono-6139-601x.html As mentioned already, best approach is to restore the original crystal.

Hi M. Frias, I too am new to this forum. I have great respect for Mark and what he has contributed to novice and experienced watchmakers on his website here. Learning from others will be a huge boost to your growth. Time will be the best teacher as you learn how much of and what's just right regarding watch repair. This goes for pressure being applied, oil being applied, selecting the right tool at the right time, etc. The fact that you have an interest in a location where you describe as not being much of a market for watch repair, says alot about you and your desire and motivation! Good Best of luck to you, George

Jules Borel lists the SternKreuz XMD 330.821 as a replacement. Cousins does them for £22.95 plus vat and are in stock.

I think you will have to pay more to get a original Seiko crystal i am afraid. They are as rare as dinosaurs in Sweden.

You need to remove the bezel. That is pretty easy. There is a little slot up around the 12 . Where the red meets the blue. Lift the bezel and the crystal poops out. There is the crystal and then the gasket. A spacer and a wavy ring . Then the inner bezel. You need to find the correct crystal. Which is a 330W18GN00. kleinwatches has some nice AM crystal that looks like the original. Don't go for a cheap crystal. They are often to low and would catch the chronograph hand.

Hi M Frias, Nice of you to come in. I am just an amateur watch repairer as a passtime. You will get the best expert help here. Good to hear that you have made some tools as well. Go carefully and good luck with the vintage watches. Best regards from the UK to you. Mike. Adios amigo.

Light scratches, easy to polish. The bezel is probably impossible to find original. The rest seems good enough. I would worry more about repairing the movement, give it to a specialist, do not try yourself.

By the way - this is not old, I remember many years ago when cousins had a sales counter in Romford. I went in with a huge order. Had everything laid out on the counter ready to pay including a calypso water resistance testing machine. About a grands worth of invoice. Remembered I needed a part for a watch I had in my possession but I had neglected to write it down. I just needed to borrow a case knife to take the back off and get the calibers number of the movement - they adamantly refused to let me borrow their case knife which was not new and just right there. On that occasion they lost my business for more than 10 years!