Jump to content

Tension v non tension crystals


Lc130

Recommended Posts

HI All

I'm having trouble finding any type of basic guide to crystals.  Some old scratched ones that I remove have a metal insert and I believe that these are called tension rings.  Is that correct?  Are they also referred to as "armored"?  Some old crystals have no ring.  Question:  if I had just a case without the old crystal how would I know if I needed a replacement with or without the tension ring?  Are they interchangeable? Can I use the crystal claw for either or is a press needed?

Thank you

Charlie

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tension ring (armored) crystals are straight sided, and need to be pressed in. The non-tension ring, or wedge-ledge or whatever the given manufacturer calls them, need to be compressed to snap in. Either the claw tool or a crystal press with a cupped die and pusher for the center of the (interior) of the crystal will work. They aren't interchangeable- though that hasn't stopped people from trying!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you.  Would a GS crystal "ET EVR-TITE"  described as "waterproof with white or yellow rings" be a tension ring.  This is for a late 60's early 70's Seiko 5 with a 6119A movement.  Ordering parts appears to be a hi-level skill in itself!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a note on the claw. If you don't have one already, I'd put off ordering them. They only work with crystals with very vertical, tall sides. In every case I've tried to use one, it's failed, and I've ended up using my press instead. I'm sure there's some situation where they are the better tool, but I haven't found it yet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a note on the claw. If you don't have one already, I'd put off ordering them. They only work with crystals with very vertical, tall sides. In every case I've tried to use one, it's failed, and I've ended up using my press instead. I'm sure there's some situation where they are the better tool, but I haven't found it yet.




I agree. The claw is ideal for non-waterproof crystals that have a a nice tall side wall for the claw to have a good purchase. Those crystals are thinner and easier to compress, mostly I. Dress watches of chronos. I can’t see how the claw could compress a thick water-proof crystal enough to fit in the case. The press is definitely the way to go.

Now there are presses and there are presses! The cheaper you go, the less they pushers align and the higher the risk of cracking crystals.

Cheers!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did buy a Bergeon claw.  As mentioned, it sometimes has a trouble grasping.  I concentrate on wrist watches from the 60s and 70s.  Not sure what qualifies as vintage.

Edited by Lc130
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use a "claw" for compressible crystals. it is in my opinion an excellent tool. I don't have a crystal press, I use my drill press. With the socket from my tool chest that most closely matches the crystal diameter. A plastic bag prevents scratches... All the leverage you could ever need.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have both :

crystal press (since a few months)

- crystal claw (since this morning)

 

I use crystal press to fit all plexis that come "over a rehaut" (vintage Rolex & Tudor style), fixed bezel, retaining rings and crystals fitted with a gasket.

Until today I managed to remove other plexis with a press and to put them back using the hot/cold method (watch case in a cool oven and plexi in the freezer) ... but I cracked some plexi and I even had problem with armored crystals.

 

So I ordered a crystal claw, received it today and tried it on a vintage diver with an armoured plexi.

It worked perfectly (the crack you can see on the plexi was already there when I got the watch) so I'm really happy with that new tool.

 

tqtvf.jpg

 

tq4qX.jpg

 

tqrep.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • As with every skill it watchmaking, it takes practice. Notice at the top of the document it says, "Practical work - 40 hours".  I can get the balance wheels 'close enough' to flat, but never seem to get them perfect. Same with gear wheels. Guess I need more practice.
    • Has it got a beat adjustment on the platform or is it a fixed hairspring? in short what you are looking at to get it just about in beat is to get the roller jewel sitting dead centre between the banking pins. So remove the platform and take of the pallet fork and escape wheel to give you clear line of site, sit the platform with the balance in place and with it level look between the banking pins and see if the roller jewel is sitting between them, if it is nice and central its there or there abouts in beat, if its not the the position of the pinned end of the hairspring needs to be adjusted to move the roller jewel into the correct position, thats why I asked if it has an adjustment on the platform or not, if it has its an easier job. 
    • I've managed to adjust it. I'm going to try and explain it as well as I can with my limited horology knowledge but I hope it helps someone in the future. There is a cam to the right of the front plate as shown in the picture. As the clock ticks along, the pin indicated in the gear comes around and slots into one of the silencer cam gaps, turning the cam. The pin completes a full rotation in 2 hours. To adjust the cam to start at the right time set the clock to just before 7. I did 6:45. Then I turned the silencer cam anticlockwise, which spins freely, until it pushed the silencer lever up and was placed just before the drop. Just before the 7AM indicated in the picture. All I then had to do was progress the hands to 7-7:15which made the pin slot into the silencer cam gap and turn the cam so the lever comes down again, unsilencing the clock. That was it. If anyone comes across this issue again I'd be happy to assist. Thanks again to everyone that helped. Hey Transporter! Thanks a lot for the reply. That was a really good explanation and I'm sure it would have made my troubleshooting a lot less painful haha. I'm sure someone will find it useful in the future. Thank you again for taking the time to try and help me out with this.
    • Now I'm completely confused, it would appear that the epilame  is oleophobic  as @Marc states: This oleophobic  behavior can be seen as beading of the droplet (as above) which stops the oil spreading which is supported by what we observe on treated/untreated cap stones (for example), but as @VWatchie states this should make the drops more mobile and is supported by the literature:   A review on control of droplet motion based on wettability modulation principles design strategies recent progress and applications.pdf   However the hole point is that we have less mobile oil so an oleophobic  would see to be the opposite of what we want. In fact this beading and high mobility are desirable properties in things like smart phone covers, see below.  I am fairly sure that epilame doesn't make the droplets more mobile, so maybe its a strange coating with dual properties that are both oleophobic (beading) and cohesive/adhesive resulting in low mobility?? This may explain the high price??  
    • The description there is exactly how it's done, and it's very well written!
×
×
  • Create New...