Crystal for a vintage Omega

[andrew63]

Hello,

I have a vintage Omega, reference 14708 like in the attached image.

The problem is that the original crystal was cracked and my watchmaker fitted a cheap plexi he had. I would like to find a better one or maybe even original one, but don't know where I can source from within Europe. 

Do someone know what part number I need, if I need one with or without tension ring and where I can find one? Size of glass is 31 mm and watch 35mm without crown. I was thinking if one like this would fit? 

- Sternkreuz ATGH (with ring)

- Sternkreuz Hw (without ring)

Thank you!

Edited December 8, 2021 by andrew63
mistake

[Nucejoe]

I have seen original Omega hologrammed ones for sale on Omega forums.  Sternkreuz is a good too. Sizes are in .02mm  increments, you should make sure to have the right size for this beauty.

[clockboy]

If a cheap plexiglass was fitted then it is highly likely it does nor have a tension ring.  
As Joe says the size is important but after a quick search the Omega hologrammed Crystals are available online for approx £30. 

[andrew63]

Thank you both for the replies. May I ask if you can put the link(s) of the Omega hologrammed Crystals for sale?

[JohnR725]

11 hours ago, andrew63 said:

Omega, reference 14708

I'm assuming you made a clerical error as that's not reference number? It really should be 147.08. The decimal point really is important. Then if you had access to the newer reference listings the actual number would be 147.0008 you really can't do the search without all of the digits it just won't come up.

Then there's the other problem? A lot of times the reference number will come back to a variety of cases with a variety of materials. So whatever I'm looking at now says it's stainless steel ring and yours doesn't look stainless steel? So this requires a slight modifications the part number. 063PZ5184 | GLASS PLEXI ST RING D33.12 . It also has a discrepancy with your dimension because here it's listing it is 33.12. If you change the number to 063PX5184 Then you get the gold ring. But I am concerned about the size discrepancy it's bigger than whatever you think it is. It's also for a watch that has this movement 861.

 

[andrew63]

Hi, sorry, I was missing a digit.

The serial is 14708 4, please see images with the actual watch. It's cal 285 in 18k gold case, 35mm diameter.

Crystal should be 31mm, I have the old one and measured it.

[JohnR725]

It looks like the case reference number really is 14708. It comes back with the following description and if you Google that reference number I did see somebody that had a watch with the 285 movement in that case. Then it came up with information for the crystal number 062PN0314. Cousins drops off part of numbers but comes up with it's not available. Then anywhere else I looked up that reference number no crystals listed only crowns sometimes or even listed as a white crown. Probably because the age and its 18 carats gold probably not a lot of crystals floating around out there and that is providing the numbers are all correct.

055BB14708 | 18CT. 3N YEL. GOLD CASE CAL. 0280

062PN0314 | GLASS PLEXI D31.35 H4.50
GLASS PLEXI D31.35 H4.50

063 DIAMETER D1 :
31.35 MM

DIAM OF THE GLASS SEATING D2 :
30.95 MM

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk&Omega_285

https://www.cousinsuk.com/sku/details/omega-case-parts/pn0314

 

 

[andrew63]

I see.. Would one of these fit correctly maybe?

https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/tension-ring-armoured-watch-glasses

ATG / ATGR 31mm? (not sure what's the differecen between the standard and recessed one)

Edited December 9, 2021 by andrew63

[Nucejoe]

‌The right tool for this task is crystal press. Tension rings often jumps out if you tried it with a crystal lift. 

Anything other than original Omega crystal would devalue your watch.

 

 

[praezis]

I am no Omega specialist at all, but not yet mentioned in this thread: is the case made for a snap-in or for an armoured glass?

Would be the first question before selecting a Sternkreutz glass. Both are not interchangeable.

Frank

[JohnR725]

2 minutes ago, praezis said:

I am no Omega specialist at all, but not yet mentioned in this thread: is the case made for a snap-in or for an armoured glass?

If somebody had looked at the part numbers I had the second number doesn't have a tension ring. Doesn't even mention a color of a ring maybe it's invisible? Looking carefully at the case and its 18 karat gold I'm guessing it doesn't have a ring.

4 minutes ago, praezis said:

Would be the first question before selecting a Sternkreutz glass. Both are not interchangeable

Yes definitely before destroying something it would be nice to make sure we get it right. I wonder what a replacement 18 karat gold case costs?

[andrew63]

So there are more things to consider.. I tried to search by the references you posted @JohnR725, but cannot find anything on google.. This "062PN0314" gives 0 results.

Maybe it would be better to ask a watchmaker what exact glass is needed after he sees the watch, but I was trying to buy the glass first so I can go to watchmaker only once to replace the glass directly.. (I have no good watchmaker close to my home unfortunately and sometimes it happens that they don't have correct glasses themselves).. 

Edited December 9, 2021 by andrew63

[JohnR725]

9 minutes ago, andrew63 said:

I tried to search by the references you posted @JohnR725, but cannot find anything on google.. This "062PN0314" gives 0 results

Yes isn't that weird you can't find the part of online yet I found the part number online don't you find that weird?

Not entirely true though if you do a search for that number on cousins website you get this link

https://www.cousinsuk.com/sku/details/omega-case-parts/pn0314

Notice the description what kind of armored ring does it have?

If you do Google your case number you'll find hints that it does exist but they must automate a lot of them or individuals art popping their backs off looking to buy parts for them they probably just took him to a qualified watchmaker.

How about if we try an experiment? Is the crystal number that I have above correct or not? So let's do a modification of your serial number by one digit. For now are going to look at the first link for 14707 and 18 karat gold nice crystal doesn't appear to have an armored ring below the real question is how similar is it to yours? In other words if the crystal for this has a similar part number to your crystal it gives us a clue that what I found was correct it's a non-tension ring plastic crystal of the size I listed above.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/fs-omega-ref-14707-solid-18k-gold-w-linen-dial.94091/

This website is the idea for the experiment because they had a crystal almost the same number and the serial numbers off by one digit. You get this crystal number PN0316  Very similar to the other crystal number which is what I was curious about

https://www.ofrei.com/page_168.html

You notice the crystal numbers they like to drop off the first digits the actual definition of this crystal is

  062PN0316 | GLASS PLEXI D31.60 H3.00

So we get the important parts here crystal number is very similar to the number I have the size is different though in the height is different. My guess is the P stands for plastic or Plexiglas. The letter N is no armored ring.

You know you can't use this crystal in your watch it's not tall enough and slightly too big in diameter I wouldn't risk it on 18 karat gold case. But I think it does confirm that the number I have above is correct you just need to find somebody with Omega parts access or find an equivalent.If you go for the genuine omega crystal be prepared for sticker shock that is if they sell them at the retail price.

[GleaveandCoLuke]

It is an English gold case.  The case numbers often don't show anything for the crystal.  My guess would be sternkreuz ATG or ATGR 316.  We, and other wholesalers, stock these crystals.  You need to take the old crystal out first and check/measure to be sure.  Measure the diameter.  Then check the gold tension ring on the under side, if it has a tiny cut out/step to make room for the dial then you need ATGR, if not then a normal ATG is fine.  If yopu haven't replaced a crystal before I would take it to someone that has as it is easy to do a lot of damage and you don't want to do this to a gold Omega.  Luke.  (seen hundreds, maybe thousands of omegas for crystals over the years at work).

[praezis]

1 hour ago, GleaveandCoLuke said:

My guess would be sternkreuz ATG or ATGR 316. 

And you take your guess from where?

Armoured (tension ring) glasses were typically used in watertight cases. Here I can see neither a case gasket nor a crown w/ gasket. My counter-guess: a snap-in glass 

Frank

[andrew63]

I think it's correct that the glass should be without a tension ring. I still have the one that was initially replaced and I think it did not have a ring. I was not aware that you cannot use an armoured glass if the watch was not designed for that.

Not sure though if it is the original one for this reference, even if it has the Omega sign in the middle. There are some differences compared to "062PN0314 | GLASS PLEXI D31.35 H4.50" mentioned by John. It's D31.03mm and H3mm (aprox.) - see images.

So, I bought from Cousins:

- HH Sternkreuz 31.2 (HH312) and

- HW Sternkreuz 31.2 (HW312)

Just to have them with me when I go to another watchmaker to replace the one currently fitted on the watch (I don't like that one because I scratched it a little + it has somekind of step and the "Swiss made" on the dial is not visible from all angles + I believe it makes the dial look strange or smaller than it really is).

Edited December 9, 2021 by andrew63

[JohnR725]

4 hours ago, andrew63 said:

I was not aware that you cannot use an armoured glass if the watch was not designed for that.

I was kinda looking forward to seeing you try to use one? That's why made the joke about what does a new case cost. The crystals that have a metal ring usually fit into a much deeper cut into the case. So the entire metal ring is pushing out against the crystal against the case. Makes for a really tight seal as mentioned above basically water resistant we don't use the word waterproof. Your watch is A dress non-waterproof type watch so the crystal is going to fit on a very narrow lip. Your armored ring crystal will look really weird because it's not in far enough and? I'm not even sure there be enough lip to hold it and definitely wouldn't hold it correctly.

Then on one of the Omega discussion groups I was looking at yesterday there is hinting that the early crystals from Omega didn't have the lomega symbol on the crystal zero idea whether that's true or not.

[rodabod]

I’m afraid there are some conflicting pieces of advice in this thread. 

I could be wrong, but this does not appear to be a Dennison-made case (typically 9ct) so I think it’s more like supplied by Omega and not English. No British hallmarks that I can see.

Is the case 3-piece with removable bezel?

Finally, do not make assumptions such as using a crystal press to fit the crystal  you could damage a soft 18ct case if fitting the wrong crystal with the wrong method.

Remove the current crystal and inspect the rebate. I suspect the most likely crystal will be a plain type, but you must determine by studying the watch and measuring it.