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Tension Ring Crystal Nuance

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RickTock Watch Enthusiast

RickTock

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Hi folks,

I'm hunting down a crystal for an old watch I'm learning from while bringing back to life. It's a manual wind Caravelle from the mid-70s. The acrylic crystal is cracked, so I removed it and see it is equipped with a tension ring (lesson number one for me, as I had not seen crystals with tension rings before). So, I did some measuring and research and see that there are perhaps four varieties of tension-ring-equipped domed acrylic crystals that might be what I need. For the life of me though, I can't figure out which one is for me (or perhaps any of them will work?).

Narrowing crystal manufacturer down to just Sternkreuz, I see the following four options (all in the diameter I need):

Standard.jpg.d16405a5dd917c2479f4652f2b5b60c3.jpgWide.jpg.bc4ad23535fbf17d23cd1d660fc44469.jpgRecessed.jpg.b1b3cfda5b01ba8ee3338622e33343d0.jpgHigh.jpg.6a834278e001c616c2ae67ce3fc0c8ce.jpg

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find specifications (beyond diameter) for any of them (including the Sternkreuz catalogue). Any advice on when you would use one versus another would be most appreciated. 🙂

For reference, measurements of the old crystal and case follow. I think I should order 30.1mm once I settle on the type (leaning toward the High Dome). Thanks for your help!

IMG_1022.jpeg.3acd571ece116990cd23f4449dec7153.jpegIMG_1023.jpeg.e553aa5872005cd475d96178a76be155.jpegIMG_1024.jpeg.11afb60d6e2d93a586660540340b24b3.jpeg

 

 

 

 

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  • 3 months later...
RickTock Watch Enthusiast

RickTock

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Here's an update in case anyone else is mystified by the array of crystal options out there.

I ended up ordering two crystals from Cousins. The Standard and the High Dome. Standard was closest to the OEM crystal in look/shape/height (although just a tiny bit lower) and High Dome was three or four tenths of a millimetre higher.

I installed the High Dome along with a new leather strap. I'll wear the watch for a few days to see how it performs before the movement goes into my servicing queue. Some related photos:

IMG_1259.thumb.jpeg.ccda7f27438849052322c3ed0e79303e.jpegIMG_1260.thumb.jpeg.e4b53f279c2daa94599a3e52892f6955.jpegIMG_1261.thumb.jpeg.10766c7a0f882382f874e306b7384f68.jpegIMG_1262.thumb.jpeg.a9819a27a07f30497345bce1edb25929.jpegIMG_1263.thumb.jpeg.a8c3220344cbb89dd71879f7c1930107.jpeg

And a before / after comparison of the watch:

IMG_0984.thumb.jpg.cc95d570c8ef8826e3955182325f02dc.jpgIMG_1264.thumb.jpeg.ae9e2b5374c2f94f60ac02183ddc0e1b.jpegIMG_1265.thumb.jpeg.e085c0469407261f216891a00f6f471d.jpegIMG_1269.thumb.jpeg.3781cc1f3833130b5de8a68c3a172031.jpeg

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