Crystal press advise needed

[Geo]

Consider a screw or a rack operated press, they give a lot more feel than the lever type when gi tying crystals.  The lever type are great for snap on backs.  By the way, I use both.

[Tiktok]

43 minutes ago, Geo said:

Consider a screw or a rack operated press, they give a lot more feel than the lever type when gi tying crystals.  The lever type are great for snap on backs.  By the way, I use both.

I already have a screw press made by robur, the problem is most modern specialist dies supplied by swatch and suchlike are made to fit the bergeon 5500 press, there are also lots of generic dies available like the Rolex bezel dies which will be handy to have at home and even the genuine swatch and breitling stuff is made to go onto the bergeon 5500 press.

I already have all the Rolex, breitling and swatch brand specific stuff supplied for me from the brands at work but I am wanting to build up a few tools for at home, would be nice to have the option of buying the generic dies and have a press they will fit at home, I could never afford the Rolex kit I have at work for myself at home.

[oldhippy]

If the dies are in good condition and  you have a good assortment, I would say this will do the job for you. I was just looking on ebay and descent sturdy ones are quite expensive.   I had many types of glass fitting tools but for tension ring I had two one screw down the other press down and both were very good, if I had to pick one it would be the press down I found the dies were better.

Here is a picture of some of the omega glass fitting and removal tools I had, I would only use for omega watches.

[Legarm]

I have just managed to get a 31 set of Dies for £46.... bargain.

problem is the Flat Die is missing and I can't find out where, or how, to obtain another one. Any ideas?

Also can someone enlighten me as to, how to use the Bakelite dies? especially the domed type.

 

[vinn3]

" inner tension ring".   I have bought a few  wristwatches where the tension ring has been cut.  my guess is this is done so as to use "after market crystals" (older domed plastic).  I use a multi - claw tool to install these types,  any comment?   vinn

[oldhippy]

28 minutes ago, vinn3 said:

" inner tension ring".   I have bought a few  wristwatches where the tension ring has been cut.  my guess is this is done so as to use "after market crystals" (older domed plastic).  I use a multi - claw tool to install these types,  any comment?   vinn

I came across many like that in the past, many had the wrong glass and ring or both.

[bosstaki]

Hi guys, can anybody help me identify this please! I bought at a car boot at the wkd! cheers [emoji3]

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[oldhippy]

Its for putting in and removing low dome watch glasses but the sets of dies are missing. When I was in the business I had two of these and very good they were too. 

Here is a link for you top left picture and bottom left.

 

http://www.watch-batteries.com/jewellers-press-machinery-tools.html

Edited October 7, 2016 by oldhippy

[bosstaki]

Sorry mate! I got these too! [emoji3]


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[bosstaki]

How old will it be mate! Do you know who made them?


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[oldhippy]

First of all that's the dies. Mine were a type of rubber so they didn't mark the glass, yours look as if they have a nice finish around the edges.  Not sure about there age as mine were handed down to me from my master. If I had to guess I'd say 1940's. Yours are made by national I know they also made watch cleaning machines and cleaning fluid and rinse. 

[rodabod]

If I have any sharp edges, I just put masking tape on them. 

[Halvis]

I am also really interested in info on the quality of the chinese 5500.

I have a chinese copy of a Bergeon pressure tester that is of outstanding quality. My guess is that the chinese 5500 is great as well, but it would be helpful to know for sure before buying.

[jdm]

I don't think it's really needed to spend more that 50 on a glass/case press. I've upgrade from a cheap one to this
http://www.watch-tool.de/html/second_hand.php?id=0111gm
It's strong, heavy and works very well.

There is also another from the same seller which is cheaper and should work good because the pillars are lined up with the pressing point.

 

[omgiv]

I am looking to get a new crystal press and was wondering if anyone had any experience with either of these Horotec presses.  I have an old BB style press that has served me well, but I feel like I need to upgrade and get one with more die options.  I like both of these because they have an adjustment screw for final tightening.  I believe that the rack style press is their newer design but couldn't find it on their site.  Any insight would be much appreciated.  Thanks!

[Chopin]

If you want more die options can't you just get a set with more dies ? Aren't these more or less universal as they screw in place ?

Edited May 2, 2017 by Chopin

[omgiv]

That is certainly an option.  The BB crystal press dies are all friction fit and I am not sure if the other dies (Bergeon, Horotec, etc) fit that diameter.  I also am looking to upgrade because the press isn't dead on accurate when closing.  I don't know if it is due to its age or if it was abused at some point.  It isn't off by much but enough to be frustrating when you are trying to install a retaining ring that won't go on straight.

[oldhippy]

I had three types all very good. The middle one I found the dies to be very fragile and would break. 

[clockboy]

For a long while I just used a cheap Chinese crystal tool which worked OK but now I have a array of these tools including the ROBUR and as old hippy says the dies are fragile. However I did purchase some aluminium dies that fit the Robur. The hand held wrench style crystal lift (Mido) tool I have only used once for a low dumb crystal. The crystal lift tool is for high domed tension ring crystals. If you purchase one of these I recommend you purchase a good quality one as the cheap ones need the claws dressing before they work.

ROBUR ALUMINIUM DIES

HAND HELD TOOLPersonally I like the screw down action as it gives more control. Unfortunately there is not one does all tool for crystals. I have however an array of crystal lift/fitting tools see below:

CHINESE LIFT TOOL 

 

CRYSEL LIFT TOOL    

[omgiv]

Thank you gentlemen.  I appreciate the replies. I have had to make my own dies out of delrin before when so haven't been able to find one that would work for my need.  I guess I am looking for a quality tool that would offer good options and last.  Thanks!

[jdm]

I would recommend the 1st type in the OP pictures, or any other which has been shown here.

That is because with a plates and pillars construction with the pillars not in line with the center of the dies, the plates will tend to open up and the action becomes imprecise, but at least the Horotec in 1st pic has another reinforcement tube.

[Watchtime]

II have both the chinese press and the Bergeon Old Hippy has, I use them bothe and they work fine to me.

[oldhippy]

The forth photo from clockboy is similar to one I had for removing and replacing high dome glasses, a must have tool.

Watchtime I didn't have Chinese tools, they weren't around in my time thank goodness.  

[omgiv]

I do have the crystal lift tool and Chinese tool posted.  The Chinese tool is perfect for closing casebacks but I don't trust it for crystals.

[rappeleur]

Hello at all!

 

I have a general question: I use clockboy’s 3rd photo machine for flat glasses and case backs, the 4th for domed crystals, (I have seen a tool similar to the 2nd photo somewhere in my cellar, never made use of it anyway) but as it comes to domed glasses I am a bit helpless. I only have flat dies with the machine from the 3rd photo. But I have A LOT of domed glasses. Once or twice it worked when fitting a deepfrozen glass into a well heated case by hand - but that’s not really prefessional  

So what (affordable) machine (new or used) could you recommend here? Are there special domed dies I have to look for? For a fact, I have no clue, how domed glasses are pressed into place with a machine, I only didi it with plastics (or flat glass) so far.

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

PS How much of the case’s size is added to the glass? E.g. with a 28 mm case: should I use a 28,1 mm glass (in crystal I would use a 28,2 mm) or another size?