Need tips on crystal reposition

[ginopino]

Hi guys, is more than one year and an half that I’n in this hobby and started to do by myself some works on my watches.
One of the thinks I hate most, is a not perfect centered dial and a wrong positioned crystal with his cyclope.

If is an easy fix for the first problem (just open the case and turn the movement a little) doing the same for the crystal looks to me not so simple.

I opened this thread to find hints and instructions about tools and how to use them to remove and install the crystal.

I looked on youtube and other site, but I thought that a new thread here could also help this comunity to grow.

I have to do this work on a TC 16610, it comes from TC with the crystal slightly turned on the right and my eyes always look at this not perfect alignment of cyclope and date hole...

Can someone help?

 

[ginopino]

Really no one?

 

[Rich D]

I’ve done this a couple times, I have just popped crystal back out and repositioned/pressed back in place. Sometimes I get lucky on first try but others I have done 2-3 times to get position right. I’m assuming you have a press tool with proper dies.

 

[Rich D]

I’ve done this a couple times, I have just popped crystal back out and repositioned/pressed back in place. Sometimes I get lucky on first try but others I have done 2-3 times to get position right. I’m assuming you have a press tool with proper dies.

Note; When placing crystal for pressing I use the crown tube as point of reference.

 

[Rich D]

More nerve racking than this is trying to glue a cyclops into position on a completed watch!!

 

[HorFan]

Make a sticky ball of duct tape, sticky side out, same as you would to open a case back. Press this against the crystal, apply a bit of pressure, turn, and you should be able to adjust the seating and correct the alignment.

 

[ginopino]

First of all, thanks for the answers

I’ve done this a couple times, I have just popped crystal back out and repositioned/pressed back in place. Sometimes I get lucky on first try but others I have done 2-3 times to get position right. I’m assuming you have a press tool with proper dies.

Note; When placing crystal for pressing I use the crown tube as point of reference.

And that's the way I would like to do. I've not a press tool at the moment and want to buy one, but would like to understand before what I need to do.
On the 16610 I will remove the bezel... and? Need to remove the bezel assembly and later the crystal? If yes, in wich way the assembly can be removed, I need other tools?
To remove the crystal I have to press from the other side or will pop out easily?

More nerve racking than this is trying to glue a cyclops into position on a completed watch!!

I also thought that, but I'm dealing with a gen crystal and don't want to mess up

Make a sticky ball of duct tape, sticky side out, same as you would to open a case back. Press this against the crystal, apply a bit of pressure, turn, and you should be able to adjust the seating and correct the alignment.

Really? It works on a 16610 case? I mean, with the gasket for impermeability, it can be done?
Maybe I can use the plastic ball also used for open the case back instead of a ball of duct tape?

 

[Nivka]

I replaced the stock crystal with a prof black hole on my tc. Take the bezel assembly off. The hardest part was getting the retaining ring off. I needed to use a couple of razor blades and wedged them in between the midcase then finally used a caseback opener to pry it off. From there it’s pretty much intuitive

 

[ginopino]

I replaced the stock crystal with a prof black hole on my tc. Take the bezel assembly off. The hardest part was getting the retaining ring off. I needed to use a couple of razor blades and wedged them in between the midcase then finally used a caseback opener to pry it off. From there it’s pretty much intuitive

thank you mate.
Maybe the bezel removal tool could help?

 

[Nivka]

I replaced the stock crystal with a prof black hole on my tc. Take the bezel assembly off. The hardest part was getting the retaining ring off. I needed to use a couple of razor blades and wedged them in between the midcase then finally used a caseback opener to pry it off. From there it’s pretty much intuitive

thank you mate.
Maybe the bezel removal tool could help?
View attachment 16813

Lol yes that would help

 

[JackJ1980]

thank you mate.
Maybe the bezel removal tool could help?
View attachment 16813

This is for 6 digits. Not needed really for 5 digits. I’ll make a video and post shortly

 

[JackJ1980]

Hi guys, is more than one year and an half that I’n in this hobby and started to do by myself some works on my watches.
One of the thinks I hate most, is a not perfect centered dial and a wrong positioned crystal with his cyclope.

If is an easy fix for the first problem (just open the case and turn the movement a little) doing the same for the crystal looks to me not so simple.

I opened this thread to find hints and instructions about tools and how to use them to remove and install the crystal.

I looked on youtube and other site, but I thought that a new thread here could also help this comunity to grow.

I have to do this work on a TC 16610, it comes from TC with the crystal slightly turned on the right and my eyes always look at this not perfect alignment of cyclope and date hole...

Can someone help?

https://www.horologyboard.com/threads/complete-bezel-spacer-click-spring-insert-and-crystal-removal-and-installation-for-rolex-5-subs.1274/