CWC RN Diver crystal replacement??

Chaps

I have to replace the crystal on a CWC RN Quartz Diver and after a quote of £80 from Silvermans I need to find a cheaper option. The crystal has scratches that are really noticeable, distract from the watch and can be felt with my nail so poly watch is not really a option.

Bit of a pain but I am thinking of buying a replacement crystal and gasket (plus tool) and trying to do the job myself and wondered if there is any first hand advise on TZ. Worst I can surely do is knacker the movement and guessing they must be pretty cheap.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, I need to get this sorted.

Many thanks in advance.

Paul

I will watch this thread with interest but surely for 80 quid a watchmaker could fit a sapphire crystal?

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I think replacement is the logical step forward. I have read internet stories of people removing scratches with a dremel, but this comes with a heavy warning - if you apply too much pressure or keep it going too long the crystal can over heat and shatter. Very much a job for someone who knows what they are doing.

As you say, Polywatch won't touch it, but with this being a specialist watch who else is going to sell the replacement crystals. The obvious comment is search the internet and e-bay and see if you can find an aftermarket replacement on the cheap and get a local watchmaker to switch it for you.

Given the price rises by Silvermans even paying the £80 might be a reasonable option if all else fails.

Thanks for those swift ones chaps.

Am I being tight thinking 80 quid is too much, they are pressure testing as well which is something I can not obviously do if I carry out a cheaper repair.

Also I guess if I did the work I could not guarantee it and it would mean if I flipped the watch the price would have to reflect this.

Ummm, tricky.

I paid over £50 for a glass replacement on my Pulsar military chrono with no pressure test so £80 doesn't sound outrageous. I wouldn't risk the DIY route but would admire you for trying!


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For 80 pounds I'd do it myself honestly, it's not a complex job if you know what you're doing, then again I dabble with DIY watchmaking.

What type of crystal does your watch have ? Is it hardlex/mineral crystal ? That one's as cheap as 10 pounds or so... You can get a press for another 20... Just saying... But I'm not advising if you don't know what you're doing as bad things might happen.

There are also homemade pressure tests that can be done. I think I remember someone using some bottles and tubes or something like that...

Personally I'd pay the £80 and get someone to do the job and know it's been done properly ..... if it bothers you that much it's a small price to pay I think.

I came to the same conclusion with mine that I gouged on an engine room hatch - ended up selling for £230 to allow for someone else to swap the crystal. I was amused when it appeared on SC for £300 the other day :unconscious:

Many thanks chaps for all your thoughts.

Well, my view is this is going to be an expensive watchmaker job rather than me risk damaging the watch further. I would not be comfortable selling the watch on either for anything like what I have paid for it with the damage or a DIY repair, its not what TZ is all about.

If I left as is I would not keep the watch and I would have to make allowance for the £80 repair when listed. Ummmm......decisions decisions......


Pitch

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pitch3110

I have to replace the crystal on a CWC RN Quartz Diver and after a quote of £80 from Silvermans I need to find a cheaper option. The crystal has scratches that are really noticeable, distract from the watch and can be felt with my nail so poly watch is not really a option.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pitch3110

Well, my view is this is going to be an expensive watchmaker job rather than me risk damaging the watch further.

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It seems to me that £80 for this job is not particularly excessive.

If you can take it to Sean McNeill in Piccadilly Circus Tube Station then he might well be able to do the job (and do it well) for less than £80[1] but I would have thought that most repairers would be in the £50-£100 range, mostly at the higher end. As ever, you're really paying for someone's skill and experience, and I think this is worth paying for.



Footnote:-
1: I am guessing. Don't blame me if he charges more than that! :-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by markrlondon

Footnote:-
1: I am guessing. Don't blame me if he charges more than that! :-)

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Was going to hold you personally responsible ;-))))

The votes are stacking up further that £80 is not an out of the way price to pay. Not a great outcome on a new purchase..

Thanks again

Pitch

Just leave the crystal until the case looks like this.....

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...1B192ECCEC.jpg


........ it's what they're made for. ;-)

The cost depends on the complexity of the job. No idea how much the crystal costs, if it's special to the watch it'll cost a few ££££ but if it's a standard one it'll be fairly cheap. There's also the gasket which may need replacing too.

Commercial repairers have a business to run; tools and equipment cost money, they have all the overheads to consider, even the time taken to pack the item and post it back out. also, consider the fact that if they weren't fixing your relatively cheap watch they'd be making more money servicing something expensive. Rightly or wrongly that's the reality,

Pressure testing gives some assurance that the watch won`t leak. However, if the glass is the correct size and the gasket's OK (or replaced) it's not going to leak.

For some people this isn`t a difficult job, for others it is. People's capabilities with watches varies hugely.

Paul

Quote:

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Originally Posted by magirus

Just leave the crystal until the case looks like this.....

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...1B192ECCEC.jpg


........ it's what they're made for. ;-)

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When I get home I will post a pic up of the scratched crystal, you may want to make me an offer, it will match that case a treat. 😂😂😂😂😂

Here goes, hardly visible ???

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/t...AA33B9FB0D.jpg

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/t...4E92C0C79A.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pitch3110

Thanks for those swift ones chaps.

Am I being tight thinking 80 quid is too much, they are pressure testing as well which is something I can not obviously do if I carry out a cheaper repair.

Also I guess if I did the work I could not guarantee it and it would mean if I flipped the watch the price would have to reflect this.

Ummm, tricky.

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Do you want to know how much I paid for my glass to be replaced on my Patek 5712? including pressure test and 2 years warranty.

Have a guess.

1, £100.00
2, £300.00
3, £457.90

^^^ Is that mineral glass or acrylic?

I thought that RN Divers were mineral but it looks like acrylic. If it is acrylic then I am sure you could polish it out quite quickly.

^^ they're mineral, Mark. Mine has an annoying scratch. I'd really like to replace it with a sapphire as the watch itself is one of the most satisfying I own and definitely a keeper.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fords

Do you want to know how much I paid for my glass to be replaced on my Patek 5712? including pressure test and 2 years warranty.

Have a guess.

1, £100.00
2, £300.00
3, £457.90

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1. ????

Bet the money is mine with that guess 🙄🙄

Just to rub salt in the wound here it is before I had the accident...

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...allasey+runner

Quote:

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Originally Posted by draftsmann

^^ they're mineral, Mark. Mine has an annoying scratch. I'd really like to replace it with a sapphire as the watch itself is one of the most satisfying I own and definitely a keeper.

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Ah, that's annoying. :-(

Yep £100 dabs all done in 6 hours.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fords

Yep £100 dabs all done in 6 hours.

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you are kidding???? Do they do CWC's on the quiet?????

Pitch

Actually £80 + the dreaded, all organised over the phone, shapphire crystal ordered date set dropped off at 11.30 picked up 17.30 all done, they did say I was a special customer, or was it we'll do it because he's special.