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Vertex Dirty Dozen crystal

B1N9S
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B1N9S Member

B1N9S

Posted
Posted

Can anyone advise how to remove the crystal from a Vertex DD case ?  I think I need to unscrew an internal retainer ?  It definitely isn't just pushing out.

20240510_113730.jpg

Michael1962 Distinguished Member

Michael1962

Posted
Posted (edited)

Certainly looks like a ring that needs unscrewing in that photo. It definitely looks like a thread above the castellated ring as well. Separate to the caseback ring thread. It even looks to be a smaller diameter. I would expect that. Once undone out of its thread, it should fall out of the case.

Would it be possible to make a tool shaped like a letter H with one side of the H engaging the castellations in the ring and the other side of the H for you to be able to unscrew it using your hand? Making a tool with 6 'legs' to pick up all of the castellations would be a labour of love.

Edited by Michael1962
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Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, B1N9S said:

Can anyone advise how to remove the crystal from a Vertex DD case ?  I think I need to unscrew an internal retainer ?  It definitely isn't just pushing out.

20240510_113730.jpg

Is there a lip above that ring coming towards the back of the case ?

Screenshot_20240512-113932_Samsung Internet.jpg

Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

It does look like a lip, well spotted. 

Cant tell if its a lip or a section of thread. If it is lip, then i can only think that the slotted ring is spacer for the armoured crystal to push up to. There isn't much info out there about www crystals.

1 minute ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Cant tell if its a lip or a section of thread. If it is lip, then i can only think that the slotted ring is spacer for the armoured crystal to push up to. There isn't much info out there about www crystals.

Generally they are popped off with air compression of a sealed case.

rjenkinsgb WRT Addict

rjenkinsgb

Posted
Posted

If you look in the notch to the right & blow that up, it does appear to just be the top ridges of the thread for that ring (smaller than the case back thread), as Michael1962 said.

B1N9S Member

B1N9S

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all the replies.  I'll investigate further.  I never noticed the lip and @Michael1962, I think I will have to form a tool to undo the ring and see what happens.

I'll see if I can get some more pics.

 

Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
37 minutes ago, B1N9S said:

Thanks for all the replies.  I'll investigate further.  I never noticed the lip and @Michael1962, I think I will have to form a tool to undo the ring and see what happens.

I'll see if I can get some more pics.

 

Does the lip stop the notched ring coming out caseback side ?

Michael1962 Distinguished Member

Michael1962

Posted
Posted

I sort of am expecting that ring to push against the rim of the crystal and possibly a seal against the front of the case. Hence everything comes out the back.

Nothing else seems to make sense to me. I am trying to imagine why the crystal would not push out unless the ring needs to be backed off to allow the crystal to be pushed out, but then how does the ring come out?

I am new to stripping watches though and am happy to stand corrected. 🙂 

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B1N9S Member

B1N9S

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Ok.  Update.  Checked under a microscope, there is no lip, it just looks like one.  So, I'm convinced I need to back the ring out.  I'll need to make a tool of some sort.

Edited by B1N9S
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Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, B1N9S said:

Ok.  Update.  Checked under a microscope, there is no lip, it just looks like one.  So, I'm convinced I need to back the ring out.  I'll need to make a tool of some sort.

🤔 so how is this relevant to the crystal coming out. I've never heard of a crystal that comes out through the back. ?

B1N9S Member

B1N9S

Posted
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Posted
7 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

🤔 so how is this relevant to the crystal coming out. I've never heard of a crystal that comes out through the back. ?

I have no idea ?  I'm new to this.  But, there is definitely a locking ring at the rear of the crystal and no detachable bezel on the front of case ?  So, I am guessing you need to back off that ring ?

There must be someone on the forum that has restored one of these ?

Michael1962 Distinguished Member

Michael1962

Posted
Posted (edited)

If the front of the case has no bezel and has an internal diameter less than the outside diameter of the lock ring, there is only one way that the crystal comes out and that is from the back.
You could always smash it and take it out the front. I’m here to help. 😉
Take a photo of the crystal side of the case. 

Edited by Michael1962
Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
33 minutes ago, B1N9S said:

no detachable bezel on the front of case ?  So, I am guessing you need to back off that ring ?

🤔 the crystal doesn't have to fit onto a detachable bezel, it can be pressed into the front of the case. Very curious as to why there is a threaded ring inside though. I do have a record www that i could pull the movement out of but I'm away in just over an hour.

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rehajm Super WRT Addict

rehajm

Posted
Posted (edited)

A couple of pictures of the front…

IMG_1752.thumb.jpeg.0fe62b4c2040704a90c7bf563ba5b74a.jpeg

IMG_1753.thumb.jpeg.affc96289420f0dd6ff11528325f3601.jpeg

Sorry, I’m months away from this one, but…there is an edge to the bezel but I see no obvious signs of previous bezel removal and it is quite thick so it would be difficult to grab an edge on the crystal with a crystal lift. It does look like in/out thru the back…good luck…

Edited by rehajm
  • 4 weeks later...
B1N9S Member

B1N9S

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 5/16/2024 at 11:48 AM, rehajm said:

…then again it could be a recase. 

Yes, I think yours is recased.  The bezel, the case and the crystal look wrong.  Plus it has a bracelet on fixed lugs ?

On 5/21/2024 at 8:24 AM, Michael1962 said:

How did you get on @B1N9S?

Sorry, I've not been on here much.  I tried to unscrew the internal locking ring, but in the end decided to simply keep the original crystal in situ and polish it.  Looks way better and has a nice bit of patina to it.  I have finished the watch now.  Just needs regulating, as it's running a bit fast.

 

 

20240612_192824.jpg

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  • 1 month later...
rehajm Super WRT Addict

rehajm

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 5/12/2024 at 5:00 AM, B1N9S said:

Can anyone advise how to remove the crystal from a Vertex DD case ?  I think I need to unscrew an internal retainer ?  It definitely isn't just pushing out.

20240510_113730.jpg

So the Buren DD also has one of these retainer rings. Mine was stuck and thought I’d find something in my case back tools but most of the nibs are round and taper to the end so are too fat to reach down inside the case. 🙁

Welp, it had been over a week without buying another tool…In the states Amazon sells this Lyecun case back opener: 

IMG_1952.thumb.jpeg.a84a513a0cf649cba9f494da081fb097.jpeg

The nibs are the perfect fit for the notches on the retaining ring…

IMG_1953.thumb.jpeg.1d6ec44102d435ea75ee7be2acdbe56d.jpeg

I unscrewed and reversed the direction of the nibs so the flat end was against the inside of the case. Worked a charm. Perhaps there’s something in your stash of case openers that looks similar?

 

Edited by rehajm
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