Jump to content

Recommended Posts

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

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
  • Like 2
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

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.

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.

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.

 

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 ?

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. 🙂 

  • Like 1
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
  • Like 2
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. ?

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 ?

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
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.

  • Like 1
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...
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

  • Like 2
  • 1 month later...
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
  • Like 2

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I’ve been playing with a NH35 movement that which has the classic Etachron regulation system and a few balance assemblies as practice. What I’m trying to do is get comfortable with the effect both the stud and regulator pin positions have on rate and positional error. When I install a new balance assembly I install it with the assembly in place  on the cock and cock is attached to base plate. I use the back of the tweezers to push the stud into place and feel the click. However, I noticed that the angle of the stud can be adjusted and what I also noticed is that some movements have the stud carrier arm bent down a little and that changes the angle of the hairspring leaving the stud. This angle effects how the spring goes through the regulator pins and also the spacing of the coils opposite the stud. What I thought I was supposed to do is set the regulator block in the middle of the curve, open the pins, and use the stud angle to center the spring.  Then the stud is set.  Now on all the new NH movements I have seen the angle of the regulator block is about 60 degrees counter clockwise from full open. I watched a video where the author used the regulator pin adjust to adjust rate and position error. When I close down the pins I do notice that the rate increases but also the amplitude drops, the coil spacing changes and hairspring appears slight straighter between the stud and the regulator block. If I open the pins the amplitude comes back, the spring breathes a bit more between the stud and the regulator block and the rate slows.  So, a long post I know but I would really appreciate any advice on how to correctly adjust the etachron system for rate, amplitude and positional error.   
    • Aw come on Andy, it was just a comparison between spending 30 quid and tackling a tricky piece of work. You appeared to be volunteering,  i volunteer for stuff all the time it gets me into all kinds of trouble.
    • It's not really shown here , but the blade flips over, so it faces the other way. The knob and threaded case holder then pushes the caseback seam into the blade. Once the blade starts to penetrate into it, the lever and blade are lifted , which should hopefully pop the back off. A lot of fashion style cases have very tight seams and need a sharp blade to start separating them.  Don't buy the cheaper plastic versions of this tool, the posts with the pins through for blade holder break easily if the apply extra force to blade. 
    • You will still be looking for a balance complete I’m afraid, this is the balance staff, balance wheel and hairspring in one package. Hairspring and the balance wheel are matched in the factory. Whilst we can change a balance staff the hairspring and balance wheel stay together.   Tom
    • The hairspring end has come adrift from the small terminal barrel.  I have tried to remove the taper pin to relocate it, but the task is beyond my skill set, eyes, hands and being in my 70s, probably beyond my life expectancy.  It is not too badly mangled on the end.  On the ebay offer, that really is a bit on the rich side.  I'll keep looking, maybe a good hairspring will turn up with a shot balance staff. As for time spent on knees.  I made up one of these from 3M magnetic tape and a piece of wood.  It works well for magnetic parts. Other things I have suffered with.  I found lubricants so very expensive that I bought some very small syringes and tiny needles.  I just decant a drop into my oiling pots when I start a movement and the remainder keeps really well in the syringes. Finally identifying the correct screw for the part led me to make up the board in the final pic.   Thanks for the info. Kind regards   Chris  
×
×
  • Create New...