Help with Gaskets for a Hamilton Cal 64

[gpraceman]

I need some help figuring out appropriate caseback and crown tube gaskets to get for a Hamilton Cal 64 that I got the watch off of Ebay.  It didn't have a caseback gasket at all and the crown tube gasket was all melted.  It was a royal pain to get all of the old crown gasket out.  Maybe those are related to the condition of the crystal.  The inside surface looks like it was subjected to some sort of chemical.  Fortunately, the movement seems to be unaffected.

Caseback Gasket

Not sure if it should have a flat gasket or a round o-ring.  I tried a 33.30 mm x 31.50 mm x 0.5 mm flat gasket and it fit, except it isn't thick enough.  Would it be okay to double stack these gaskets?  The trench seems to be about 0.75mm deep, so I am thinking that I need a gasket closer to 1.0 mm thick.

Crown Gasket

Not sure how to pop off the retaining washer to get a proper o-ring outer diameter.  I measure the washer at about 3.9 mm in diameter.  The crown tube is 2.5 mm in diameter.  The crown is rather deep, so not sure if I'll be needing to double up on o-rings or if there are extra tall ones.  It is a signed crown and in good shape, so I don't want to get a whole new crown.

EDIT:  I found a 3.5 mm x 2.4 mm x 0.5 mm gasket and that fits well for the outer diameter.  Though, it looks like I'd have to stack 3 of these in that crown to fill it up.

Edited October 3, 2024 by gpraceman

[AndyGSi]

47 minutes ago, gpraceman said:

Caseback Gasket

Not sure if it should have a flat gasket or a round o-ring.  I tried a 33.30 mm x 31.50 mm x 0.5 mm flat gasket and it fit, except it isn't thick enough.  Would it be okay to double stack these gaskets?  The trench seems to be about 0.75mm deep, so I am thinking that I need a gasket closer to 1.0 mm thick.

I'd expect this to be an O-Ring and like you said somewhere around 1mm if it's 0.75mm deep.

48 minutes ago, gpraceman said:

Crown Tube Gasket

Not sure how to pop off the retaining washer to get a proper o-ring outer diameter.  I measure the washer at about 3.9 mm in diameter.  The crown tube is 2.5 mm in diameter.  The crown is rather deep, so not sure if I'll be needing to double up on o-rings or if there are extra tall ones.  It is a signed crown and in good shape, so I don't want to get a whole new crown.

EDIT:  I found a 3.5 mm x 2.4 mm x 0.5 mm gasket and that fits well for the outer diameter.  Though, it looks like I'd have to stack 3 of these in that crown to fill it up.

Not sure what you mean here about filling up the crown as the pendant should just press on the O-Ring.

How long is the tube compared to the depth of the crown? 

[gpraceman]

38 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

I'd expect this to be an O-Ring and like you said somewhere around 1mm if it's 0.75mm deep.

Not sure what you mean here about filling up the crown as the pendant should just press on the O-Ring.

How long is the tube compared to the depth of the crown? 

I'm having trouble finding a caseback gasket that would be even close to 1.0 mm thick, at least on the Cousins website.  I might just try double stacking the flat gaskets that I have on hand to see if that works.

The crown tube sticks about 2.0 mm out from the case.  The depth inside the crown seems more than that.  I would think that the ID of the o-ring would fit snug around the outside of the crown tube and the OD would fit snug inside the crown.

[AndyGSi]

8 minutes ago, gpraceman said:

I'm having trouble finding a caseback gasket that would be even close to 1.0 mm thick, at least on the Cousins website.  I might just try double stacking the flat gaskets that I have on hand to see if that works.

The crown tube sticks about 2.0 mm out from the case.  The depth inside the crown seems more than that.  I would think that the ID of the o-ring would fit snug around the outside of the crown tube and the OD would fit snug inside the crown.

The crown could well have just been a flat ring.

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/flat-micro-ring-by-size

[gpraceman]

5 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

The crown could well have just been a flat ring.

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/flat-micro-ring-by-size

I dug out a lot of rubber, so I'm not so sure that there was just some flat washer in there.

[gpraceman]

I found a suitable caseback o-ring at Esslinger that is 0.9 mm thick which looks like it will work out well.

[CYCLOPS]

you will not be able to fit a new o-ring in the crown that fits properly like some Tags, if can't find an original in good gasket shape,   you might have to use a generic stainless crown, generics come in several styles and shape.... back gaskets are easily found in o-ring assortments....

[gpraceman]

On 10/20/2024 at 12:18 PM, CYCLOPS said:

you will not be able to fit a new o-ring in the crown that fits properly like some Tags, if can't find an original in good gasket shape,   you might have to use a generic stainless crown, generics come in several styles and shape.... back gaskets are easily found in o-ring assortments....

I stuffed two crown o-rings that I had into it.  Tried a 3rd, but couldn't get it to sit in there right.  I think it will be sufficient.  The crown was in good shape, so I wanted to keep it.

The 0.9mm thick caseback o-ring that I found at Esslinger worked out perfect.

I just finished up the watch and it turned out well.

After:

Before: (that white stuff is on the inside of the crystal and won't come off)

Edited October 22, 2024 by gpraceman

[CYCLOPS]

I'm glad you were able to insert those crown o-rings but rarely do they seal as well as original, I know there are aftermarket double o-ring crowns if they prove to be unsatisfactory ...it looks almost brand new, great job. 

[gpraceman]

8 hours ago, CYCLOPS said:

I'm glad you were able to insert those crown o-rings but rarely do they seal as well as original, I know there are aftermarket double o-ring crowns if they prove to be unsatisfactory ...it looks almost brand new, great job. 

Not ideal, I know.  But should provide a measure of water protection.  I certainly won't be swimming or showering with it.

It did turn out remarkably well.  My first go round with case refinishing and reluming hands.  Also needed a hairspring repair and the auto rotor was detached from the hub.  What caused that snowing inside the crystal is a mystery.  Seems that it was exposed to some chemical.  The crown gasket was all melted as well.  Fortunately, the dial was in reasonably good shape.

[RichardHarris123]

Was the crystal glued in?

[gpraceman]

5 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Was the crystal glued in?

It was an armored crystal and friction fit.

[RichardHarris123]

I wondered if superglue had been used somewhere and the off-gassing had caused the effect to the crystal. 

[gpraceman]

57 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I wondered if superglue had been used somewhere and the off-gassing had caused the effect to the crystal. 

No apparent glue used on it.  Thankfully, whatever chemical the watch was exposed to only seemed to affect the crystal and the crown gasket.

[CYCLOPS]

I have seen people wipe a lot of different chemicals on their watches in an effort to clean the outside, they are really sad when it dulls the bezel inserts, crystals, etc. on expensive watches....I used to see a lot of Omega melted gaskets too. I am glad yours turned out well, and you are right about not getting wet if can help it.