Replacement Crystal for an Orient watch

[JohnL]

Hi All,

An Orient from eBay landed on the doorstep yesterday. It was purchased without a crystal as I thought replacing the crystal was going to be a relatively straightforward task, however I'm now loosing what little remains of my hair.

I thought it would be a matter of measuring the front of the watch case and getting a gasket and glass to fit, but I now see that the recess for the glass using an 'i' gasket should be vertical, however this has a reasonably deep indent below the lip of the opening for the crystal. The 07.mm values are rough at best, they were taken from pressing a piece of Rodico into the case and measuring the moulding.

My question I suppose is: would anyone be able to advise what sort of glass is supposed to go into this case? I haven't been able to find much in the way of a list of crystal sizes against Orient cases, and I can't even see what the case model on this is. I thought it was a 469WB7-73, but having seen that on the caseback of other models that looks like a red herring. It could well, of course, be fake. 

All the best,

John

[AndyGSi]

Is the bezel removeable?

Edit

The reason I ask is that I expect it's an underlay acrylic.

Edited December 20, 2024 by AndyGSi

[JohnL]

1 hour ago, AndyGSi said:

Is the bezel removeable?

Hi, 

Thank you very much for that. My hopes were very briefly up there. Though unfortunately the bezel isn't removable. When taking a couple of shots to post here I have, however, now seen a  thin groove running around the upper edge which I hadn't seen previously. 

The internal diameter rim to rim with a vernier calipers is pretty much bang on 30.0

John

Edited December 20, 2024 by JohnL
Additional detail

[AndyGSi]

Can you remove the back and show us the movement?

[JohnL]

[AndyGSi]

So the movement is correct but must have special day and date dials for their location.

I've been unable to find a similar version to see what the lens should look like so expect you'll have
look at a standard domed acrylic or maybe one with a tension ring as being the easiest to fit.

Edit

You may get away with an I Ring and a flat crystal depending on the clearance for the hands?

Edited December 20, 2024 by AndyGSi

[JohnL]

Thanks Andy, I haven't been able to find anything similar either. Perhaps if I take out the movement I'll see something such as the seat for the crystal being screwed in. I have my doubts, but worth a look. 

Thanks again,

John

Found some pictures of the watch with a crystal. Orient em5g

No sign of a gasket

[AndyGSi]

13 hours ago, JohnL said:

Found some pictures of the watch with a crystal. Orient em5g

No sign of a gasket

Just seen your edit and it looks like an I Ring to me.

[JohnL]

Hi Andy,

 

I was looking at this again earlier this morning and I was wondering that as well. I'll order one and a couple of crystals. It's worth a check.

Thank you very much for all your help, very much appreciated,

John

[AndyGSi]

15 minutes ago, JohnL said:

Hi Andy,

 

I was looking at this again earlier this morning and I was wondering that as well. I'll order one and a couple of crystals. It's worth a check.

Thank you very much for all your help, very much appreciated,

John

What size rings and crystals are you thinking?

[JohnL]

7 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

What size rings and crystals are you thinking?

30.0 and 30.1 i gaskets in a 0.8 and 29.2, 29.3 & 29.4 crystals 1.3mm. Two in the 29.3 to cover the bases. I measured the depth of the recess and I think it's between 1.1 and 1.2mm

[AndyGSi]

2 minutes ago, JohnL said:

30.0 and 30.1 i gaskets in a 0.8 and 29.2, 29.3 & 29.4 crystals 1.3mm. Two in the 29.3 to cover the bases. I measured the depth of the recess and I think it's between 1.1 and 1.2mm

OK 0.8 rings are designed for 1mm crystals and from your original sketch I'd thought 1.2 ring.

Looking at the one for sale it looks like the crystal stands proud but I suppose that's down to your preference.

[JohnL]

I did wonder about a 1.2 ring, but I thought it might stand proud of the case after re-measuring. I thought I'd err on the side of caution. I can throw another onto the order  I got the impression from looking at other Orients that the crystal often stands slightly proud of the case. Again, I thought I'd err on the side of caution: better .1 or .2 mm proud of the case than below it. 

I'll put it through shortly and hopefully it will arrive before the new year. Even if there is a slight issue with the height of the gaskets or crystals it will still confirm an i gasket is required and where to go from there. That's still a win.

[JohnL]

A quick followup: A 30.0x29.3  i gasket 0.8mm high (Sternkreuz) and a 1.3mm 29.3 mineral glass (Cousins) Worked a treat. 

[8lackie]

I know I'm a bit late to this party. But I wanted to say @JohnL I love the Rodico hack. I'm currently trying to replace the crystal on a Yema Rallye Mario Andretti and of course it's giving me fits. So reading this thread is encouraging and helpful.

Also this thread is worth its weight in hair springs, esp @Neverenoughwatches suggestion of using the sternkreuz catalogue.

 

Edited February 23 by 8lackie

[JohnL]

2 minutes ago, 8lackie said:

I love the Rodico hack.

You've very welcome. I'm just going to say that the 'Rodico hack' gave me a bit of a bum steer, both the light and the rodico suggested a groove that I not think isn't actually there. The theory is fine, my practice may not have been 

Good luck with trying to replace your crystal, hope it works out for you.