10 replies to this topic

[mfrmn]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone has tried removing the magnifier over the date window of the 2ER0000 divers? I assume these are simply glued on to the mineral crystal. Any guidance or suggestions on how to do this would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[nhoJ]

I found this a while ago.  I never tried myself.

[mfrmn]

Thank you, this is very informative. I think I'll give it a shot once I muster enough courage!

[Mod_It]

BEWARE!!!!!!   Anything hot enough to melt the glue holding your cyclops to the crystal, is hot enough to melt the crystal gasket!  Also, using solvents to remove the residual glue left on the crystal is really bad for crystal gaskets (or crystal glue if your crystal is glued in) and water resistance o-rings.  Note that this procedure will void the warranty you have on the watch.

If your watch is past warranty or you don't care , then my advice is to remove the crystal before you attempt this procedure.   Look in the mod tools page for a crystal press and case back openers.  Various YouTube videos are out there for disassembling your watch and removing the crystal.  

Once you have the crystal removed, then follow the instructions in the video.  Once your crystal is cleaned to your standards, put the crystal back in the case and reassemble the watch.

mfrmn, on 06 April 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

Thank you, this is very informative. I think I'll give it a shot once I muster enough courage!

[valvestem]

Mod_It, on 06 April 2010 - 11:38 PM, said:

BEWARE!!!!!!   Anything hot enough to melt the glue holding your cyclops to the crystal, is hot enough to melt the crystal gasket!  Also, using solvents to remove the residual glue left on the crystal is really bad for crystal gaskets (or crystal glue if your crystal is glued in) and water resistance o-rings.  Note that this procedure will void the warranty you have on the watch.

If your watch is past warranty or you don't care , then my advice is to remove the crystal before you attempt this procedure.   Look in the mod tools page for a crystal press and case back openers.  Various YouTube videos are out there for disassembling your watch and removing the crystal.  

Once you have the crystal removed, then follow the instructions in the video.  Once your crystal is cleaned to your standards, put the crystal back in the case and reassemble the watch.

Do you think the heat was applied long enough to the cyclops to travel to the gasket(s). I have seen other removal prodedures use a more pinpoint flame, such as that from small soldering torch/pen that uses butane lighter fuel.

[Mod_It]

valvestem, on 06 April 2010 - 11:44 PM, said:

Do you think the heat was applied long enough to the cyclops to travel to the gasket(s). I have seen other removal prodedures use a more pinpoint flame, such as that from small soldering torch/pen that uses butane lighter fuel.

I am not a crystallographer, however, some crystals, like diamond for instance, has one of the highest thermal conductivity values possible.  It basically depends on the crystaline stucture and I could not find a figure for Mineral Crystal or Sapphire.... I will look harder.  That being said, crystal gaskets tend to be open to the air also, which would mean you need to be careful of that as well.  My point is to err on the side of caution.  Especially when the skill level of he reader is at question.  A novice might come here, read this forum thread, and walk away thinking they can take a torch to their watch and not hurt anything.  Or worse, a novice might think it is fine to dowse their watch in solvents.... You get my point.

I think I have a scratched mineral crystal around somewhere... I don't have a torch currently... that might be a good experiment. Place a thermometer on the back and see how fast it goes up.  After all, crystals are typically from 2mm to 3mm correct?

[kew]

When you hit 50, chances are that you will be looking to put them back on again

I recently bought a new cyclops for my Breitling SuperOcean.

[Orient Emperor]

kew, on 07 April 2010 - 12:40 AM, said:

When you hit 50, chances are that you will be looking to put them back on again

I recently bought a new cyclops for my Breitling SuperOcean.

I know what you mean.. Finally, admitted I needed glasses to read when the watch faces were no longer clear to read..

[garwal]

Like these?

[Mod_It]

Wow,  now those are some full coverage glasses.

garwal, on 07 April 2010 - 04:23 PM, said:

Like these?

[garwal]

Mod_It, on 07 April 2010 - 04:48 PM, said:

Wow,  now those are some full coverage glasses.

God help here when she needs bifocals       
Gary