Correct Crystal for a Red 1680?

[elevenbee]

Hello Everyone,

I'm just dipping my feet into this whole vintage thing and it's starting with a red sub that was handed down to me.

From what I could figure out, at some point the original crystal was swapped out for one without a cyclops and while this looks nice I think I'd prefer it with the cyclops.

Is there a specific part number or trusted source for this particular crystal?

I've done my best to search the forum and most guides online offered no guidance on the crystal.. plenty of info on the dials, inserts and bracelets though, lol.

thank you all for your help.

[shiftf7]

That would be a Rolex 25 127 crystal

[elevenbee]

Originally Posted by shiftf7

That would be a Rolex 25 127 crystal

thank you!

[ILuvSubs]

I've bookmarked the thread / post below from Springer which has been super helpful for finding the correct crystal for a vintage reference.

I on the other hand prefer the cleaner no cyclops look, so I've gone the other way and prefer the tropic 19 domed crystal for the 1680. You can't beat the dome for a vintage Rolex dive watch.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=487453

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

I on the other hand prefer the cleaner no cyclops look, so I've gone the other way and prefer the tropic 19 domed crystal for the 1680.

I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by zapokee

i do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline ocd. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.

x2

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by zapokee

I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.

As above.

To Caesar what is Caesar's, especially true if you're old enough; with a 25-127 I don't need to put on my spectacles to read the date.

[greekbum]

top hat 127

[Chunky]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

x2

X 3


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[elevenbee]

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

I've bookmarked the thread / post below from Springer which has been super helpful for finding the correct crystal for a vintage reference.

I on the other hand prefer the cleaner no cyclops look, so I've gone the other way and prefer the tropic 19 domed crystal for the 1680. You can't beat the dome for a vintage Rolex dive watch.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=487453

Thank you! that's super helpful... nothing else I could find online spoke specifically to the crystals.

Originally Posted by zapokee

I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.

X4? lol

This is basically where I'm at... I'm all about making things your own but for me personally, being new to vintage, I want to at least experience how it was when it was NIB so I can find out what it is that I like.

[ILuvSubs]

Ha ha ha, clearly I am in the minority on this point!

I think the rationale of wanting the 1680 with Tropic 19 over the top hat is:

* I previously had a 5513 and loved the Tropic 19 on it (i.e., the off axis distortion), but the lack of date complication drove me mad whenever I looked down at it to find out the date. I loved the symmetry of the dial though, even if the lack of date made it somewhat impractical

* I found the cyclops of the Top Hat 127 dominated the dial of the 1680, which I disliked

* With a Tropic 19 on the 1680 I get the best of both worlds - date complication and the cleaner domed crystal

I acknowledge it's not what it looked like when it came fresh out of the factory, but Springer's Rolex crystal catalogue shows the Tropic 19 is interchangeable with the Top Hat 127 and different strokes for different folks.

Originally Posted by zapokee

I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

x2

Originally Posted by Filipão

As above.

To Caesar what is Caesar's, especially true if you're old enough; with a 25-127 I don't need to put on my spectacles to read the date.

Originally Posted by greekbum

top hat 127

Originally Posted by Chunky

X 3


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by elevenbee

X4? lol

This is basically where I'm at... I'm all about making things your own but for me personally, being new to vintage, I want to at least experience how it was when it was NIB so I can find out what it is that I like.

[coelacanthus]

I'm also bothered by the 'incorrectness" of putting tropic crystal on my 94110 (shares same case and crystal as 1680) although I love the look.

Is my understanding correct that

- Rolex and Tudor used to accept customer request of swapping top-hat cyclops crystal with corresponding tropic crystal during service? i.e. you were able to send your 1680 to Rolex and ask "please put Tropic crystal on" and you'd get the watch back with T-19?

- If the above is true, when did they stop doing that? Or actually do they still accept the request? (of course that will be limited to acrylic crystal equipped references)

Anyone know?

[southtexas]

Let’s see some photos of your new heirloom!

[Kingface66]

Gotta respectfully disagree with my colleagues here. Not only do I think the dome looks fantastic on the 1680, but I've made the modification to all my top hat-fitted pieces.


[IMG][/IMG]

[Droggo]

Not correct but I prefer the T19 look, I might get one fitted and keep the original for if I sell it.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by coelacanthus

- Rolex and Tudor used to accept customer request of swapping top-hat cyclops crystal with corresponding tropic crystal during service? i.e. you were able to send your 1680 to Rolex and ask "please put Tropic crystal on" and you'd get the watch back with T-19?

I've never heard this. Pretty sure they'd laugh you out of the shop (or march you out) if you requested it today.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

...different strokes for different folks.

Absolutely. Do what you want with it. It's yours. But you'd be well advised to un-mod it if you ever decide to sell it.

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Gotta respectfully disagree with my colleagues here. Not only do I think the dome looks fantastic on the 1680, but I've made the modification to all my top hat-fitted pieces.

Not bad at all. Each to his own. In Japanese they say "Ju nin, to iro," which means "10 different people, 10 different colors."

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Not bad at all. Each to his own. In Japanese they say "Ju nin, to iro," which means "10 different people, 10 different colors."

Absolutely.

[bmb15]

Originally Posted by coelacanthus

Is my understanding correct that

- Rolex and Tudor used to accept customer request of swapping top-hat cyclops crystal with corresponding tropic crystal during service? i.e. you were able to send your 1680 to Rolex and ask "please put Tropic crystal on" and you'd get the watch back with T-19?

Anyone know?

Nowadays, they would never do that in Geneva, I'm pretty sure.

[Filipão]

Off course not.