Scratched Crystal

[richsj]

Well, I took a tumble off my bike and somehow scratched the top of the crystal and the cyclops on my old '86 Datejust. Didn't seem to touch the bezel or the band --very strange ..anyhow ...I browsed through the posts on here and other than Earls advice to " keep the acrylic 'cause it's cheap and easy to get the scratches out" ..I haven't any idea how to try and repair these scratches.
Could anybody here advise me ? Thanks

[sleddog]

Polywatch is a great product to use on acrylic crystals!!
As long as it's not to deep,a little elbow grease with this stuff works magic!!

[DoubleRedRolex]

You can also use metal polish like the kind you would use on your polished aluminum wheels on your car. Ive been using it for years and it works awesome. Any really deep scratches can be sanded out with 600 grit sandpaper, then 800 then 1200.. then liquid polish. 3M also makes some good plexi scratch remover. BUT beware, the more you polish, the more optically distorted your crystal may become.. it will be clear, but distorted.

[richsj]

Thanks a lot guys - I'll try the car stuff first and then look for the other one.

[rmfnla]

In my experience it's harder to remove scratches from the cyclops than the flat portion.

You may be due for a replacement crystal.

[Rikki]

If you have access to a buffing machine crystal rouge and cotton wheel will remove them and leave it crystal clear takes about 30 seconds Rik

[rmfnla]

Do you really recommend someone do his first time on a buffing wheel with a Rolex..?

[richsj]

Again thanks for the suggestions and also the caution ...I don't have a buffing wheel, just a grinding wheel in the workshop but that seems to be a bit of an overkill ??
If I manage to score a replacement crystal (e-Bay ? )...how hard is it to install? Remove the bezel and ??

[SLS]

Originally Posted by richsj

Again thanks for the suggestions and also the caution ...I don't have a buffing wheel, just a grinding wheel in the workshop but that seems to be a bit of an overkill ??
If I manage to score a replacement crystal (e-Bay ? )...how hard is it to install? Remove the bezel and ??

Forget eBay, I would contact a watchmaker in your area or one of the trusted ones on this and have them do the work for you, the crystals are cheap....but definitely go with a Rolex OEM crystal. If you are going to go that route, before you do, search through the DIY posts and look for Jocke's tutorial on buffing an acrylic crystal. If nothing else, you will have a watch to experiment on.
Scott

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by richsj

Again thanks for the suggestions and also the caution ...I don't have a buffing wheel, just a grinding wheel in the workshop but that seems to be a bit of an overkill ??
If I manage to score a replacement crystal (e-Bay ? )...how hard is it to install? Remove the bezel and ??

Regardless of where you get a new crystal, they are not hard to replace.

This is the best tutorial I have seen yet:

http://www.watchgeek.com/crystal_installation.htm


The press is really useful for pressing the bezel, although I have done it using a wood dowel to push it down by hand.

Just make sure everything is really clean and the cyclops it positioned perfectly!

[richsj]

Again, thanks for your advice. I'll try buffing first, but failng that,I'll do a replacement.I will post the results.

[kenhiraihnl]

Originally Posted by sleddog

Polywatch is a great product to use on acrylic crystals!!
As long as it's not to deep,a little elbow grease with this stuff works magic!!

+1!!! IMHO, Polywatch and the corner of a microfiber cloth might reduce or eliminate the scratch to acceptable "fair wear and tear" for your 1986 watch.

[richsj]

Well,guys....My watch looks great again thanks to 30 minutes of light polishing with "Scrub & Shine " while watching TV. This product label said it could be used as a very light abrasive on plastic and it can !!

Again, thanks to all. ...