obsession with obtruding crystals

[mr_gray]

i am hooked on the older acrylic type crystals that stick out in relief from the watch face. for example the 1680, 1675 etc. i'm no expert and don't own any such watches but i have included some photos off the internet to demonstrate what i'm talking about. those in the know will i presume know however!

the questions i wish to ask other members are as follows:
- can a gmt have a plexi that sticks out as much as the 1680's i see
- is the stick out plexi on the 1680 standard?
- given i have a sub (albeit a hulk), do people think i'd be better getting a plexi gmt (say a pepsi, which i love) for varieties sake or if i have got it bad for the 1680 plexi (and matt dials ), should i just dive in and have another sub albeit one that is near 40 years old and just looks like the bees knees (IMHO)

i do really like the GMT look, but i guess i'm saying, can it satisfy my plexi hunger?

i really can't say how incredible i think the crystal that sticks out looks. i bought a blancpain FF thinking it would satisfy that aesthetic for me, and i love the watch, but i keep coming back to matt dials and plexi. to me it looks killer.
as i said above these are not my images/watches but feast your eyes on this lot!

all images from for sale section right here on trf.

here is the 1680. so is the next one and then one shot of the 1675.

not in a position to see these in the flesh so i'm asking if 1675 can satisfy plexi appetite like the 1680 can. i will be in hawaii mid sep and i plan on dropping into honolulu time corp so maybe i will get to see one then but who knows re: stock etc.

thanks

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[Micha]

I think these are called Top Hats, but I am certainly no expert either...

[azguy]

My Tudor 79090

tophat1.jpg

tophat2.jpg

tophat3.jpg

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by mr_gray

the questions i wish to ask other members are as follows:
- can a gmt have a plexi that sticks out as much as the 1680's i see
- is the stick out plexi on the 1680 standard?
- given i have a sub (albeit a hulk), do people think i'd be better getting a plexi gmt (say a pepsi, which i love) for varieties sake or if i have got it bad for the 1680 plexi (and matt dials ), should i just dive in and have another sub albeit one that is near 40 years old and just looks like the bees knees (IMHO)

i do really like the GMT look, but i guess i'm saying, can it satisfy my plexi hunger?

To answer your questions......

-- I don't believe the standard crystal on the 1675 to be quite as prominent as the 1680, but it is close.
-- The top-hat crystal is original to the 1680 and the replacement service crystals are VERY similar.
-- I do think you would be best served to get a 1675 since you already own a 116610LV, but I do think you could also own the 1680. It is very different from your current watch and a person could justify owning both.

-- I really do think the crystal on the 1675 could satisfy your hunger for vintage plexiglass. I was going to also suggest that the look you want is also a feature of some of the vintage Tudors as shown in the above post.

Good luck in your quest

[linesiders]

There are plenty of tall plexi options but the subs are more prominent than the GMTs

In blue

[mr_gray]

Wow. Great replies. Thanks all. Top hat a much better descriptor so thank you for that. Great photos too. V nice to know service crystals aren't dissimilar to orig as that was a concern. Thanks Jason in particular for offering an opinion re the 1675.

It is clear there are many other devotees of the top hat out there and certainly I've seen threads on the warmth of plexi versus sapphire.

Great forum for noobs like me!

[lhanddds]

The beauty of plexiglass is looking at the dial. But, if you like thick, you'll need to go with a top hat.

[cajuntiger]

I prefer a nice domed crystal on my sub

[CrownMe]

This is a service T127 or Beveled 127.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by lhanddds

The beauty of plexiglass is looking at the dial. But, if you like thick, you'll need to go with a top hat.

Larry, while I don't necessarily disagree with you.....I do think that the plastic crystal on these vintage subs is ALMOST equally as beautiful as the dial and hands.

[lhanddds]

Originally Posted by Jason71

Larry, while I don't necessarily disagree with you.....I do think that the plastic crystal on these vintage subs is ALMOST equally as beautiful as the dial and hands.

Well if you say so Jason,

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by lhanddds

Well if you say so Jason,

I don't know.......Maybe it's just me.

[lhanddds]

I admit it's difficult. I like the view from here.


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[Jason71]

Originally Posted by lhanddds

I admit it's difficult. I like the view from here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree completely. You just don't get a view like that from a modern sapphire Rolex / Tudor. Fantastic picture

[lhanddds]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I agree completely. You just don't get a view like that from a modern sapphire Rolex / Tudor. Fantastic picture

So true


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[David Woo]

luv the side views:

[mr_gray]

looking at another 4 sale thread here on trf we see these two views of what i presume is something other than a top hat? opinions pls.

in first one it appears domed, rather than the near straight up of the top hat

Screen Shot 2014-08-24 at 8.38.49 am.jpg

but here it very much resembles to my eye a top hat.

Screen Shot 2014-08-24 at 8.38.57 am.jpg
top hat or no it looks great.

[ahnets]

To satisfy your craving for the time being, I took some quick photos for you of my 1680 next to my 1675:







Also, some more incredible photos of top hats:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=354879

And if you're going to go dome.... go SUPER DOME....
http://www.vintagehour.com/rolex-tro...service-domes/

[mr_gray]

So a top hat is within the umbrella of the domes or is a different thing?

[lhanddds]

Originally Posted by mr_gray

So a top hat is within the umbrella of the domes or is a different thing?

I would say different, no cyclops, a cool distortion looking through the peripheral curvature. I wish I had one on one of my watches.