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Anyone bought a 6105-8110 crystal from Thailand?

4K views 32 replies 13 participants last post by  GuyJ 
#1 ·
Been putting it off, but I think it's time for a new crystal on my 6105-8110. The present crystal has a distinctly cloudy look and spoils what is an otherwise near perfect dial. I have checked with Seiko head office in Bangkok and they say they don't have a crystal to fit, so I'm left with something after market, and wondered about these crystals from vintageseiko4ever as I'm already in Thailand. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GLASS-C...029705?hash=item2a56cef349:g:u4AAAOSwYIhWkqLD
 

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#2 ·
I would ask them for a profile picture and height. I bought a cheap 320W10GN a while ago to try and it was fairly low and flat topped, which distorted the dial and really didn't look good. I ended up putting it on a 6119 6023 I had and it looked just fine on that watch.


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#18 ·
Well Alex at Crystal Times and Tom i would highly recommend for sure...Tiger is correct why not change the gaskets while u are doing the work...well worth the time to do it right...God Bless,John
 
#22 · (Edited)
This may be THE definitive post on 320W10GN crystals.


It seems for us OCD minded folks there is a lot of discussion concerning crystal specs especially when it comes to the 6105 divers. I have pondered this question myself many times and finally, when time allowed, sat down and measured 20 nos Seiko 320W10GN crystals with a high quality digital micrometer. Here are my findings:

Crystal Height:

Type 1: Single dome, flat top measures 3.81mm to 3.89mm

Type 2: Double dome measures 3.76mm to 3.85mm

Type 3: Double dome measures 3.57mm to 3.70mm

Type 4: Double dome measures 3.48mm to 3.52mm

An original type 3 measures roughly 3.65mm in height give or take a few mm's. This is from the top center of the dome to the outer base of the crystal where it meets the gasket. Jonathan's type 3 also measures roughly 3.65mm in height.

Here's where a difference comes into play between Jonathan's (SK's) type 3 and the original 320W10GN type 3:
The height of the crystal at the edge where it meets the bezel on an original type 3 is roughly 3.55mm causing it to sit approximately 1mm above the edge of the bezel. On Jonathan's it's 2.85mm. So, although the overall height on Jonathan's (or SK's) is correct, the height at the edge where it meets the bezel is incorrect causing it to sit lower then the original in reference to the edge of the bezel.


Seiko's Type 2 edge height is roughly 3.60mm causing it to sit approximately 1.5mm above the edge of the bezel. As you can see from the measurements above the type 2 crystal is very close to the type 1 in height. The main difference is the type 2 is a double domed crystal rather then a flat top crystal.

Regarding numbers and popularity, out of twenty nos Seiko crystals I found the following:

3 Type 1: Single dome, flat top measures 3.81mm to 3.89mm

4 Type 2: Double dome measures 3.76mm to 3.85mm

10 Type 3: Double dome measures 3.57mm to 3.70mm

3 Type 4: Double dome measures 3.48mm to 3.52mm

Based on these findings they collaborate what Jonathan believed and shared on March 9th 2014 shortly before his Passing. That the most popular 320W10GN crystal is the type 3.

Here is what Jonathan shared:
" I did a lot of research on the 320W10GN00, which has four variants over its run of nearly fifteen years. The second and fourth variants are insignificant as they were not made any any appreciable numbers.

What I now call "Type I": The oldest (correct for pre-1972 models) has a flat top and inside dome. It measures 3.85mm high with frosted sidewall and polished bevel. The crisp edge of this crystal is a chip magnet. In the early '70s I remember seeing fairly new watches coming in for new crystals, within weeks in some instances, due to chips and nicks on the top edge. My assumption is Seiko got tired of these complaints and dropped the height by 0.20mm. This doesn't sound like much but it's enough to get that edge closer to the bezel of a sport watch or the rotating ring of a dive watch. Also, flat-top crystals are terribly reflective. Double domes are far less so which is why this makes sense for a dive watch. Also, the double dome is much more structurally sound than flat/flat or flat/domed.

What I refer to as "Type III": Third is double domed but is only 3.63mm +/- 0.02mm high with frosted edge and polished bevel. This is the most common variant and after 1972 became correct for both OEM and service replacement applications. Thus, if your 1970 watch has the "Type III" crystal, it was replaced as part of a service after 1972 and IS STILL CONSIDERED CORRECT."

www.thewatchsite.com/21-japanese-watch-discussion-forum/88250-6105-crystal.html

So, although there are differing opinions about which original crystal was the most popular I'd tend to side with Jonathan's original thoughts: The type 3 was the most widely used original crystal.

Unless it's a very early 6105, it's nos Seiko type 3 for me........








In the absence of an original, I'd have to say Jonathan's (SK's) reproduction comes closest to the original and would be my next choice. as inquiring minds would like to know, I'd be curious to know how SK's type 2 measures up...........
"SK" refers to the 320W10GN crystals from Thailand, like the one in my previous post.
 
#23 ·
Actually, "SK" refers to Spencer Klien's.
 
#25 ·
Been putting it off, but I think it's time for a new crystal on my 6105-8110. The present crystal has a distinctly cloudy look and spoils what is an otherwise near perfect dial.
No crystal swap is needed, you can easily polish the original to a virtually new state using the correct abrasive which is diamond paste grade 4, 3.5 or 2.5 on a felt wheel and rotary tool. Optionally finish with cerium oxide. That can be done without removing the crystal, the products can be cheaply bought on Aliexpress, even from Thailand, which is where I'm also at the moment.
 
#33 ·
Cloth or whatever you're using can catch on the crown tube, the thread of the caseback and also possibly marr a chapter ring marker. I'd remove it properly holding it in some finger cots and spin the crystal between thumb and forefinger whilst sandwiched between a good quality lint-free cloth.

And what Tom says, it's a struggle to get right to the inside edges.
 
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