Broke the crystal on my Seiko Railroad Pocket Watch

[coastie]

This morning my watch wasn't secured to well in my pocket and it slipped out as I bent over to pick up something. Wham!     the watch fell face forward and shattered the crystal. Fortunately the watch is still ticking but the second hand is canted a bit and jams against the minute hand as it revolves.


Where do I go for a replacement crystal? is this a special one or can any watch maker replace it? To add it wasn't glass but looked like hard acrylic.


Lesson learned, go for a chain and not a fob.

[rileynp]

Tough break!  What is the case number on the back of the watch?  I'd personally prefer a genuine crystal if it were mine (a good watchmaker could order one if they are still available), as you know it will look right and allow proper sealing and hand clearance.  It might be a good idea to have the watch checked after such a fall to make sure no damage has been done to the movement, dial, or hands (and it sounds like at the very least the hands need to be reset and adjusted).

[coastie]

Rather than waste time, money and effort of something I have not yet mastered I took it to a respectable watchmaker in the area. The second hand suffered a little by being pushed down into the sweep area of the minute hand so that will have to be re-adjusted, this I told them about. I will be several weeks before I get it back. That's the pity of it all, I just got the watch a few days ago.

[coastie]

I got my watch back yesterday, what a quick turn around. They said it keeps perfect time and I was lucky there was no other damage. This was because the watch fell flat on it's face. Had it landed on the edge I would have had trouble.


The replacement crystal is high dome crystal. I would have rather have a flush fit one which I think the Seikos had. I didn't have the watch long enough to commit it to memory of what it should look like.

[nzwatchdoctor]

You could always have one made - but probably more $$.

[Hobbes]

I've got one at home, will try to take a picture for you when I get back, so you can compare!

[coastie]

Looking at the other Seiko's on the net it does appear to have a dome shape and not flushed as I had thought.


One last question: I can't seem to find an indent to pop the back off, does the back screw off or pop off?[size=78%] [/size]

[Hobbes]

Promised you a pic when I was back, so you could compare it with your replacement crystal, here it is:



Cheers, Sander.

[otr002]

Promised you a pic when I was back, so you could compare it with your replacement crystal, here it is:



Cheers, Sander.

Mmmmmmmm beer 

[Hobbes]

Mmmmmmmm beer 

   Beer = Good.

[coastie]

Promised you a pic when I was back, so you could compare it with your replacement crystal, here it is:



Cheers, Sander.

Thanks for the photo, looks pretty close to my replacement crystal.


The watch by the way is keeping good time, it loses about 15 seconds a day which I understand is well within the specs for the watch. I've been wearing it on a silver chain in my pocket for the last few days. I like pulling it out to look at the time, it gives me a chance to slow down for a moment instead of merely glancing at my wrist. Don't get me wrong I still love my wrist watches. I also admire the hack feature on it, the other pocket watches I've own I always had to get close to the exact time.