[rileynp]

I received the replacement crystal from CousinsUK. It looks to be exactly what I need. I was not able to locate or purchase any gaskets. I am ready to have the crystal installed. Can I take it to any good watch repair person near where I live, or do you recommend I send it to a Seiko authorized repair shop? I'd prefer not to ship it anywhere. Is it as simple as removing the bezel and installing the new crystal? Is the crystal glued in? Can the crystal be replaced without installing a new gasket seal?

Thank you.

The assembly of this case is not straight-forward, and I can see many potential pitfalls awaiting someone who is not familiar with the construction as force must be used to disassemble and reassemble the case.
There is no glue involved, rather the crystal is installed into the bezel from the inside, but only after the bezel is removed from the case. One cannot pry the bezel out, it must be pushed out from the inside (which requires exactly the right sized dies). Both a rubber crystal gasket and a plastic bezel gasket are disturbed during this process and should be replaced to ensure water resistance. If one is lucky the watch can go back together using the old gaskets, but they necessarily won't be doing as good a job of holding things together as new, unused gaskets. If one is unlucky, the gaskets (particularly the plastic bezel gasket) will be deformed from the process enough that it won't allow proper seating of the bezel in the case. I'd take it to the best watchmaker you can find and who is willing to take on a potentially risky replacement like this. If they don't know the risks involved, that likely means they aren't familar with this "inside out" system, maybe find some one who is.

4823-8039 crystal gasket: DJ2990B
4823-8039 bezel gasket: 89997850
4823-8039 back gasket: DB2915B
4823-8039 crown gasket: DJ0060B
4823-8039 cell hatch gasket: EH1175B

 

[rileynp]

When you say the bezel has to be pushed out from the inside, do you mean that the back of the case has to be opened and the internal parts removed to then push out the bezel? I hope not. I assumed there was some sort of watchmaker tool that clamps around the bezel circumference and is then pulled or pushed to remove the bezel. Clarification would be most appreciated. Thank you.

Yes, a complete removal of the case back and movement would be necessary to remove the bezel/crystal assembly from the case frame. Afraid it is not as easy as you had hoped. I have seen this exact case reference with irreversible damage done to the bezel and case where some one thought they could pry the bezel off from the outside with a case knife, and kept on trying when they should have stopped. This system does not work that way.