Etched crown in glass missing

[rangrov]

Hi guys i have just been in my local AD and was speaking about rolexs with the manager, and he says the etched crown has been missing on some models he has had through, we had a look at a Deep Sea with a loop and it was not there, there was allso a gents stainless datejust and that was missing and yes we looked all over the glass and these were brand new watches, the other few watches we looked at was all with the etched crown at 6.0 clock, i came home and looked at my day date and it was there at 6.0 clock, i can not see one on my Deep Sea. has anyone else got it missing.............. Just curious.

[AndersB]

You looked all over the glass, i.e. not just at the 6 o'clock position? In some cases the crown has indeed been found at other positions.

[ParisDakarBmw]

I just got the brand new sub c from an AD, and there isn't a coronet. I noticed it too

[train-time]

NO, not an any model produced in the last several years. Sometimes it very hard to see, but it will be there. Often if the watch doesn't have a cyclops, it's not at the 6:00 position, but it is there.

[nauticajoe]

Interesting. That's the first time I've heard of that.

[Joshua74]

Even with a loupe you won't see the etched crown easily in normal environnement. The best way is to light the crystal horizontally at 6'o clock with a flashlight, and you'll see the crown (without a loupe !)

[Shadi]

It would be odd if they didn't consistently have it on all watches. The crown was supposed to be one way to address the problem of unauthorized dealers or watchmakers stealing the saphire crystal and replacing it with a lesser quality crystal.

[The GMT Master]

Well, with the crystal on the Deepsea not having a cyclops, it could potentially be anywhere around the edge. Not sure about the DJ though - it wasn't a white dial was it?

[Maxseven]

My Deepsea has the etching at 6 o'clock. This is very difficult to see and requires tweaking the viewing angle until you can see it through a loupe. All performed under bright lighting.

[neillfrith]

the green crystals on the Milgauss don't have the etching

[genphideaux]

I have a 2003 AirKing and it is at 4:35 position. My AD said he would put it at the 6 position when he does a service next.

[anipit]

My 2009 submariner date, has it at 6 but it is really hard to see it.
You need a good side light.

[Route 66]

I actually discovered my by accident. I was inspecting the entire face of the watch with a loupe after I got it. At one point the coronet just jumped out at me (so to speak).

[JIFF1975]

It is ALWAYS there! Except fpr the MG GV like Neillfrith said... and it is supposed to be on the 6 position... If not on the 6 then go to an AD, they have to put it back on 6...

[Smoak352]

I will tell you a trick. You can find the coronet without a loup! Use a laser off a pistol or lasrer pointer or an led light, and it will light right up. I turned on the led light on my iphone and it lights right up. No need for a loup.

[hng]

I started the same topic a few days ago and now I can see the laser crown in my gmt iic but not in my sub date which is a 2003 production. But as James - genphideaux says, I'd check all over the crystal to make sure it's somewhere there, who knows :-)

[MartC]

After reading this, thought I'd try and find the etching on my new Sub.

So I've looked all round the edge of the crystal with a loupe and can't find it tried edge lighting the crystal as well.

Pretty sure there's no etching on mine, (14060M)

[cht]

Explorers don't have them.

[sakuraba]

There have been reports of the crystal not being in the common 6 o'clock position. It usually happens on non-cyclops references. TechExpert Scott has stated that this is a sign the watch has been tampered with.

Here's a pic from member rocco1109 that shows how off the LEC can be.

[MartC]

Done some more digging on the net and found I was looking in the wrong place - Edge of the crystal Didn't realise it was above the dial.

Edge lit the crystal and there it is, certainly no need for a loupe. Love touches like that

[jrbar-on]

I've had threee different Rolexes in the past two years: M series Sea Dweller, M series Sub LV, and a V series GMT IIC. Each one had the crown though not always at 6:00.

[rfknauss]

I have found that the easiest way to see the Rolex etched crown is with an led flashlight and a jeweler's loupe.

[Bdel]

what year did the LEC appear. My 2000 Airking doesnt have one.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by Bdel

what year did the LEC appear. My 2000 Airking doesnt have one.

I think it first started to appear on some models in 2001, if memory serves me

[Bdel]

that makes sense since my 2002 explorer II has the crown and my 2005 sea dweller also does.

[freefly]

Is the LEC on cyclops crystals always supposed to be (exactly) @ 6 o'clock?

I've got an M-series 16610v with the LEC, but it's just to the right of the 6 o'clock marker.

[autofiend]

Originally Posted by rfknauss

I have found that the easiest way to see the Rolex etched crown is with an led flashlight and a jeweler's loupe.

+1 on the flashlight. You don't even need the loupe, it's quite visible if you shine the light parallel with the exposed edge of the crystal (part that peaks over the bezel).

[Rolex952]

It's definitely there. It took me forever to find it on my M DSSD but not so bad on my Z Seadweller. I think it's because of the wider lume marker on the DSSD, you need to have it at an angle where black is your background to see it better.

[swatty]

Can't find it on my P series 14060 GMTIIc and 11610 its at 6 O'Clock

[Andad]

Peter,

My 'K' 14060M has it and that is just after yours in 2001.
The late 2000 - early 2001 14060's might not have it.

IMO
The lec is the one of the last processes that a modern (from around 2000?) Rolex watch goes through as part of anti-counterfeiting measures? and so it will always be at 6 o'clock unless the crystal has been removed and replaced by other than a RSC.
Replacement crystals have the 'S' and their position will be at the discretion of the technician but I would expect it to also be at 6 o'clock.

As for AD's and others not being able to find the lec's on modern Rolex watches IMO the lec's are there.
I know the lec is on my SS Daytona. Sometimes I can see it easily and sometimes it is hard to find even when I know where it is.
The white dials make it much harder hence the problems on white explorers etc.