Cyclops Replacement Complete on my BLNR

[Tseg]

My cyclops saga ends. Thanks for bearing with me. The registered mail from RUSA arrived about a week sooner that expected.

Most importantly, the end result is as good if not better than I hoped for. I'm happy.

Before:



After:



(Ooops... just noticed my watch has the wrong date)

Before Profile:



After Profile:



(Oops, wrong profile vs. the original... so a little apples to oranges... but apparent to me the 'sides' of the cyclops are shorter on the higher mag version and it seems more domed on top)

I mailed it in 6/12 and received it back 7/13.

To be candid, I think the smaller mag cyclops was easier to read in a wider variety of conditions.

[hbi]

It's definitely magnified! Congratulations at being reunited!

[Tseg]

Interesting observation about the completed work. When my BLNR was new the lacquer dial had a slight curved depression in the center where the axle the hands connect to enters the dial (which is a common occurrence based on forums posted about it). I now have noticed that same subtle depression on the edge of the dial where the dial meets the chapter ring. The curve is uniform equally all the way around like it was supposed to be there. I don't recall seeing that bend before the service. No complaints as it is not easily noticed and is a consistent look. In my second image of my first post you can actually see that bend in the reflection on the dial between the 2:00 and 4:00 markers.

I'm still happy.

[acr]

Originally Posted by Tseg

Interesting observation about the completed work. When my BLNR was new the lacquer dial had a slight curved depression in the center where the axle the hands connect to enters the dial (which is a common occurrence based on forums posted about it). I now have noticed that same subtle depression on the edge of the dial where the dial meets the chapter ring. The curve is uniform equally all the way around like it was supposed to be there. I don't recall seeing that bend before the service. No complaints as it is not easily noticed and is a consistent look. In my second image of my first post you can actually see that bend in the reflection on the dial between the 2:00 and 4:00 markers.

I'm still happy.

I too was a little concerned when I first noticed that on a GMT I had but it's totally normal. I wonder if it's surface tension like when you fill a glass up all the way with water.

[Ezkill]

My sub went back for unrelated issue - Crown stuck, unable to change time(won't pull out far enough to change date or time). The watch was with Rolex a few months ago it was serviced, polished and the crystal was replaced so the lower mag was put on a few months ago. Other then asking to have the crown fixed I also asked about 1 spec of dust on the dial and the smaller mag cyclops. I'll be curious to see how it comes back as I didn't specifically ask them to change it out but noted that it appeared to be low magnification.

[eonflux]

That looks much better!
Great that this worked out well.

Interesting that the side profile of the cyclops looks quite different. Less curvature (and higher sides) would correlate with reduced magnification.

Originally Posted by Tseg

My cyclops saga ends. Thanks for bearing with me. The registered mail from RUSA arrived about a week sooner that expected.

Most importantly, the end result is as good if not better than I hoped for. I'm happy.

Before:



After:



(Ooops... just noticed my watch has the wrong date)

Before Profile:



After Profile:



(Oops, wrong profile vs. the original... so a little apples to oranges... but apparent to me the 'sides' of the cyclops are shorter on the higher mag version and it seems more domed on top)

I mailed it in 6/12 and received it back 7/13.

To be candid, I think the smaller mag cyclops was easier to read in a wider variety of conditions.

[sco]

Big improvement! Nicely done..

[Al1969]

Looks good.

[SearChart]

Looking at these pictures I don't think this 'issue' would bother me one bit.

[RichM]

Glad it worked out for you.

[GradyPhilpott]

[Sublover2166]

Now it is correct. Enjoy. That date pops now like they should.

[bbressler]

Very interesting that the shape and height of the cyclops are different. Thanks for posting.

[Bangel]

Ahh.... That looks better!

[Eric Chan]

Wow, what a difference. Glad it worked out for you.

[hannyalife]

Looks great! Glad everything worked out!

[Speed]

Can you do a side by side with the 28th?

[Tseg]

Originally Posted by Speed

Can you do a side by side with the 28th?

Just left for a business trip and won't be home until Friday, but will post this request then.

[Tseg]

Originally Posted by Speed

Can you do a side by side with the 28th?

Finally back home to provide more comparative before/after pictures. Case closed.

Before:


After:


Before:


After:

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by Tseg

Finally back home to provide more comparative before/after pictures. Case closed.

Before:


After:


Before:


After:

Really appreciate the follow-up pics!

Definitive evidence that something is different, and the magnification discrepancies are not just perceived but due to actual physical differences. The greater curvature of the replacement cyclops would provide greater magnification.

If Rolex is so willing to replace the cyclops, perhaps they had a irregular batch that deviates from their usual specs, and how many of these were used in production? They obviously have a supply of cyclops with greater magnification.

[Qtip.416]

+1

Originally Posted by eonflux

Really appreciate the follow-up pics!

Definitive evidence that something is different, and the magnification discrepancies are not just perceived but due to actual physical differences. The greater curvature of the replacement cyclops would provide greater magnification.

If Rolex is so willing to replace the cyclops, perhaps they had a irregular batch that deviates from their usual specs, and how many of these were used in production? They obviously have a supply of cyclops with greater magnification.

[navydoc]

Huge difference. Glad you got it back!

[phatotto]

Much better!! worth the wait!

[Tseg]

Thanks for the positive comments all. This cyclops makes a world of difference. When the seconds and minute hand passed under the old I barely saw a difference, now it looks like seeing the hands under Grandma's magnifying glass. I was suprised how painful it was being without this watch for a month but now I can say I'm definitely glad with the decision.

[Rookie52]

The side profile pictures are very interesting! I'm not sure how these are manufactured but they are clearly different. Looks like two completely different molds.

Does anyone have any info on this specifically?

Ps. Happy you're happy with the fix!

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Rookie52

The side profile pictures are very interesting! I'm not sure how these are manufactured but they are clearly different. Looks like two completely different molds.

Does anyone have any info on this specifically?

Ps. Happy you're happy with the fix!

This is a likely guess, since sapphire is a crystal this was likely grown in a boule, polished to shape and then cut to thickness. At least if I were manufacturing it that's how I'd do it. Very similar to how semiconductor wafer are made in general. It would also explain the thickness differences. I suspect that there is an issue in getting the shape correct during the polishing portion when they give it the either spherical or parabolic shape.

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

This is a likely guess, since sapphire is a crystal this was likely grown in a boule, polished to shape and then cut to thickness. At least if I were manufacturing it that's how I'd do it. Very similar to how semiconductor wafer are made in general. It would also explain the thickness differences. I suspect that there is an issue in getting the shape correct during the polishing portion when they give it the either spherical or parabolic shape.

Just curious about the process, wouldn't the cutting and polishing processes be at least somewhat automated, so that there would be consistency? Or some type of method implemented to produce consistent thicknesses and curvatures?

[watchwatcher]

Great.

Wondering why Rolex does not publicly/officially address this issue.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

Great.

Wondering why Rolex does not publicly/officially address this issue.

Too expensive, and damaging to the brand image.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Too expensive, and damaging to the brand image.

Or... it was intentional. The low mag can be read from all sorts of angles. The "normal" mag needs to be more straight on.

Is it possible that Rolex tried to make the date more readable for the average buyer with a new beta test mag? I would be curious to know what percent of purchases result in a request for the higher mag (I can dream). If they withdraw it, I guess we'll know.