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LazySumday · 22 January 2018, 12:40 AM

Random question here. Anyone know what the limitations are to making a cyclops crystal for Rolexes from one solid piece of sapphire crystal. My understanding is that they currently are two pieces correct? I think for watches as iconic as Rolex’s, it would have been something already figured out.

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Etschell · 22 January 2018, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazySumday

Random question here. Anyone know what the limitations are to making a cyclops crystal for Rolexes from one solid piece of sapphire crystal. My understanding is that they currently are two pieces correct? I think for watches as iconic as Rolex’s, it would have been something already figured out.

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there is no advantage to it being one piece. additionally you would have much more inefficiency in production not using a 2 piece system espeically since many watches dont have date complications yet all use crystals.

Uhtred59 · 22 January 2018, 12:49 AM

I would suggest YouTubing how the crystals are made and cut. I am not sure how easy it would be or if it is economically possible.

LazySumday · 22 January 2018, 12:56 AM

Points taken, but when a watch takes a year to make, efficiency is not the main driver. I ask because I figure a company like Rolex would do something like this, it is also a way for the company to charge even more money for their products. Anyways, just a random question.

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77T · 22 January 2018, 01:18 AM

I’m not sure there’s any advantage to the customer vs. the current method. But on the manufacturing side it would increase complexity, increase inventoried variations and lead to more opportunity for errors.

The cyclops being a second piece allows different magnification values to be used across a wide array of crystals and midcase designs. Some Rolex models have midcases that yield a different height between the dial and the crystal. As small as those differences are, the height can affect the legible magnification factor of the date displayed in the window. So different mag. values of the cyclops can be attached to the same crystal for different models.

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JR16 · 22 January 2018, 01:32 AM

I’m not an engineer but I suspect if made from one piece, the strength/integrity of the crystal as a whole may suffer ?

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watchwatcher · 22 January 2018, 01:34 AM

I don't know, but I would guess Rolex is doing it the most efficient way. They seem to be pretty good at the whole manufacturing thing.

bradyb · 22 January 2018, 08:35 AM

Check out these guys to get an idea of what can be done with synthetic sapphire:

Hublot Big Bang Unico
Hublot La Ferrari
Richard Mille RM056

Plenty of cool YouTube videos of each model.

22 January 2018, 12:40 AM	#1
LazySumday "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 285	Cyclops Random question here. Anyone know what the limitations are to making a cyclops crystal for Rolexes from one solid piece of sapphire crystal. My understanding is that they currently are two pieces correct? I think for watches as iconic as Rolex’s, it would have been something already figured out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

22 January 2018, 12:49 AM	#3
Uhtred59 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Real Name: Ken Location: Europa Watch: 216570 Posts: 693	I would suggest YouTubing how the crystals are made and cut. I am not sure how easy it would be or if it is economically possible. __________________ "My center is yielding, my right is retreating. Excellent situation, I am attacking" Ferdinand Foch

22 January 2018, 01:18 AM	#5
77T 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: PaulG Location: Georgia Posts: 42,016	I’m not sure there’s any advantage to the customer vs. the current method. But on the manufacturing side it would increase complexity, increase inventoried variations and lead to more opportunity for errors. The cyclops being a second piece allows different magnification values to be used across a wide array of crystals and midcase designs. Some Rolex models have midcases that yield a different height between the dial and the crystal. As small as those differences are, the height can affect the legible magnification factor of the date displayed in the window. So different mag. values of the cyclops can be attached to the same crystal for different models. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk __________________ Does anyone really know what time it is?

22 January 2018, 12:56 AM	#4
LazySumday "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 285	Points taken, but when a watch takes a year to make, efficiency is not the main driver. I ask because I figure a company like Rolex would do something like this, it is also a way for the company to charge even more money for their products. Anyways, just a random question. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

22 January 2018, 01:32 AM	#6
JR16 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA Posts: 6,253	I’m not an engineer but I suspect if made from one piece, the strength/integrity of the crystal as a whole may suffer ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

22 January 2018, 01:34 AM	#7
watchwatcher "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Larry Location: Kentucky Watch: Yes Posts: 35,047	I don't know, but I would guess Rolex is doing it the most efficient way. They seem to be pretty good at the whole manufacturing thing.

22 January 2018, 08:35 AM	#8
bradyb "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Brady Location: Austin, TX Watch: GMT Posts: 979	Check out these guys to get an idea of what can be done with synthetic sapphire: Hublot Big Bang Unico Hublot La Ferrari Richard Mille RM056 Plenty of cool YouTube videos of each model.

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