How are Rolex crystals affixed to the watches?

[dannyp]

Just curious what actually holds them in place and keeps them from popping out if bumped wrong or such? I'd always assumed that there was some kind of adhesive and that the bezel helped hold them in place, but when I saw a picture of one on its own, there's no "lip" for the bezel to go over.

Or is it just magic?

[Nickn]

Friction fit

[dannyp]

Really? Interesting. But is there enough friction that, say, a vigorous cleaning around the bezel/crystal edge wouldn’t risk dislodging it?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Really? Interesting. But is there enough friction that, say, a vigorous cleaning around the bezel/crystal edge wouldn’t risk dislodging it?

It is not a simple press-with-your-fingers fit, it takes some power, but it can be dislodged with a hard enough knock.

The most likely place that a watch starts leaking is at the crystal to case gasket.

[dannyp]

So scraping the bits of debris that stick to the outer edge of the crystal with a fingernail unlikely to supply the necessary force?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dannyp

So scraping the bits of debris that stick to the outer edge of the crystal with a fingernail unlikely to supply the necessary force?

You will break your fingernail first.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Tools

You will break your fingernail first.

Challenge accepted.

[mattmartin]

From photos that I have seen, it looks like Rolex crystals, albeit friction set, are affixed in a very different way compared a traditional friction fit crystal. A traditional friction fit crystal is pressed into a flange that is formed into the upper casebody or bezel. The outer perimeter of the crystal wedges against a plastic crush gasket which is wedged against the inner perimeter of the flange surface. In this configuration the outer diameter of the crystal is in contact with the inner diameter of the gasket, which contacts the inner diameter of the flange.

In contrast, a Rolex crystal sits on top of the rehaut and is not wedged inside a flange. Instead, the Rolex crystal has a groove, or annular ring, cut along its outer diameter. The rolex gasket grabs that groove much the same way a diamond prong setting grabs a diamond solitaire stone. Then this gasket which actually sits below the plane of the underside of the crystal is affixed to the outer rim of the rehaut by using the bezel ring. In other words, the rolex crystal sits on top of the rehaut instead of inside the rehaut. And, the compressive forces that friction fit the crystal comes from the separate bezel Ring rather than the flange inside the casebody as found on a traditional design. Moreover, the compressive forced do not apply directly perpendicular to the diameter of the crystal on the rolex, rather they apply this way to the gasket only and the gasket holds the crystal in place much like a prong setting on a diamond ring. Finally, the

[77T]

I think it’s important to differentiate between different generations of different model types. The methods do vary and readers who wear a 4 digit model should take that to heart vs. the current 6 digit models.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[SearChart]

Most models are friction fit, where the crystal has an edge that clips into the gasket, then pressed over the rehaut, over which the bezel/crystal retainer ring is pressed to secure it all.

The Cellini prince's (the rectangular one) crystal is glued into place. This is very common in non round watches, the Cartier tank and Jaeger reverso also have glued crystals.

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Most models are friction fit, where the crystal has an edge that clips into the gasket, then pressed over the rehaut, over which the bezel/crystal retainer ring is pressed to secure it all.

The Cellini prince's (the rectangular one) crystal is glued into place. This is very common in non round watches, the Cartier tank and Jaeger reverso also have glued crystals.

Thanks, Bas.
Just learnt somethong new today.

It's all about health, happiness & family. The rest are just necessary inconveniences we have to deal with.