Hello there,
With the exception of round watch crystals (which require more specialed equipment, to replace) most "fancy shape" crystals can be replaced with relative ease, saving both a trip or shipment to a watchmaker... and also a considerable sum x however many watches one collects!
The first question once you locate a source for say crystal replacement, is do I intend to learn how to do the task myself? Or will I rather opt to "outsource" it, if I'm not so inclined? And frankly, once you realize that replacement of say a crystal (or a leather strap or metal band, for instance) is fairly straightforward... it soon becomes increasingly hard to justify making a trip x 2 to a local, etc. watchmaker or jeweler! And then if you add- up the "investment" of time, energy and capital... it's really in one's best interest to just acquire the basic tools and knowhow to do the task/s oneself!
The next order of business is model identification... If you can find one or more suppliers who can consistently offer eight or even nine/ten crystals, etc. you seek, then consider yourself VERY fortunate! These "NOS" (new old stock) parts are not only quite RARE in many instances... they are even HARDER to restock, all the time! (Hence the increase of about 35% for NOS watch parts in general, over the last several years, alone!) And therefore if you get the sense that this one's RARE, ask your supplier then if they might have (2) pieces in stock, IF you intend to wear the watch, on occasion?
Then regardless of whether you intend to replace a crystal yourself or not... the other main concern is whether of not to source "glass" (i.e. NOS "mineral glass?") or an "acrylic?" ("plexiglas.") My personal opinion is that it comes down to whether one actually WEARS the timepiece/s they covet? Or rather only sources "investment" watches, kept under glass, or in a safe? If you actually WEAR the watches on occasion, then there are several valid reasons to consider "acrylics," vs. "glass," not the least of which is cost savings, a consistent "look," longevity, "buff" ability, availabilty, and ease of installation!
And while there are many leading brands for glass that are virtually identical... there is typically one brand of acrylic crystals, that are: easy to install, look and feel like glass... and are more available. And that brand is "G-S." (i.e. Germanow- Simon Company, of Rockester, New York.) "SUC" (Standard Unbreakable Crystals) are also often acceptable... however don't have the same "glass look," ease of install, or availability, etc. as G-S! (I know this... as I've puchased hundreds of SUC and thousands of G-S... and installed many of BOTH.) And I source them (along with six + brands of glass) periodically!
Another (and really the main) challenge... is proper identification, of the model and often "sub" models, such as say version "A, B, or C," or "1, 2, 3," etc. (For instance, do you have a Bulova Lone Eagle I, II, III or IV? As all four take different crystals. Unlike say a Hamilton Boulton, B, or II... which in the case of plexiglas acrylic, will interchange. However not so, generally, with glass!) And another clear advantage of acrylics is their interchangability! (For instance the Bulova Arnold and Broadcaster, from that same time period.) Glass however is seldom "interchangable." And MANY glass crystals require specialized equipment to "resize," and various epoxies, etc., to even properly afix... and chip and scratch, EASILY!
Furthermore (in my view... and going back to "where to buy?") it clearly makes more sense to "source" where the consistent and best supply is... But just as importantly, where the model "IDs" are! For instance, you can go to several sources both online and off, for crystals, some of whom have been in business for many decades, and generally know which crystals will fit what watch. HOWEVER, they tend to require either larger quantity purchases to get ANY discount, charge 2010 shipping, handling and restocking fees, and have no "photo ID" for timepieces! So unless one is VERY experienced in sourcing AND fitting crystals, it make no sense whatsoever, seeking out and buying from a supply house!
And therefore whether you intend to buy crystals to replace, OR have replaced... I invite you to "step up" to the next generation in watch model identification, selection, pricing and customer service, www.watchcrystals.net. I don't have the website (with 3- 5000+ crystal) selections up at this time... However with your support, perhaps soon I'll be "beyond eBay?" I'm also now buying Bulova+ watches and having them refurbished and resold with the help of watchmakers and English resellers, both of whom are also now members here! (G & J, aka: TixnTox and WatchAd. And "El-Ooose," also soon know as: AccutronsPlus.) I also credit several Hamilton, etc. resellers for their "photo IDs, on eBay...
Thank you kindly for taking the time to read my first bit on watch crystals. I will henceforth be doing my part to add more timepiece IDs, correct inaccuracies and ID your watch models (Bulova or any brand, from say 1925- 1970ish) here. And please... feel free to email me! I have about 150- 200 Bulova models and most crystals therefore, now ID'd. But there are HUNDREDS more, yet unknown... Thiswebsite is a GREAT! start toward making BULOVA on par with other coveted vintage American made timepieces... And (along with superior craftsmanship) naming the models, is a BIG part of what put say "Hamilton" on watch collector, "short list!"
Good day :-)
William
Hi Wayne,
Certainly, see: (And also the "Cadet," for similar reference... And G & J may still have either up???)
http://cgi.ebay.com/1945-BULOVA-AVIATOR-NEW-VINTAGE-WATCH-CRYSTAL-PART-…
I actually use all sorts of "data..." First I match crystals and case info. to part nos. from old crystal catalogs, then compare to downloaded images from any all online sources, such as eBay and Terapeak.com. Then I buy and download illustated display ads, or jewelers catalogs. (For other brands, at least!) But it often comes down to "intuition," as "hunches" are generally correct and the challenge of "deductive reasoning," motivates and gradually leads one towards gradually piecing the puzzle together, I think??? :-)
I only have about 25 models presently posted online. (In My eBay store, due to limited demand to date, the no. I have in stock, IDs I credit resellers to cross- promote, etc.) But I do have several hundred models and crystal IDs in 30+ crystal catalogs, a couple dozen period display ads and about 1200- 1500 Bulova crystals... However we' all need to locate some circa 1920s- 1970 Jewelers catalogs with the models illustrated... to make any SERIOUS headway here, I think??? (I have copies of the 1920s- 1960 Hamilton catalogs, for instance...)
The PRIMARY reason (in my opinion) that say Hammys are more popular than Bullies (to date) lies in the simple fact that "named" watches (like anything else) are more endearing...
My Best :-) William (Scott) Tiffee
My main emails:
ScottTiffee at Gmail.com
WatchCrystals at Gmail.com
Wayne & Co.,
As for measuring the proportions, and since they were/are calibrated to 1/10 of one millimeter (and labeled down to 1/100th!) the only way to "get it right," since there were quite often MANY rather similar shapes and sizes, is to get an inexpensive (just key word it into eBay, or Google, etc.) "Digital Caliper." For about a $15.00 USD investment you can then measure the crystal "window" either in place (installed) or on the crystal itself...
As for the various 20' odd "fancy shapes" or "rounds," buy one old (G-S, BB, Perfit, etc.) crystal catalog on say eBay (?) I'll sell you one of my duplicates for $20.USD + shipping (?) or simply go to my eBay store (and hopefully soon, website?) to see what the various shapes look like, and mean...
I standardized my descriptions on ebay to reflect the two main brands of NOS (New Old Stock) crystals, made at the time... G-S (German- Simon) was established in 1916, and still exists, though they are no longer specializing in watch crystals... "BB" is a sub- brand of American Perfit, who also still exists... but they are now involved in timepieces, NOT crystals... Perfit came first, and were either Parent company to "K-K" (Krystal- Kraft) or vice versa? (K-K was 20s/30s, then Perfit, then BB...)
Aside from determining the model of watch, the other main challenge is the eight different noteworthy BRANDS of crystals, including G-S & SUC, for Plexiglas acrylics... and: K-K (Krystal- Kraft) Perfit, BB, W-C (Watch- Craft) Fulton and Federal for mineral glass) part alpha- numerics and letter denoted fancy shapes... It took me over a year of continued repetition and two dozen+ catalogs to have most memorized, and now be familiar enough to recognize most on sight! (i.e. over 2000 hrs. of HARD mental laboring...)
BEST :-) WST
In reply to Wow! Thanks Scott.I have by sausgirl
Hi Jan :-)
My father was an educator and also taught shop classes and built BIG things out of metal and remodeled cars, homes, etc. so "watches" (like photo equipt.) are fairly new to me... (I'm also into photography, of late!) and perhaps no one on the planet has all these thousands of crystals and models and images compiled, so aside from refurbing a few hundred (or thousand?) watches, I may as well "ID" models and help SAVE a few, in the process?! So far I have 1200+ Hamilton Models, -1000 Gruen, a few hundred Longines and 200 +/- Bulova, Elgin, etc. models in various stages of crystal and model sleuthing... But I believe "BULOVA" is the NEXT "Up and Comer," after Hamilton!? Who knows... I may even eventually publish a relevant book... IF I have the stamina at age 45+??? LOL :-)
Shoot me an email with any images, proportions or related info., and I'll do my best to determine what you have, as well as what you need, for crystals!
My Best :-)
Scott
This site has always had a 1930s G-S Flexo Crystals catalog
If any one else would like to donate any other catalogs for this site I'd be more than happy to add them.
The oldest catalog I have to date is the 1929 K-K catalog... The issue with catalogs before the late 30s, is they (almost exclusively) only provided the BRANDS the crystal fits... and none I've seen (or have, to date) before 1939, list more than a couple of model names!? (The 1930 G- S lists a couple of models, only, and the 1929 K-K lists "0," for example.)
And therefore the exception is the old Jewelers catalogs and vintage display ads with illustrations AND model names and/or nos., which I see you have a good selection of posted here! (However I don't see a way to enlarge them, to make them readable?) I think we should take up a collection so I can wave some money in someones face (I know several of them, from eBay+) to challenge them to find "X" no. of Bulova ads, we don't already have, or they redundantly list (monkey see do :-) on eBay...
I have a few you don't have up yet. And I suspect others do also? But without the Jeweller's catalogs, we'll never get most of them ID'd, with certainty. Bulova used the same model names, glass, movements, cases and dials, etc. on many a similar model, as did the other manufacturers... if the name, case, powerplant, etc. SOLD well enough! So many crystal catalogs are a great date range resource, as well as part spec. sheet... BUT are of limited use... unless they ALSO include the model names, as well ?!
There are also "digitized" G-S, BB, etc. catalogs on eBay... I much prefer a PHYSICAL catalog, however, for several reasons. Not the least of which is they are "to scale" so you can simply place a loose crystal over the page and match by eye! G-S also provides more model names, generally... But unless you have: a lot of time, endless patience, a keen analylitcal mind, a great memory AND reasonably deep pockets... I don't advocate buying up lots, or cabinets of crystals, as you'll NEVER begin to recoop the investment. And I speak from experience...
Kind Regards :-) William
Part of the problem is exactly that, not having a high enough resolution ad to display on this site. I'd love to be able to buy all those I see on eBay but alas....shallow pockets. So I rely on users of this site to help out where ever they can.
I'd like to hear more about this collection idea.
I previously contacted a half dozen vintage ad resellers online and told them I wanted any ad I didn't already have (from the mid 20s- 1960+) for Bulova, Gruen, Elgin, Illinois, Waltham, Longines, Wittnauer, etc. as I have been working on all of these brands+ for the last 2 years time! So far I have a half to two dozen of several brands, and they give BIG discounts if one sends them say $50.- $100.USD for 20- 40 ads, depending on the supplier... (I bought 20 mixed brand ads for instance, for $2.50 each, vs. $10.00 average delivered individually...) So the KEY is offering several potential suppliers perhaps $50.00 each for vintage watch ads in general, so their time is covered, vs. a donation...
I myself am willing to invest say $50.00 a month for the top 6+ brands and then forward scans of all Bulova ads (even the cropped individual model shots, I use on eBay) if others are prepared to chip in also? (Even $10.USD a month, for the duration?) I have about a dozen Bulova ads, mainly from the late 20s to latter 40s... The 1953- 58 timeframe appears to have been very scant for Bulova display ads, for whatever reason/s? And I keep seeing the same ones on eBay, however there must ALSO be more of them out there, as some of these resellers now have MILLIONS of Saturday Evening Post, etc. pages, filed by month and year. Some are even digitizing them, so there must be MORE ADS!!!
Now where the HECK are the JEWELERS catalogs? I saw one 1929 one go on eBay for $175.00!
My Best :-) William
Hey William,
This site is such a great resource! I indeed will be looking for a replacement crystal as soon as I identify my grandfathers watch. If you'd look on the Ask a Question forum page there's a discussion going on with pictures as to it.
I'd love if you could give an opinion as to the year and model. It looks very similar to a Lone Eagle but probably not.
Here's a like to the discussion
Thanks!
Jerin
I'm totally, completely new at this and trying to learn, so please be patient. I have a watch that has been identified through other posts as either a Harrington or an Ivanhoe (http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1954-harrington-1004?page=1). The difference appears to be the crystal--one is curved only lengthwise (Harrington) and the other is curved in both directions (Ivanhoe).
My watch has a refinished dial, so I have no reason to believe that the existing crystal is original. It is, however, curved only lengthwise. Because I'm not sure that it's original, I am reluctant to use it as a reference for a new crystal. It is chipped, so I'd like to get a new one.
Through the post referenced above, I learned about a couple of possible G-S crystal matches. My question is this: how do I cross reference a specific watch model to a specific G-S crystal? In other words, how did the contributors to the post above identify the G-S crystal that might be a match for each of the two models under discussion? One of the posters specifically identified the crystal that was true to the Harrington as well as the one for the Ivanhoe. How was that done? I have yet to find a catalog that provides a G-S crystal to Bulova model link.
My new digital calipers are on the way, so I'm relying on the above post for measurements. I used those to find G-S crystals of the proper size through this site: http://www.stsupplyonline.com/catalog/index.php. Don't know if that's a good source, but it came up in a search and seemed to be easy to navigate. (I first searched eBay and watchcrsytals.net for anything listed under Harrington or Ivanhoe. I got one match for Ivanhoe, but don't know if that's correct for my watch). There are multiple choices for the size in question. How do I know which one is correct for my model?
P.S. Pictures and info about my watch are at the end of this thread: http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1938-unknown-1313?page=1 Note that my watch has a different dial from the Harrington in the post above.
Hi Lisa,
I haven't looked at this (or many) forum posts, since some time ago...
According to my Excel file... the Harrington (or Regis) take the following crystals:
MODEL
GS
GS
SUC
BB
BB
Regis, Harrington (Curves lengthwise, only)
3
CMX324-6 (Std. Molded)
RMS124-27T (Flat Top)
CMX213? 188?
Harrington & Ivanhoe (Curve BOTH ways)
3
CMX324-6C (Molded, Comp. Curve)
RMS124-26 or -27B (Flat Top or Gabled)
1
MX2135, A, B or C x 188 (Curves x 2)
Best :-) Scott
The "REGIS" crystals curve lengthwise. And incidentally... "MX" (vs. "X") means, in effect... curved ONE or BOTH directions... vs. FLAT (no curve) in either, which is the older "X" (rectangular) in G-S and BB speak, for instance...
I "ID'd" the Harrington (or it could perhaps be an Ivanhoe, but I have images of another one, I beleieve is that namesake?) and the majority of the models here and elsewhere... (And hundreds of others you don't even SEE here, etc. to date... in a dozen brands!) It frankly requires a HUGE investment in time, money, literature, crystals and visual recognition... to ACCURATELY determine BULOVA model IDs!
And really at this point... noone else here but Shawn, is capable (or referenced) to do so... And without 20+ crystal catalogs and/or dozens of vintage ads, and/or the period JEWELERS catalogs (which are the other MISSING LINK, to date!) one simply cannot be 90%+ CERTAIN of ANY model ID... And most of what I has been postedhere to date, clearly underscores my points... One simply cannot be CERTAIN that there aren't 1+ MORE Bullys out there that take the same exact crystals, unless they hAVE (and fully UNDERSTAND?) a sufficient volume, of crystal+ literature... watch ads, watch catalogs, and/or the physical watches! And more often than NOT... it takes a formidable combination of 2+ means of identification... ESPECIALLY a library of crystal catalogs and 1000+ Bulova crystals!! And even then... you can still be wrong 5- 10% of the time!?!
Best :-) Scott
