Let's see your mechanical watches

[handymike]

Thanks for the tips!
Now, how do I know if the crystal is acrylic or mineral?

 

[viclip]

Thanks for the tips!
Now, how do I know if the crystal is acrylic or mineral?

Well, with experience you'll usually be able to tell by tapping the crystal with your finger nail, glass emits a sound or sensation that's more "clangy" or "clinky" (for want of a better description).

If that doesn't work, usually a plastic crystal is well hazed with numerous tiny scratches whereas the glass ones being tougher, tend to show more major scratches. Also, major scratches in plastic tend to have softer edges as compared to sharper edges for scratches in glass.

Note that you can always start polishing any crystal with an acrylic compound. If you see an improvement fairly quickly then the crystal is plastic, otherwise it's glass. The plastic polish won't hurt glass however glass polish will further haze plastic so start with the less aggressive material first.

Incidentally it's possible to hand polish lightly scratched sapphire crystals using diamond dust compound but if you find manual glass polishing to be tedious, then you ain't seen nothin' yet ...

 

[Trenchfriend]

Got a nice new automatic. Again Zeppelin, nothing special, just working-horse Miyota 821A.

I started my Miyota 821A, today and yes, it def. runs a little faster forward than my 8215.

 

[Ayeteael]

Seamaster 300 coaxial titanium. It’s got a nice light blue dial. Much lighter than the steel version.

 

[Turnip]

...
Incidentally it's possible to hand polish lightly scratched sapphire crystals using diamond dust compound but if you find manual glass polishing to be tedious, then you ain't seen nothin' yet ...

But you should check first whether the Saphire has got. an anti reflective coating or not, many modern watches feature that. If so you would either screw the whole glass up polishing a hole into the coating or you would end up polishing the whole coating down for a consistent look.

 

[viclip]

But you should check first whether the Saphire has got. an anti reflective coating or not, many modern watches feature that. If so you would either screw the whole glass up polishing a hole into the coating or you would end up polishing the whole coating down for a consistent look.

Good point, some brands do coat the outside face of the sapphire crystal with anti-glare.

 

[Turnip]

Yes, some outside, some inside, some both sides, especially on sportive and instrumental watches like divers and pilots...

 

[Brandrea33]

Wearing the BLRO today

 

[Ayeteael]

Wearing the BLRO today View attachment 310750

Very nice! I've decided to forgo all jacket, boot, and other luxury item purchases for the next year so that I can get one of my grail watches in 2022. Either a no-date sub or polar explorer II. I was going to try and wait for the steel rolex bubble to burst before buying, but who knows when that will be. Seems like when it comes to steel rolexes, the best time to buy is yesterday.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Thanks for the tips!
Now, how do I know if the crystal is acrylic or mineral?

Mineral is glass, acrylic is plastic. Touch a key gently against it you'll know.

 

[handymike]

Turns out they were acrylic, and they polished up nicely!

 

[Trenchfriend]

My last Zeppelin Hindenburg with Miyota 8215 got acrylic glass, which was mistakenly marked as mineral glass. No problem, you don't see the little scratches, when you look straight on the dial.

 

[Turnip]

 

[Zoo]

Today's watch.

 

[Trenchfriend]

The Zeppelin Flatline, the last days.

Constant back drift 9 seconds daily.

 

[DrVoel]

I have a small collection of mechanical watches.

An Omega Seamaster, a Steinhart OVM, a Borealis Omega 300 homage, an orient Bambino dress watch, but my favourite by far is the Longines Legend Diver

 

[Turnip]

Guinand (Sinn) Chrono, ETA7750

 

[Turnip]

Diver‘s watch a seaman’s sweater...

 

[Trenchfriend]

I can now say, the classic Miyota 8215 starts much faster by swinging than the 821A and 82S5.

 

[Brandrea33]

Wearing the SKX009j today.

I love the simple movement, shake and go... I had it regulated recently and it keeps decent time as well.

old photo