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Old 16 September 2020, 08:59 AM   #1
elevenbee
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Correct Crystal for a Red 1680?

Hello Everyone,

I'm just dipping my feet into this whole vintage thing and it's starting with a red sub that was handed down to me.

From what I could figure out, at some point the original crystal was swapped out for one without a cyclops and while this looks nice I think I'd prefer it with the cyclops.

Is there a specific part number or trusted source for this particular crystal?

I've done my best to search the forum and most guides online offered no guidance on the crystal.. plenty of info on the dials, inserts and bracelets though, lol.

thank you all for your help.
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Old 16 September 2020, 09:06 AM   #2
shiftf7
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That would be a Rolex 25 127 crystal
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Old 16 September 2020, 09:24 AM   #3
elevenbee
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That would be a Rolex 25 127 crystal
thank you!
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Old 16 September 2020, 10:42 AM   #4
ILuvSubs
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I've bookmarked the thread / post below from Springer which has been super helpful for finding the correct crystal for a vintage reference.

I on the other hand prefer the cleaner no cyclops look, so I've gone the other way and prefer the tropic 19 domed crystal for the 1680. You can't beat the dome for a vintage Rolex dive watch.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=487453
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Old 16 September 2020, 12:16 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by ILuvSubs View Post
I on the other hand prefer the cleaner no cyclops look, so I've gone the other way and prefer the tropic 19 domed crystal for the 1680.
I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.
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Old 16 September 2020, 12:30 PM   #6
Styles Bitchley
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zapokee View Post
i do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline ocd. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.


x2
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Old 16 September 2020, 12:30 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zapokee View Post
I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.
As above.

To Caesar what is Caesar's, especially true if you're old enough; with a 25-127 I don't need to put on my spectacles to read the date.
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Old 16 September 2020, 12:34 PM   #8
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top hat 127
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Old 16 September 2020, 02:07 PM   #9
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x2


X 3


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Old 16 September 2020, 03:59 PM   #10
elevenbee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ILuvSubs View Post
I've bookmarked the thread / post below from Springer which has been super helpful for finding the correct crystal for a vintage reference.

I on the other hand prefer the cleaner no cyclops look, so I've gone the other way and prefer the tropic 19 domed crystal for the 1680. You can't beat the dome for a vintage Rolex dive watch.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=487453
Thank you! that's super helpful... nothing else I could find online spoke specifically to the crystals.


Quote:
Originally Posted by zapokee View Post
I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.
X4? lol

This is basically where I'm at... I'm all about making things your own but for me personally, being new to vintage, I want to at least experience how it was when it was NIB so I can find out what it is that I like.
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Old 16 September 2020, 08:34 PM   #11
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Ha ha ha, clearly I am in the minority on this point!

I think the rationale of wanting the 1680 with Tropic 19 over the top hat is:

* I previously had a 5513 and loved the Tropic 19 on it (i.e., the off axis distortion), but the lack of date complication drove me mad whenever I looked down at it to find out the date. I loved the symmetry of the dial though, even if the lack of date made it somewhat impractical

* I found the cyclops of the Top Hat 127 dominated the dial of the 1680, which I disliked

* With a Tropic 19 on the 1680 I get the best of both worlds - date complication and the cleaner domed crystal

I acknowledge it's not what it looked like when it came fresh out of the factory, but Springer's Rolex crystal catalogue shows the Tropic 19 is interchangeable with the Top Hat 127 and different strokes for different folks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zapokee View Post
I do like the look, but the incorrectness of a dome on a 1680 bothers my borderline OCD. Gotta be a top-hat cyclops for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley View Post
x2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Filipćo View Post
As above.

To Caesar what is Caesar's, especially true if you're old enough; with a 25-127 I don't need to put on my spectacles to read the date.
Quote:
Originally Posted by greekbum View Post
top hat 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chunky View Post
X 3


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Quote:
Originally Posted by elevenbee View Post
X4? lol

This is basically where I'm at... I'm all about making things your own but for me personally, being new to vintage, I want to at least experience how it was when it was NIB so I can find out what it is that I like.
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Old 17 September 2020, 02:15 AM   #12
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I'm also bothered by the 'incorrectness" of putting tropic crystal on my 94110 (shares same case and crystal as 1680) although I love the look.

Is my understanding correct that

- Rolex and Tudor used to accept customer request of swapping top-hat cyclops crystal with corresponding tropic crystal during service? i.e. you were able to send your 1680 to Rolex and ask "please put Tropic crystal on" and you'd get the watch back with T-19?

- If the above is true, when did they stop doing that? Or actually do they still accept the request? (of course that will be limited to acrylic crystal equipped references)

Anyone know?
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Old 17 September 2020, 02:42 AM   #13
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Let’s see some photos of your new heirloom!
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Old 17 September 2020, 03:12 AM   #14
Kingface66
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Gotta respectfully disagree with my colleagues here. Not only do I think the dome looks fantastic on the 1680, but I've made the modification to all my top hat-fitted pieces.


[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 17 September 2020, 03:29 AM   #15
Droggo
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Not correct but I prefer the T19 look, I might get one fitted and keep the original for if I sell it.
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Old 17 September 2020, 07:35 AM   #16
zapokee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coelacanthus View Post
- Rolex and Tudor used to accept customer request of swapping top-hat cyclops crystal with corresponding tropic crystal during service? i.e. you were able to send your 1680 to Rolex and ask "please put Tropic crystal on" and you'd get the watch back with T-19?
I've never heard this. Pretty sure they'd laugh you out of the shop (or march you out) if you requested it today.
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Old 17 September 2020, 07:39 AM   #17
zapokee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ILuvSubs View Post
...different strokes for different folks.
Absolutely. Do what you want with it. It's yours. But you'd be well advised to un-mod it if you ever decide to sell it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingface66 View Post
Gotta respectfully disagree with my colleagues here. Not only do I think the dome looks fantastic on the 1680, but I've made the modification to all my top hat-fitted pieces.
Not bad at all. Each to his own. In Japanese they say "Ju nin, to iro," which means "10 different people, 10 different colors."
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Old 17 September 2020, 12:15 PM   #18
Kingface66
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Not bad at all. Each to his own. In Japanese they say "Ju nin, to iro," which means "10 different people, 10 different colors."
Absolutely.
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Old 17 September 2020, 06:59 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coelacanthus View Post

Is my understanding correct that

- Rolex and Tudor used to accept customer request of swapping top-hat cyclops crystal with corresponding tropic crystal during service? i.e. you were able to send your 1680 to Rolex and ask "please put Tropic crystal on" and you'd get the watch back with T-19?

Anyone know?
Nowadays, they would never do that in Geneva, I'm pretty sure.
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Old 18 September 2020, 08:47 AM   #20
Filipćo
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Off course not.
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