Is it practical to wear a non-saphire crystal vintage as an every day?

[pluto_scorp]

I do like the old 5513's - but spending that kind of cash would warrant me wearing it daily. Would you be continuousely removing scratches from the cyrstal (acrylic). How about the bracelet? any advise on suitability for everyday?

[pluto_scorp]

wrong forum i believe

[Goodwatch]

Forum sorted. Well, Del Boy , you must keep in mind that at the time this watch was released, it was intended for everyday use. In fact, up 'till some 25 years ago, most watch crystals were made of some sort of acrylic compound. It will scratch but the scratches can be buffed out again, up to a certain point. After that, a new crystal.

[mike]

There are quite a few vintage types that wear acryllic watches everyday. Whether a 5513, 1675, etc... provided the watch is properly serviced, pressure checked, and everything there's no reason not to.

The acryllic crystal is certainly more prone to scratching than sapphire, but these watches were used everyday at one time and some were exposed to extreme conditions.

A little polywatch or something similiar will cure most scratches.

[Omega_Precision]

It's not a problem. If you think about it, people were wearing these watches daily when bought new. I had thoughts about not wearing my vintages like I would do with my modern watches. Like the fear of getting the watch flooded when showering or swimming with it. I don't think it's a problem.

[PeterT]

My daily wearer at the moment is a Tudor awarded to my Grandad in 1949. No problems with the "glass"

PeterT

[stevemulholland3]

you better believe its o.k. to wear a plastic rolex everyday!!
if it werent then usually I wouldnt be able to wear anything..because thats mostly all I wear is vintage rolex!
once you get your first plastic sub you wont want anything else...I fell in love with my first and rarely wear anything else..
here are a couple

[Skutt50]

I have two DJ with acrylic crystal. They have never been a problem for me.

Some even say that the acrylic crystal is better than saphire since it will not split if hit hard.

I have buffed my most worn once with polywax and it came out very nice. Deep scratches are harder to remove but when you service the watch a new crystal is part of the standard service.

[pluto_scorp]

Thanks... yes after reading your responses that makes sense... they were designed to be worn every day! many thanks.

[pluto_scorp]

Originally Posted by stevemulholland3

you better believe its o.k. to wear a plastic rolex everyday!!
if it werent then usually I wouldnt be able to wear anything..because thats mostly all I wear is vintage rolex!
once you get your first plastic sub you wont want anything else...I fell in love with my first and rarely wear anything else..
here are a couple

Wow!!! I may just do it!

[Goodwatch]

TRF to the rescue once more! And I'm not jealous about your watch, no Sir, I'm not

[chenx15]

Originally Posted by pluto_scorp

thanks... Yes after reading your responses that makes sense... They were designed to be worn every day! Many thanks.

x2

[chenx15]

Originally Posted by Skutt50

I have two DJ with acrylic crystal. They have never been a problem for me.

Some even say that the acrylic crystal is better than saphire since it will not split if hit hard.

I have buffed my most worn once with polywax and it came out very nice. Deep scratches are harder to remove but when you service the watch a new crystal is part of the standard service.

x2

[goduke1]

The Air King I have has been worn everyday since bought!

[springer]

Originally Posted by pluto_scorp

I do like the old 5513's - but spending that kind of cash would warrant me wearing it daily. Would you be continuousely removing scratches from the cyrstal (acrylic). How about the bracelet? any advise on suitability for everyday?

My daily is a 1983 GMT, 16750, plastic crystal.

By the way, scratches on the plastic crystals are very easy to remove, at least they have been for me. I use 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit sandpaper, then some polishing compound. Usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes to have the crystal looking new again.

[Toxicant]

Let me just warn you, once you get used to a plastic crystal and then switch to a sapphire, you'll miss your plastic.

I wore my 1675 for 30 years and decided to get a new daily beater....2000 sub/date with sapphire....I hate that crystal

Does anyone know where I can get a plastic for a new sub???

[stevemulholland3]

Originally Posted by Toxicant

Let me just warn you, once you get used to a plastic crystal and then switch to a sapphire, you'll miss your plastic.

I wore my 1675 for 30 years and decided to get a new daily beater....2000 sub/date with sapphire....I hate that crystal

Does anyone know where I can get a plastic for a new sub???

you know what..I am thinking about experimenting with a newer sub..
I have a large batch of crystals coming any day and another n/d sub next week.when it gets here I am going to take the sapphire out and see if there is any way possible to stick an acrylic in there..I know it wont be water-proof but it will be fun to see.
if you cant tell my work has been very slow the last two weeks...lol..

[builtforspeed]

Another terrific thread. Thanks for all the useful information, gents.

Cheers,

Chris

[onkyo]

Originally Posted by stevemulholland3

you better believe its o.k. to wear a plastic rolex everyday!!
if it werent then usually I wouldnt be able to wear anything..because thats mostly all I wear is vintage rolex!
once you get your first plastic sub you wont want anything else...I fell in love with my first and rarely wear anything else..
here are a couple

Steve,

You nipple dial black bezel GMT is incredible! Want to sell it to me?

[vapalux]

No problem with the glass. I have never had a problem with any of the 'glass' on my vintage watches.

That also includes my daily beater which takes a hammering

Si

[m332is]

Prior to buying a Breitling Superocean Chrono about a year ago and SS Sub Date about a month ago, I wore my TT DJ with the arcrylic crystal on a daily basis for 5 years. I got one stratch I was not able to buff out from rubbing against the concrete around a door jam. Light buffing of the DJ's crystal seems to keep it looking 90-95%.

The new Sub Date has been getting 100% of my wrist time sine buying it last month, after this post however I think my DJ needs some off the winder love.

Vince

[jasper]

I wear my 1984 16750 (almost) every day, and I work in a cement factory!

Yes it gets scratched, sometimes quite deeply. A few minutes with a cotton ball and some polywatch and it's glistening like new.

Let us know how the plastic crystal fits on the modern sub Steve. The 16800 and 1680 used the same case didn't they? It would make an interesting thread if you posted soe detailled pictures.

[Z-Sub]

Sure, why not if that makes you feel good every day.
as for me and some others, we have other watches that are great for daily wear and I would only wear vintage when I'm not working but I won't keep it in safe or use it as window display either.

[pluto_scorp]

Originally Posted by stevemulholland3

you better believe its o.k. to wear a plastic rolex everyday!!
if it werent then usually I wouldnt be able to wear anything..because thats mostly all I wear is vintage rolex!
once you get your first plastic sub you wont want anything else...I fell in love with my first and rarely wear anything else..
here are a couple

Steve - your watches look awesome - i do see they do have scratches on the plastic... how do you tackle these - as soon as they happen or every for example 6 months with the polywhatch?

[redshirt1957]

The wife proudly wears her plastic for all to see. All of her Rolexes are sapphire. The price of all vintage Rolexes is on the way down and I heard of a great price on a 5513. So shop around and get one a lot cheaper than I did back in June of '08. I would go with one that does not have the gold surrounds and with the dail and hands being original. Being tritium, they will have lost their lume though.

[waltk1026]

I wore my 5513 every day since 1979 when I bought it new up to 3 years ago when I got a new Rolex. It has some scratches which is acceptable after all those years. My son still wears it quite often. You just can't beat that old vintage Rolex. BTW the trinium still glows which is hard to believe after almost 30 years.

[Wildwing]

No problem with plastic crystals, and by the way, you can get scratches off them with brasso and a little elbow grease. I'd be careful to keep the brasso just on the top of the crystal though. Plastic crystals have a warmth that looks good.

[Dhiney]

I've worn a DJ for 30 years and I don't like the plastic crystal. I just bought a GMTIIc and I really like the saphire crystal.

If I could I would replace the plastic with saphire.

Is it a problem - No - worked well for 30 years for me. I just don't like having my crystal scratched all the time.

It's not a reason not to buy a watch you really like.

[eparisini]

I wear my Vintage Rolex watches everyday... what's wrong??? I love them!!!

[slcbbrown]

Rolex made it's reputation when all it made was plastic. I wore a root beer, 1973 GMT through jump school, Ranger school, and Jungle school and never made an effort to baby it. Gave it to one of my sons recently. That model faded like crazy, though.

I now wear my father's TT T-bird that was made circa 1947. It has always looked great and has been worn daily since it was made.