High dome acrylic crystal

The high dome, a pronounced curve

The high dome crystal stands out for its height: the curve rises well above the bezel, much more than a standard dome. This profile leaves room for the hands and raised dials, and gives the watch a distinctive silhouette. In acrylic, also known as Plexiglas or hesalite, this type of crystal is often found on old and vintage watches, and it is generally suitable for cases whose original crystal was itself very domed.

Pros and cons of acrylic

Plexiglas was long used in watchmaking for good reasons:

• it is lightweight;
• it does not shatter into sharp fragments on impact.

Its main weakness is low hardness: it scratches easily, and the top of a high dome is particularly exposed to rubbing. These marks can be polished out, extending the life of the crystal. See the guide to polishing an acrylic crystal.

Measuring and fitting

Measure at the base

On such a domed crystal, never measure at the top of the curve. Place the calliper at the base of the old crystal, on the edge that sits in the bezel.

Allow a slight extra margin

An acrylic crystal is generally chosen slightly larger than its seat: it is compressed during fitting, then expands and stays held in the bezel. The exact margin depends on the case; the measuring guide walks you through this step.

The diameters

See the full table of diameters for this high dome crystal below.

Available diameters