Domed acrylic crystal for pocket watches

A pocket watch spends its life in a fob pocket or waistcoat pocket, opened and closed thousands of times. Its crystal must protect the dial while remaining easy to replace: that is the role of this domed acrylic crystal for pocket watches.

Which watches is it for?

Plexiglas, or hesalite, is often found on pocket watches, as well as on many antique and vintage watches. This domed crystal generally suits pocket watches whose original crystal was rounded; the very wide range of diameters covers small models and large pocket watches alike.

Acrylic: strengths and drawbacks

Its strengths: it is light and does not shatter into sharp shards, so you will not find pieces of glass on the dial after a drop. Its drawback: low hardness, which makes it prone to scratches, particularly from keys or coins in a pocket. Light scratches can, however, be removed by polishing; the method is described in the guide to polishing an acrylic crystal.

Measuring a pocket watch crystal

Use a calliper and measure the old crystal at its base, on the edge that fits into the bezel, not at the top of the dome. On large diameters, slight ovality is possible: take the measurement in several directions.

The choice of final diameter depends on fitting. As a rule, an acrylic crystal is fitted slightly larger than its seat: compressed to go into the bezel, it then expands and is held in place by pressure. The margin varies from case to case; the measuring guide shows you how to proceed.

Choosing from the diameters

The table below lists the available diameters of this pocket watch crystal.

Available diameters