Replacing the crystal on a vintage Omega Speedmaster watch after an amateur watch repair attempt

As a watchmaker and collector of vintage watches, I am always happy to welcome beautiful pieces to my workbench. Here is an Omega Speedmaster reference ST 145022 from 1980.

The goal here is to replace the glass. Unfortunately, an unscrupulous watchmaker has been at work...

Condition of the vintage chronograph

Tritium dust and a glass that is not original. Not very sexy.

 

What's more, the acrylic cystal is crooked...

The glass was forced so hard during installation that it cracked.

This monstrosity must be removed.

Disassembling the vintage Omega Speedmaster

To be able to work on the glass with peace of mind, we start by removing the case back.

 

Then remove the dust cover, which also serves as an anti-magnetic cage.

It features the superb Omega 861 caliber!

The serial number on the anchor bridge is hidden for obvious reasons.

The crown screw is unscrewed, the winding stem is removed, releasing the movement/dial/hands assembly.

Finally, we can remove the ugly glass. It is shamefully stuck with glue, which is everywhere on the throat!

The glue has been carefully removed, the case is in good condition, and we can now proceed with reassembly.

Reassembly of the Omega Speedmaster Vintage

A new, original Omega hesalite crystal is reassembled on the Speedmaster. Of course!

The new glass is in place and the dial is clean.

The last hurdle before the result: the protective film on the glass.

 

 

Conclusion

Replacing the generic glass with the original glass restores this legendary watch to its former glory.

 

These tritium Speed watches never fail to impress me...

Once again, this article highlights the importance of choosing the right watchmaker to service your watches.

Installing a crystal in this manner is a distressing practice that reflects the lack of professionalism of the watchmaker in question.

Thank you for reading this article. I will leave you with a video of the caliber 861 in action:

 

This article is part of an ongoing exploration of vintage watches.
I offer independent analysis and private inspections for collectors.

Have a great time on the website!

Joshua Grillet