It’s an embarrassing early hurdle to hit in my very slow and minor attempts at watch repairs but I can’t for the life of me get a crystal in place without it shattering. I’ve tried two different watches, ensured the crystal is correct, researched the technique on countless sites but every time, pop!

Is it likely to be due to the press I bought? I admit I went for a cheap one of eBay but didn’t know if it was going to be unnecessary to overspend due to it being such a basic principle.

I’m seating the watchcases on large enough adapters for them to sit without resting on the lugs, am ensuring the gasket is pre-placed inside the case, am ensuring the upper adapter is slightly over the size of the crystal to enclose it, am pressing slowly but firmly but have now broken three. Gah!

Does anyone have any idea what I could be doing wrong?

Thanks in advance.


Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app