Upgrading to a Sapphire Crystal on the Seiko SKX007 Dive Watch – Watch and Learn #27

Upgrading to a Sapphire Crystal on the Seiko SKX007 Dive Watch – Watch and Learn #27

In today’s episode of watch and learn, we will show you how to upgrade the hardlex crystal on the Seiko SKX007 to a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. It’s a simple upgrade that requires just a few tools and a bit of know-how.

The same technique applies to many Seiko divers, such as the SKX009, SKX173, SKX175, etc. The aftermarket is full of options to upgrade your Seiko diver, so this is just the start!

Please visit our store at: www.longislandwatch.com

47 Comments

  1. Jesse Davis on December 8, 2021 at 9:59 am

    Do you know if they sell a sapphire Crystal with a cyclops. I have a Sub and love the cyclops but I wear my Seiko every day with no stress of scratch or dinging the bracelet or case



  2. Ifestion Papadam on December 8, 2021 at 10:01 am

    Great job, have you made afterwards a waterproof test to check if the watch has the same level of atm.?



  3. DJ Ezasscul on December 8, 2021 at 10:02 am

    Does it lose water resistance when you switch the glass? Are there any 39mm-38mm islander divers…?



  4. stuart brown on December 8, 2021 at 10:03 am

    thank you marc for sharing this with us. I have a Seiko franken monster watch which has the hardlex glass, it now has a little scratch on it. I used to rate the hardlex glass but no longer do. I have  10 -11 watches which are sapphire glass, you can’t go wrong with sapphire as their the 2nd hardest to diamond…. I also have anti reflective on my new le jour mark 1 chronograph watch. I watched a video that states you can scratch the anti reflective coating leaving people thinking that their sapphire glass is scratched which is not the case as sapphire glass can not be scratched, only the AR coating….



  5. Arkeill on December 8, 2021 at 10:04 am

    next time please do an oil filled progress for any water resistant watch



  6. mrpiercerbilly1 on December 8, 2021 at 10:04 am

    Personal note (just happened) remove the bezel if you have a ceramic insert. The crystal replacement came out great, but I shattered the bezel insert. Oops



  7. tom Hughes on December 8, 2021 at 10:04 am

    im sure i bought one already modded and tested from you guys as a shop fitted mod , yes it was a seiko 007 , it leaked in a bathtub 12 inches of water !



  8. richard batchelor on December 8, 2021 at 10:06 am

    Can you do it with bracelet still on



  9. almazonly on December 8, 2021 at 10:07 am

    The other guys like Lume Shot would lubricate gaskets for an hour. This one was short and sweet!



  10. Ismet Hadzic on December 8, 2021 at 10:08 am

    Hi. Can I use crystal lift tool after I remove the bezel or this is the only way for diver watch



  11. Brooks VP on December 8, 2021 at 10:09 am

    I want to put a sapphire crystal on my watch but I can’t. : (



  12. Knapweed on December 8, 2021 at 10:11 am

    That’s a very cheap crystal press but it appears to be doing a good job. What is your take on how effective these cheap presses are compared to the higher price tools?



  13. HD Imaging on December 8, 2021 at 10:11 am

    thanks for the video. Is the crystal removal process for the Seiko ssc017 solar diver be the same as for the skx? thx



  14. Perico De Lospalotes on December 8, 2021 at 10:13 am

    Is there a sapphire upgrade for the Citizen Promaster? You know, NY0040



  15. Naung Naung Latt on December 8, 2021 at 10:14 am

    thank you! i am really madness with SKX 007!! Still trying to buy one of this!!



  16. Milan Nikolić on December 8, 2021 at 10:18 am

    I legit cringed when you popped the movement out



  17. Perth Watch Girl B DT on December 8, 2021 at 10:21 am

    that was cool



  18. wojciech on December 8, 2021 at 10:23 am

    doesn’t it lose it’s 200m water resistance after this? opening and reopening the case?
    if it does you can’t use the watch in the water swimming etc also can’t call the watch a diver after this and that sucks ;/



  19. jose peixoto on December 8, 2021 at 10:23 am

    those garden variety gloves shed a lot of lint?!
    you positive that it’s ok?



  20. Jean Baptiste on December 8, 2021 at 10:26 am

    Hi Mark,
    One that is avaliable on your website is 2.9mm thick, 31.5mm
    https://www.longislandwatch.com/Flat_Sapphire_Crystal_for_SKX007_SKX009_p/007-flat.html mentioned as OEM crystal size.
    What is the source for the original crystal size?
    Regards



  21. classiccarz on December 8, 2021 at 10:27 am

    Couldn’t you just pop the bezel off and do it? More work that way?



  22. sonal patel on December 8, 2021 at 10:28 am

    Epic : 2 sicko black dial
    Brother : understanding
    Good day .



  23. avkash mahtab on December 8, 2021 at 10:29 am

    How much does this effect the water resistance if at all? Any tips to help preserve water resistance after removing and replacing the glass?



  24. T H on December 8, 2021 at 10:32 am

    Nice.



  25. almazonly on December 8, 2021 at 10:32 am

    In Mark we trust, not the other guys who mod and cheat us on the video…



  26. John Kennedy on December 8, 2021 at 10:33 am

    Hey do you have any idea if you’ll sell sapphire crystals for gen 4 Monsters?



  27. Time Measured on December 8, 2021 at 10:35 am

    Great tutorial!!! Needed to show how to make sure the crystal is clean from any dust before putting back the movement and case. Thanks



  28. todd Sween on December 8, 2021 at 10:35 am

    Great video with excellent tutorial! Will be attempting this soon on my Seiko flightmaster.



  29. qwasd0r on December 8, 2021 at 10:37 am

    I replaced my crystal with a double-domed sapphire and it didn’t make that popping sound when I pressed it it, although I used a rather big amount of force. Should I put it back in the press and use even more force? You didn’t seem to need all that much…



  30. palurago on December 8, 2021 at 10:38 am

    Just to be sure, finally the waterproof resistance was compromised or not?



  31. Muzammil Sharieff Aamiri on December 8, 2021 at 10:38 am

    Hello sir
    I have seiko 5 automatic I don’t know the model number the serial number is 874553 movement number is 7009 and case number is 838A. Sir I need single dome shappire glass with inner rubber and hour hands and sweep hand kindly suggests



  32. Josh Wedge on December 8, 2021 at 10:41 am

    the hardest part I think I’ll struggle with is getting the right crystal size XD



  33. José Toache on December 8, 2021 at 10:41 am

    Me I greasse a crystal gasket?



  34. Arnljot Seem on December 8, 2021 at 10:41 am

    Thanks for the explanation. Two questions if I may:
    Is there a recess in the bezel for the crystal gasket?
    When ordering a crystal gasket, should the inner diameter of the gasket be on size with the crystal, or slightly smaller. Reason I’m asking is that none of the gaskets from my supplier are on the size with (any) crystal. They have odd sizes, like not in half mm steps as the crystals are.
    Thanks



  35. Edward Delaney on December 8, 2021 at 10:41 am

    Great video. I need to replace a damaged mineral crystal. Local repair shops want more than the watch is worth for the repair.



  36. Wayne Tykocki on December 8, 2021 at 10:43 am

    Just changed my Crystal to sapphire great instructions but it was difficult to see the place to ouch to get the crown out I also changed the aluminium bezel insert for a ceramic one in dark blue. Well pleased looks well smart and expensive. The sapphire really catches the light.



  37. DBS ll on December 8, 2021 at 10:44 am

    Would you change a watch crown for me?



  38. Bernardo Courrege on December 8, 2021 at 10:46 am

    Hi! Is it bad for my SKX to stop/sit during a day/date change?  I mean when the watch runs out of power and isn’t being used and stops in the midst of flipping the date.



  39. fishtiti on December 8, 2021 at 10:46 am

    Easy job, will done this on my srpe57, wish me luck , thanks for the tutorial Marc!



  40. Dennis Summers on December 8, 2021 at 10:48 am

    I watch your videos . I just purchased a seiko SKX013. I want a new movement to install in it. Can you tell me the seiko movement part number that is automatic and selfwinding that I need to order.



  41. monkeymanstones1 on December 8, 2021 at 10:50 am

    Do you know of any maker of Sapphire crystals for a Graf Zeppelin Hindenburg LZ129? The plastic crystal has me insecure about it’s lifespan…



  42. Daniel Shamany on December 8, 2021 at 10:50 am

    You didn’t align the chapter ring. Kind of an important thing to do.



  43. John Lee on December 8, 2021 at 10:50 am

    Pressed down where you pressed but crown still won’t come out.



  44. William McNamara on December 8, 2021 at 10:52 am

    Thank you so much for these videos Marc. You make it look so easy. I’ve managed to pop a sapphire top hat into my 5KX. Was a bit sketchy putting the movement and crown back in but I managed it. Thank you Marc! Keep up the brilliant work and videos! Peace ✌



  45. sanman187 on December 8, 2021 at 10:55 am

    Do you know where I can get the exact crystal measurements for my Invicta 8926OB Pro Diver watch? I’ve had it for five years, it still keeps time great but the mineral crystal and aluminum bezel insert are getting pretty beat up. Suggestions welcome!



  46. HVSkyline on December 8, 2021 at 10:55 am

    Im doing this on a duro with a double dome sapphire crystal



  47. Ethan Han on December 8, 2021 at 10:56 am

    Here is the cool Alpinist mod. Check it out.
    https://youtu.be/1dTypZ2gmXk