Vintage watch specialist Eric Wind has gone public on a personal investment in TrueDome, a manufacturer of replacement glass for mid-20th century Rolex dive watches.
TrueDome began as a passion project of watchmaker and collector, Greg Petronzi, whose other business, True Patina, restores vintage watches for clients including Mr Wind’s Wind Vintage.
That restoration work was often frustrated when it came to replacement acrylic glasses for early Rolex Submariners that were originally sold with Tropic 19 Superdome glass.
Manufacturing of the Superdome ended in the early 1980s, which led to most restorers switching worn domed mineral glass with flatter crystal, which disappointed collectors who wanted the original look of the watch to be maintained.
TrueDome reverse engineered original Superdome glass to come up with its modern alternative. The company laser-etches a reference number on the side of each piece to ensure it is not sold as original.
From recreating the Superdome, TrueDome has expanded its range to crystals for vintage Rolex Daytonas, GMT Masters and Explorers.
Announcing his investment in the company, Eric Wind praised the importance and authenticity of the TrueDome offer. “Many vintage Rolex watches have replaced crystals that differ in shape and look from the crystals originally found on them and that can have a deleterious effect on how they look. Poor aftermarket crystals also are more prone to cracking or warping, meaning that the valuable original dials could be at risk from moisture ingress, which could affect the value of certain vintage watches by six figures,” he explains.
TrueDome replacement crystals range in price from $250 to $300.