How to reverse the display on a G...

[cmoy]

:-)Been wanting to try this for a while :-) Got the nerve to take my G-2300 apart and away we go.... :-D

In case you forgot what the G-2300 looked like :-)

http://fototime.com/{6E7A3D8F-F319-4449-BFEB-CB1B2C1D27CF}/picture.JPG

Before I started I thought I'd see what would happen if I put my camera polarizer in front of the G...

http://fototime.com/{727D3D25-3B93-4195-953E-6B6E1AE92FE8}/picture.JPG

Lets rotate the polarizer, black display but the numbers are gone...

http://fototime.com/{7947DD18-22A3-4FA1-B0E0-214046CBEA33}/picture.JPG

Lets stop foolin' around and get to business. First I take the case back off... :-)

http://fototime.com/{FCCBDE4E-D3C1-4976-A5F8-CA88BD581A82}/picture.JPG

Then the movement comes out. If you look very carefully you can see the edge of the polarizer. It's glued to the display with something like rubber cement. BTW Nice size movement... :-)

http://fototime.com/{09C7A372-CC34-49C1-92B2-CBBFDF46EE8A}/picture.JPG

Next we take the display out. It's snapped onto the plastic movement ring. It's a little tricky getting it out. Take your time and go very slow! The white panel is the EL panel. There is a clear plastic sheet over it. You can sandwich your custom logos/graphics here :-D

http://fototime.com/{C615EEEE-5B9F-4823-A5CA-59E0726A406D}/picture.JPG

Next I using an x-atco blade to remove the polarizer, left of the movement. I had to dragged the blade along the edge where the polarize meets the display panel. The polarizer feels and looks like plastic. Notice the polarizer is tinted gray which you didn't see when it was on the display panel.

http://fototime.com/{69B6096F-1E39-44ED-98AB-403E3D0C2093}/picture.JPG

I placed the display panel back onto the plastic movement ring. I just finished removing the rubber cement off of the polarizer with Goo Gone.

http://fototime.com/{B83E89A7-3196-40B2-8BE5-B6A429A8319D}/picture.JPG

There's the numbers! :-D The watch was running all this time. Very interesting how the polarizer turns clear when it's over the LCD.

http://fototime.com/{3E7BB67A-ADD9-4580-A14E-C226AA98758B}/picture.JPG

And the trick to get a reverse display is turning/rotating the polarizer 90 degrees! That's it! :-D In this shot the EL is turned on.

http://fototime.com/{5C698C5C-8F8A-4BC2-A004-DFB6AE85F1A8}/picture.JPG

EL off. It's kind of difficult to read the time with the EL off :-( I would think if the numbers were bigger it wouldn't be so bad.

http://fototime.com/{25F95B20-5F49-4F71-8020-F29C805967F5}/picture.JPG

The polarizer doesn't have to touch the LCD for it to display the numbers/text. COOL! :-! :-!

http://fototime.com/{4EE85DA9-19C0-4EBB-9BA9-BE17E6D2CD5C}/picture.JPG

Way COOL! :-! :-!

http://fototime.com/{EF7ACD3D-DA2B-4EDE-9926-E6B9366CD12C}/picture.JPG

Lets take a look at the polarizer again...

http://fototime.com/{7F7FB36B-2B4D-409E-B694-E51F6C8CE351}/picture.JPG

http://fototime.com/{AA310944-732B-489D-9859-433347DC48A1}/picture.JPG

http://fototime.com/{B97D1B94-D318-434C-8126-6F1B1709F441}/picture.JPG

Finally received the polarizer film from Edumund Industrails Optics. The film is pretty thick. I was worried it won't fit in between the crystal and movement.

http://fototime.com/{4B6CFA91-2555-408E-A0AD-D30382CBCCCB}/picture.JPG

Before cutting make sure the polarizer is in the right position. Here you can see the polarizer with it's protective covering still on. I'm just about to trace the shape of the original polarizer onto the new sheet.
http://fototime.com/{D257CD97-8689-4059-B187-69BBCBFEA2AC}/picture.JPG

Cut to size and ready to test the new polarizer. The protective covering is still on the polarizer. BTW You can see a hint of my custom stealth logo under the display panel :-D I had to remove it cause you won't see it on the reverse display :-( I'll have to try the custom logo on another G :-D

http://fototime.com/{5992458F-0D3D-48E2-B12F-8F5E76098512}/picture.JPG

Perfect fit! :-!

http://fototime.com/{199DFFC8-8005-4EE8-A6BC-9E55F0003C80}/picture.JPG

Everything fits! :-! Protective covering still on polarizer.

http://fototime.com/{A8045D86-12BC-4F60-97CC-4BF5597D5B98}/picture.JPG

Protective covering is OFF! :-D Looking GOOD! :-!

http://fototime.com/{FA444060-971D-4E34-9775-E9A3F0A3E796}/picture.JPG

COOL! :-! :-!

http://fototime.com/{FE472669-2509-410F-95B7-98465848B3EE}/picture.JPG

Looks great in direct light, not so good in low light condition :-( I think the problem is the thick polarizer. Lets hope a thinner polarizer film will work better :-)

http://fototime.com/{32C54A88-8ECE-4B25-BF5A-49D92FE0E0BE}/picture.JPG

NICE! :-! :-! http://fototime.com/{89DA29FB-7840-42F7-821C-8319CA20F15A}/picture.JPG

Now I have to figure out how to remove the paint off of the text to create a stealth G :-D :-S :-D Thanks for looking! :-)

[bobo]

COOOOOOOOOOL ~~~~~~~~~|>
btw, how to make custom logos ?? i want to try on one of my collection, very basic DW-6600 ....

TKS !

[cmoy]

Adding a custom logo is a lot easier than reversing the display. You still have to take the watch apart and remove the display. I'll post a "How to..." when I have time :-)

COOOOOOOOOOL ~~~~~~~~~|>
btw, how to make custom logos ?? i want to try on one of my collection, very basic DW-6600 ....

TKS !

[Sjors]

I'll post a "How to..." when I have time :-)

Ha Ha, Chris,

I will keep you reminded to your words:-D,

Cheers,

Sjors

[HoudiniQ]

Thanks cmoy! I just found this forum...what great info.

I decided to give it a try on an old G6600 Illuminator that's been battery dead for a while now.

I managed to get everything apart and get the polarized film off. Couple of questions/comments:

1) My watch display had polarized film on the front and back of the glass bit. I took both off...carefully. I'm not sure if you tried this, but you *can* flip one of the polarized elements to get the same effect as rotating. Since I'm too impatient to order new polarized film, I'm going to see if I can re-use the old film. Unfortunately, one of them is pretty scratched in a corner...so it might not look to good. We'll see.

2) The question: what are you using to cement the polarized film back onto the display? I tried putting it back together without cementing, but the top film moves around too much.

Anyway, I haven't had a chance to really try it yet, I still haven't purchased a new battery yet. Guess I'll try to get one tomorrow.

Thanks for the great idea!

[saZaBi]

So does anyone know wad to stick it back with yet?

[sween1911]

I really want to do this on my plain-jane 5600. Where do you get that film? Is there a certain width to order?

[cmoy]

So does anyone know wad to stick it back with yet?

Sorry for the very very late response. The film I used is thicker than the original so went I put the watch back together the new file fits snugged between the crystal and the display.

I bought my polarizer from this place...

3Dlens.com

Product No: #PATS
Product Name: Transmissive Polarizer 200 x 250mm
Cost: US$9.00

I believe shipping is $16.00.

Chris

[saZaBi]

WOW..... i was jus browsing ard n to my surprise there's a reply. i'm glad u did. now i can plan on flipping my Gs. thank u so much for even providing the details on where i can get the film frm. much appreciated. sorry i jus noticed ur response after so long.

CHEERS!

[cmoy]

WOW..... i was jus browsing ard n to my surprise there's a reply. i'm glad u did. now i can plan on flipping my Gs. thank u so much for even providing the details on where i can get the film frm. much appreciated. sorry i jus noticed ur response after so long.

CHEERS!

Good luck! :-)

[cascadien]

does anyone know if this will interfere with the tough solar models ability to recharge? also does the opening of the case compromise the water resistance, namely the depth you can dive???:-s
im new here and appreciate any help, i want to stealh my G-5600 1JF module 2597*JA. and was hoping to find this stuff out before proceeding:thanks

[Topher1556]

No, this shouldn't interfere with charging, as the charging panel is in front of everthing else.

And opening the case doesn't compromize dive depth if make sure to use a known good seal and lubricate it with silicone grease, and then evenly screw down the case back (don't overtighten!).

[cascadien]

How exactly did you get the original display off of the movement????o|
i have an old DW-5600 apart as a dry run for my G-5600, and i cant for the life off me figure out how to remove it without damaging the crystal!:rodekaart
Can anyone help me out on this one please!!!!:-s i really want the negative display on my watch.:thanks

[bfgreen]

...My watch display had polarized film on the front and back of the glass bit. I took both off...carefully. I'm not sure if you tried this, but you *can* flip one of the polarized elements to get the same effect as rotating...Has anyone been able to confirm that any of the Gs have polarizing film on both sides? If so this could drastically simplify this process. I have some film on order and hope to try this based on Cmoy's excellent instructions.

[towrist]

sorry to revive such an old post... but this is AWESOME!! up until now i've been drawn mostly to mechanicals and automatics... i picked up a suunto for my wife... and have been eying the g-shocks (obsessively) for a couple of weeks now... and have two incoming o|o| :-!:-! :-s:-s :rodekaart:rodekaart :-p:-p

one DW-9000 and one G-9000 8v!!

i saw the reverse displays mods some WUS members did with their G's... is it possible to do this with any g-shock (or at least the ones i have coming in)?

... or is it possible only with some models?

Thanks!

[jpatricks1]

I wish I had the balls to do this...thanks for sharing!

[towrist]

its not as bad as i thought it would be considering my ability to destroy things ... cmoy's guide is a good one..:-!:-!

there are also a few online out there that have a few more pics with step by step instructions...

on a 'have-to-tinker' level this is a great project to undertake... easy enough to do... not to easy to screw up... and reversible if required...

[paradisephoto]

Ok, I have to ask a seemingly dumb question. If it is possible to reverse a positive lcd, then is it possible to take a module with a negative display and make it positive? Specifically, I like the G-100 modules, and would get them except for the negative lcd display.

[towrist]

yes you can... same process, but just install polarizing filter in the direction you want (positive or negative)... just make sure you check the direction before cutting!

Ok, I have to ask a seemingly dumb question. If it is possible to reverse a positive lcd, then is it possible to take a module with a negative display and make it positive? Specifically, I like the G-100 modules, and would get them except for the negative lcd display.