ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Richard Carver · 3 December 2018, 10:00 AM

I have some bezel press die that fit this LG Openall so it will do that work.

R.G.Bramlett, CW21 · 3 December 2018, 04:17 PM

ok Richard Carver, you are definitely an adventurous chap. i appreciate that.

but you are (potentially) very much in the weeds here, my friend. there are tools for this kind of thing. Specialized, expensive tools. Designed to save you from lots of headaches and heartaches. Tools that i very much wish i could show and share with you right now.

First off, i'd like to know how you removed the original bezel. i hope it wasn't with ye olde kitchen knife. a bezel remover applying equal pressure from all sides is the thing--it's quite easy to damage the bezel in the removal process if you're using some sort of sharp hand tool. I know you won't be putting that bezel back on now, but you might want to in the future.

Anyway. as stated by others, you'll definitely want to fit the crystal with gasket onto the case frame first, then press the aftermarket ring on. But oh, the trouble you can get into here. You want to use a bezel press die that fits that aftermarket bezel thingy as close as possible in terms of diameter. ideally you'd want one that presses on the inner diameter of the ring and not the outer diameter. otherwise you risk distorting the ring. There's a Rolex tool for that, of course.

oh, and you'll want to make sure you press down the ring on evenly--if it starts going down at an angle, you're sunk. A special rolex jig allows you to press the bezel or bezel ring down flush to the top of the crystal just to make sure you're flat. Once you remove that piece, you then push the crystal securing ring down the rest of the way and it's therefore impossible to get off at an angle. Of course you don't have the jig or the correct bezel press die so, just trust me, make sure you're pressing that ring down flatly and evenly.

i highly recommend that, for all these shenannigans, you have the movement out of the case and are just dealing with the case frame. There's no reason to put the dial and hands at risk in the event something goes wrong. Go ahead and take the movement out now, because if you don't, you'll have to do it later, because i promise you there WILL be lint and specks between the dial and the crystal, and you absolutely have to get rid of it or it will drive you crazy. And the best way to do that is to clean the underside of the crystal after you've installed it onto the case frame. Which means, you guessed it, the movement will have to be out of the case.

i wish you the very best of luck. let us know how it goes!

R.G.Bramlett, CW21 · 3 December 2018, 04:24 PM

[QUOTE=037;9136331]The Pepsi is a little too Seiko for me

I absolutely love this line, by the way. And completely agree.

SearChart · 3 December 2018, 04:32 PM

Mr Bramlett is correct, there are tools and dies for everything and for good reason, they make it easier for a watchmaker.

Seeing that you don't really have the appropriate tools I'd highly recommend going to a watchmaker to do this modification for you.

Richard Carver · 3 December 2018, 06:48 PM

ROLLiWORKS · 3 December 2018, 07:46 PM

You need this.

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

ROLLiWORKS · 3 December 2018, 07:48 PM

This and a razor blade is more helpful than the bezel tool

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

SearChart · 3 December 2018, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLiWORKS

This and a razor blade is more helpful than the bezel tool

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

I really prefer the bezel tool over a knife.

ROLLiWORKS · 3 December 2018, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

I really prefer the bezel tool over a knife.

But you have the official Rolex bezel tool not the cheap Chinese knock off. That one cuts into the case.

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

SearChart · 3 December 2018, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLiWORKS

But you have the official Rolex bezel tool not the cheap Chinese knock off. That one cuts into the case.

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Yep we have the official tool. I didn't know the knock offs were so bad though.

Richard Carver · 3 December 2018, 09:17 PM

The bezel tool works perfectly, never a mark. Speak not that which you do not know. :)

Ian Macdermott · 4 December 2018, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

What tools are you using to fit it all back together?

Just signing in as I want to be notified when it's updated.

I wish you all the best in your endeavours sir.

toxicavenger · 4 December 2018, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

Yep we have the official tool. I didn't know the knock offs were so bad though.

They aren't the one he is using a good one.

toxicavenger · 4 December 2018, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

The bezel tool works perfectly, never a mark. Speak not that which you do not know. :)

Agreed. The one you have is a good tool for sure.

ROLLiWORKS · 4 December 2018, 06:06 AM

We've used the Rolex official bezel tool and it is very very nice. We tried the China version and really didn't like it. Would never ever ever trust it or use it on customer watches. Glad to hear others are getting a better results.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

The bezel tool works perfectly, never a mark. Speak not that which you do not know. :)

Richard Carver · 4 December 2018, 07:15 AM

Guys, the project is still fun but this thread has become tiresome. Thank you to those who helped but I won't be following up with any more posts.

Greenwich Mean Time · 4 December 2018, 08:10 AM

Perfect tool for the job. Great to see you on here RC. :)

037 · 4 December 2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Guys, the project is still fun but this thread has become tiresome. Thank you to those who helped but I won't be following up with any more posts.

At a minimum please post your results when complete. I'd genuinely like to know how your project turns out.

toxicavenger · 4 December 2018, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Guys, the project is still fun but this thread has become tiresome. Thank you to those who helped but I won't be following up with any more posts.

I totally understand when people are telling you what YOU should be using. And if anything I bet you already know that your tools work.

toxicavenger · 4 December 2018, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLiWORKS

We've used the Rolex official bezel tool and it is very very nice. We tried the China version and really didn't like it. Would never ever ever trust it or use it on customer watches. Glad to hear others are getting a better results.

They are not all created equal.

SearChart · 7 December 2018, 10:22 PM

So did you finish your modification?

SearChart · 19 December 2018, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

So did you finish your modification?

??

rushca01 · 21 December 2018, 12:19 AM

I’m confused, I thought removing the bezel and changing inserts was something a relative novice could do at home. I never knew it was frowned upon without special tools? People her swap bezels all the time???

SearChart · 21 December 2018, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rushca01

I’m confused, I thought removing the bezel and changing inserts was something a relative novice could do at home. I never knew it was frowned upon without special tools? People her swap bezels all the time???

He's putting a GMT bezel on an explorer, that is generally not a DIY job.

rushca01 · 21 December 2018, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

He's putting a GMT bezel on an explorer, that is generally not a DIY job.

Thanks, I missed that piece...

ROLLiWORKS · 22 December 2018, 06:52 AM

photos!

SearChart · 18 January 2019, 03:20 AM

Did it finally work out?

3 December 2018, 10:00 AM	#31
Richard Carver "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: US Posts: 2,237	I have some bezel press die that fit this LG Openall so it will do that work.

3 December 2018, 04:17 PM	#32
R.G.Bramlett, CW21 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Denver, Colorado Watch: Rolex Datejust Posts: 30	ok Richard Carver, you are definitely an adventurous chap. i appreciate that. but you are (potentially) very much in the weeds here, my friend. there are tools for this kind of thing. Specialized, expensive tools. Designed to save you from lots of headaches and heartaches. Tools that i very much wish i could show and share with you right now. First off, i'd like to know how you removed the original bezel. i hope it wasn't with ye olde kitchen knife. a bezel remover applying equal pressure from all sides is the thing--it's quite easy to damage the bezel in the removal process if you're using some sort of sharp hand tool. I know you won't be putting that bezel back on now, but you might want to in the future. Anyway. as stated by others, you'll definitely want to fit the crystal with gasket onto the case frame first, then press the aftermarket ring on. But oh, the trouble you can get into here. You want to use a bezel press die that fits that aftermarket bezel thingy as close as possible in terms of diameter. ideally you'd want one that presses on the inner diameter of the ring and not the outer diameter. otherwise you risk distorting the ring. There's a Rolex tool for that, of course. oh, and you'll want to make sure you press down the ring on evenly--if it starts going down at an angle, you're sunk. A special rolex jig allows you to press the bezel or bezel ring down flush to the top of the crystal just to make sure you're flat. Once you remove that piece, you then push the crystal securing ring down the rest of the way and it's therefore impossible to get off at an angle. Of course you don't have the jig or the correct bezel press die so, just trust me, make sure you're pressing that ring down flatly and evenly. i highly recommend that, for all these shenannigans, you have the movement out of the case and are just dealing with the case frame. There's no reason to put the dial and hands at risk in the event something goes wrong. Go ahead and take the movement out now, because if you don't, you'll have to do it later, because i promise you there WILL be lint and specks between the dial and the crystal, and you absolutely have to get rid of it or it will drive you crazy. And the best way to do that is to clean the underside of the crystal after you've installed it onto the case frame. Which means, you guessed it, the movement will have to be out of the case. i wish you the very best of luck. let us know how it goes!

3 December 2018, 04:24 PM	#33
R.G.Bramlett, CW21 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Denver, Colorado Watch: Rolex Datejust Posts: 30	[QUOTE=037;9136331]The Pepsi is a little too Seiko for me I absolutely love this line, by the way. And completely agree.

3 December 2018, 06:48 PM	#35
Richard Carver "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: US Posts: 2,237

3 December 2018, 07:46 PM	#36
ROLLiWORKS "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Real Name: Michael H Posts: 964	You need this. All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

3 December 2018, 07:48 PM	#37
ROLLiWORKS "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Real Name: Michael H Posts: 964	This and a razor blade is more helpful than the bezel tool All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

3 December 2018, 09:17 PM	#41
Richard Carver "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: US Posts: 2,237	The bezel tool works perfectly, never a mark. Speak not that which you do not know. :)

4 December 2018, 07:15 AM	#46
Richard Carver "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: US Posts: 2,237	Guys, the project is still fun but this thread has become tiresome. Thank you to those who helped but I won't be following up with any more posts.

4 December 2018, 08:10 AM	#47
Greenwich Mean Time "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: PNW Watch: 116710LN Posts: 467	Perfect tool for the job. Great to see you on here RC. :)

21 December 2018, 12:19 AM	#53
rushca01 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Indiana Watch: GMT BLRO Posts: 1,750	I’m confused, I thought removing the bezel and changing inserts was something a relative novice could do at home. I never knew it was frowned upon without special tools? People her swap bezels all the time???

22 December 2018, 06:52 AM	#56
ROLLiWORKS "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Real Name: Michael H Posts: 964	photos!

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