Tight 1680 Bezel

[Styles Bitchley]

Hi all. I finally snagged a proper mk3 insert for my red sub and I’m loving it. I had a local jeweller who specializes in Rolex help me pop it in (given what it cost, I didn’t have the balls to try to force it into the bezel myself).

He was happy to help and it looks great, but since he re installed the bezel it doesn’t turn as smoothly as it did before. About three quarters of the 360 degrees is just as it was but about a quarter turn is really stiff. I can barely twist it through. I asked the watchmaker and he sait it was normal and it would loosen up, but I’ve had the watch for 25 years and Irma’s never done this before.

Any ideas of what’s going on?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Styles Bitchley]

Sorry. Excuse the autocorrect nonsense!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[southtexas]

Could be the tension washer is not sitting just so and is binding it up, or some grime got in there?

Pop it off and try it again. You can do it at home with a butter knife.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[springer]

There are several causes that can make a bezel turn hard. My watchmaker who worked at the RSC in Dallas for 10 years said the GMT and Sub bezels/inserts were the biggest pain-in-the-ass he encountered when repairing one of these models.

You have a process of elimination to determine what is causing the binding. I've changed inserts before and run into the same problem as you have with your Sub.

The first place to start is remove the bezel then remove the flat spring. Once removed, snap the bezel back on the watch and see if the bezel turns freely. If it does turn freely with the flat spring out, the flat spring is binding. If it still binds, it could be caused by the insert binding against the sides of the crystal, or binding elsewhere.

There are methods to correct binding flat springs or inserts, but that could be a thread unto itself.

[Mansell92]

I've had the same issue. If you remove the flat spring and hold it up horizontally, it should be dead straight. I have always had problems when there was a slight kink in it.

[Styles Bitchley]

Thanks guys. I’ll investigate and see if I find anything obvious with the spring.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Chunky]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

Hi all. I finally snagged a proper mk3 insert for my red sub and I’m loving it. I had a local jeweller who specializes in Rolex help me pop it in (given what it cost, I didn’t have the balls to try to force it into the bezel myself).

He was happy to help and it looks great, but since he re installed the bezel it doesn’t turn as smoothly as it did before. About three quarters of the 360 degrees is just as it was but about a quarter turn is really stiff. I can barely twist it through. I asked the watchmaker and he sait it was normal and it would loosen up, but I’ve had the watch for 25 years and Irma’s never done this before.

Any ideas of what’s going on?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hope you solve the problem. The new insert and watch of course look great!

[Boaters]

I had that problem once and it was just dirt or grit. Did what JP said in post 4 and cleaned it and it worked fine. Good luck.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by Chunky

Hope you solve the problem. The new insert and watch of course look great!

Thank you, sir!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[southtexas]

Let us know when you try it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ashton_Horologist]

There could be a number of issues at play here. First of, let me say that if you are going to take the bezel off yourself with a butter knife, please protect the edge of the case with plastic. A small ziplock style bag will be fine.

Also, do not use the lugs as leverage. Once the knife has been inserted, push the knife down toward the case, as opposed to up and away to the ceiling, as that can damage the case badly. But please, be careful. I have seen enough damaged watches over the years to last me a lifetime.

It could be that the previous watchmaker has bent the bezel itself. Check this on a flat surface, such as glass, to make sure it is sitting perfectly flat.

The springs aren't necessarily always flat, but that could be a factor at play.

The process of elimination will always give you the best results.

As already stated, it could be the insert itself

[bondtoys]

Use a plastic knife from Starbucks ro remove the bezel ring.