rolex bezel remover tool how to use it

[crowncollection]

hi, watchmakers out there, i have bezel remover tool for rolex, not the rolex one like shown in the photos, but essentially the same thing (generic). do you place the watch face up (to the ceiling) or face down (towards the bench or floor) i am not a watchmaker but can change glasses, seals, bezels, crown tubes, the basics, on subs and gmt's, but find it hard on datejusts and day dates as their is really no gap on these models like on the sports models, so i bought this tool to help me avoid scratching and denting the case and bezel. Can anybody help.

[Jan Davis]

Send a email to Jocke, he has the one in the photo.

[Rikki]

Watch will only go face down. First close the jaws so there are close to where they should be then put watch on dial down then slowly turn till they engage the bezel then slowly turn till the bezel pops off. It tends to make some scary sounds as you are cranking it cause sometimes the bezel gaskets are dry and crackily. Always make sure before you start cranking that all 4 blades are in the right position on top of the lugs infront of the bezel. Good luck Rikki

[sherwin]

it will only go face down. any other way and it wont fit.

once you have the 4 blades in place, turn the dial and slowly pop the bezel outwards.

[crowncollection]

thanks guys

[Tools]

All that said, don't forget that you will need to put the watch back together and you are likely to need to use a press for a bezel that you need that tool to remove........ ;)

[jenu]

Originally Posted by Tools

All that said, don't forget that you will need to put the watch back together and you are likely to need to use a press for a bezel that you need that tool to remove........ ;)

Hello, does the crystal come off also? How do you put it back on?

[ddnyc77]

Are the blades on these tools plastic or metal? I was considering this tool but am worried about scratching the lugs on my Subs

[sherwin]

Originally Posted by jenu

Hello, does the crystal come off also? How do you put it back on?

dont quote me, but i believe the crystal has a rubber gasket around the edges once you have popped the bezel off.

[EE33]

Originally Posted by sherwin

dont quote me, but i believe the crystal has a rubber gasket around the edges once you have popped the bezel off.

Don't quote me either I popped the basel of last week and it was a steel gasket surrounding the crystal

[Rikki]

You guys have to be real careful what you take off some of the new bezels can only be put on with a Rolex machine which as fas as I know not available yet and once they come off very difficult if not impossible to put back on without damaging the bezel without this machine. Sapphire crystals have a nylon type gasket the older acrylic do not. So please be careful this is not a job for amateurs. Rik

[RPMcKenna]

Can you tell me where you bought your bezel removal tool from? Been building a watch repair tool kit and have a crude bezel removal tool but would like something like what is in the photo you have in this thread as to not damage either the head or bezel.

Thanks in advance!

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by ddnyc77

Are the blades on these tools plastic or metal? I was considering this tool but am worried about scratching the lugs on my Subs

The blades are metal.

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by RPMcKenna

Can you tell me where you bought your bezel removal tool from? Been building a watch repair tool kit and have a crude bezel removal tool but would like something like what is in the photo you have in this thread as to not damage either the head or bezel.

Thanks in advance!

There are a variety of Rolex tools available on Ebay,some are even genuine Rolex but most are aftermarket.

[RPMcKenna]

That is where I have purchased the majority of what I already have but I am not having luck finding the bezel removal tool. Any chance you can send me a link in a pm?

[MoBe]

I haven`t been looking for some months now so I don`t know what`s out there right now,sorry but good luck with the search.

None of the links to Ebay I had saved in my favorites are active anymore,have to start over if I`m to find anything myself.

Have you tried any of the watchmaker suppliers?

[crowncollection]

this is the cheapest one

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/R-cz-sTEE...item3a691100b8

[RPMcKenna]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

this is the cheapest one

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/R-cz-sTEE...item3a691100b8

Thanks for your help!

[Perdu]

Bergeon and Horotec make a similar a similar tool.

[Genway]

I have used the Rolex one at work and two of the one from Ofrei and JBorel, the latest one look identical to the eBay one, I believe they were made in France.
On both tools from suppliers, one of the blade deos not aligned with the rests, when you screw-in all four blade supposed reach the bezel at approximate same time, but its not! so I removed one blade and redrill the screw thread on one, or just leave it tight on one screw. When blades does not reach the bezel at the same distance, very easy to scratch one of the lug, in one case I cut into lug about .4mm without knowing, so I corrected the problem.
Check the blades first once you got it, and once in a while you need to re-shape the blades.
In most cases, you will need to refinish the case afterward.

[krone]

I have seen some nasty marks made by these. I still use razor blades and case back knife for more control. Heat will help if the gasket has hardened. The crystal has a delrin Gasket sort of like nylon. It goes into a notch in the edge of the crystal and over the lip around the dial on the case. One of the Thunderbird models even uses a delrin ring (and only a delrin ring) to hold on the bezel. The Seadweller models have an inner SS ring and press into the case instead of a metal ring pressed onto the outside of the crystal and gasket. You will need a press to put it back together and preferably a new gasket.

[Mickyfin]

I used one of these for the first time today, not for the faint hearted I tell thee..

[crowncollection]

They are great just tape those lugs.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by krone

I have seen some nasty marks made by these. I still use razor blades and case back knife for more control. Heat will help if the gasket has hardened. The crystal has a delrin Gasket sort of like nylon. It goes into a notch in the edge of the crystal and over the lip around the dial on the case. One of the Thunderbird models even uses a delrin ring (and only a delrin ring) to hold on the bezel. The Seadweller models have an inner SS ring and press into the case instead of a metal ring pressed onto the outside of the crystal and gasket. You will need a press to put it back together and preferably a new gasket.

I do the same, especially for non-tool watches.

[Ironstark]

While I admire the ambition of enthusiastic, keen, well intentioned, non professional watch enthusiasts, I have to say it never ceases to amaze me what people will attempt to do.

I would never attempt to perform any job, particularly on a Rolex, without all of the proper tools and without all of the necessary information needed to perform the task correctly. So often what appears to be reasonably straightforward usually turns out to be anything but.

Any damage done to a Rolex also tends to be expensive to put right.

Rikki is correct when he mentions the newer case designs being different and more complicated than the older style. There is very specific tooling required to remove and refit that type of glass/bezel assembly without doing damage to the components involved, including the case middle itself. This is not a job for the non professional.

For all who wish to attempt any work on their "beloved Rolex", if you are not certain you have all the right tools, the relevant knowledge and technical information and of course access to the necessary spare parts, don't do it.

In inexperienced hands it can take seconds to destroy a Rolex!! Seconds to destroy something that should last a lifetime.

[dysondiver]

hang on ,,, if i had to ask which way up i put my rolex , into a big vise with sharp steel blade ,,,, i dont thing i would be going down that route ,,, take it as a hint you shouldnt be doing it ,,, its like cutting your toenails with a chainsaw ,,,, sounds like an idea ,, but would you really try it ,,,,,
not trying to be smart , but thats an expensive learning curve ,, maybe a night class or something first.

[Ironstark]

My observations are not directed at anyone in particular. If a Rolex owner chooses to"have a go" it will ultimately be their loss and at their expense.
As I said I can appreciate the interest and desire to learn about and to want to work on watches.
For me it is a lifelong passion, it is exactly what fuelled my desire to become a watchmaker and drives me to learn and expand my knowledge after 25 years in the industry.
It is a highly specialised field of endeavour which takes years to master, if you ever truly do. I'm still learning something new almost every day.
I acknowledge we all have to begin the journey somewhere but when you start learning to drive its not in a Bugatti or a Ferrari.

[Vanessa CW21]

Originally Posted by Ironstark

While I admire the ambition of enthusiastic, keen, well intentioned, non professional watch enthusiasts, I have to say it never ceases to amaze me what people will attempt to do.

I would never attempt to perform any job, particularly on a Rolex, without all of the proper tools and without all of the necessary information needed to perform the task correctly. So often what appears to be reasonably straightforward usually turns out to be anything but.

Any damage done to a Rolex also tends to be expensive to put right.

Rikki is correct when he mentions the newer case designs being different and more complicated than the older style. There is very specific tooling required to remove and refit that type of glass/bezel assembly without doing damage to the components involved, including the case middle itself. This is not a job for the non professional.

For all who wish to attempt any work on their "beloved Rolex", if you are not certain you have all the right tools, the relevant knowledge and technical information and of course access to the necessary spare parts, don't do it.

In inexperienced hands it can take seconds to destroy a Rolex!! Seconds to destroy something that should last a lifetime.

Originally Posted by Ironstark

My observations are not directed at anyone in particular. If a Rolex owner chooses to"have a go" it will ultimately be their loss and at their expense.
As I said I can appreciate the interest and desire to learn about and to want to work on watches.
For me it is a lifelong passion, it is exactly what fuelled my desire to become a watchmaker and drives me to learn and expand my knowledge after 25 years in the industry.
It is a highly specialised field of endeavour which takes years to master, if you ever truly do. I'm still learning something new almost every day.
I acknowledge we all have to begin the journey somewhere but when you start learning to drive its not in a Bugatti or a Ferrari.

Yes!

Thank you, sir. Good to see you're still around!

[strafer_kid]

Some real sound advice given here - not sure I would want to mess with something I had neither the tools or knowledge to work on! Real risk of causing some serious damage.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by strafer_kid

Some real sound advice given here - not sure I would want to mess with something I had neither the tools or knowledge to work on! Real risk of causing some serious damage.

Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." - Henry Ford