Vintage bezel expert oppinions

[007Sub]

Hey all, I have two 5513 subs one from the 70s and a friend's from the 60s with me right now. I'm noticing that there is some very slight variation between the bezels which I have been told are both period correct. Now, I thought that they should be exactly the same... yet they do look slightly different. Check these photos out and let me know what you think. Are they actually different from 60s to 70s? Is this just a product of wear? They are in both decently crisp shape considering their ages... I'd appreciate your insight here on this!

Thanks all!
Greg

p.s. There are 2 photos of each variant... lets call Variant A. the top one, and variant B. the bottom version of each different photo... i hope this makes sense

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

p.s. There are 2 photos of each variant... lets call Variant A. the top one, and variant B. the bottom version of each different photo... i hope this makes sense

not to me, sorry

they look very similar anyway

[omitohud]

Let me try. I know the second one with the curved top 4 is mark III. Another variation of mark III I've seen is the serif top 4. They are about the same fatness. According to Marcello and others, they were used from early 70's onward. For 60's sub, they should be kissing 4(or close) or long 5. The first one of yours could be curved top but obscure by the bezel, or it could be a variation due to the printing tools. Here r mine mark III, as u can see, they r both curved.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by omitohud

Let me try. I know the second one with the curved top 4 is mark III. Another variation of mark III I've seen is the serif top 4. They are about the same fatness. According to Marcello and others, they were used from early 70's onward. For 60's sub, they should be kissing 4(or close) or long 5. The first one of yours could be curved top but obscure by the bezel, or it could be a variation due to the printing tools. Here r mine mark III, as u can see, they r both curved.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Beautiful inserts and that's for sharing!


Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk

[007Sub]

Sorry friends I'm realizing I wasn't clear.... I'm not asking about the insert so much as the actual bezel ring itself.


Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

not to me, sorry



they look very similar anyway

So true. Lol


Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk

[omitohud]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Sorry friends I'm realizing I wasn't clear.... I'm not asking about the insert so much as the actual bezel ring itself.


Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk

Oh. Right. I see now what u r talking about. They r different. Maybe one is over polished? I notice the second one is sharper. Maybe pictures of the watches from the top? Sorry I'm not confident about my bezel knowledge yet. Don't worry the real experts will come along soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by omitohud

Oh. Right. I see now what u r talking about. They r different. Maybe one is over polished? I notice the second one is sharper. Maybe pictures of the watches from the top? Sorry I'm not confident about my bezel knowledge yet. Don't worry the real experts will come along soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks buddy.


Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk

[linesiders]

Dead on photos showing the full bezel from top and from side - have some concerns on second one.

Not an expert but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[nsumner]

I know there are variations between period and service but not sure if there's a difference between 60's-70's. How old is the earlier Sub?

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by nsumner

I know there are variations between period and service but not sure if there's a difference between 60's-70's. How old is the earlier Sub?

1967


Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk

[g-boac]

Whatever "variant A" or the top sub is, its bezel ring matches exactly the bezel ring of my 1967 5513. Compared to my 1967, the bezel ring on the bottom sub, with its more triangular profiles, looks very different from what I have.

[omitohud]

Hi sub. The first one look like this when new.


Of all my sport rolex this is one I find closest to the second one, but mine is gold n could be over polished.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ben39]

1st 6pics all mk3 , last 2 pics svc insert imo

[Vincent65]

he's talking about the bezel rings, not the inserts...

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by omitohud

Let me try. I know the second one with the curved top 4 is mark III. Another variation of mark III I've seen is the serif top 4. They are about the same fatness. According to Marcello and others, they were used from early 70's onward. For 60's sub, they should be kissing 4(or close) or long 5. The first one of yours could be curved top but obscure by the bezel, or it could be a variation due to the printing tools. Here r mine mark III, as u can see, they r both curved.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So 1970's 1680 inserts should look substantially similar to those in your pics, being at least fat font?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bplein]

In my experience (limited with vintage subs), the bezel itself should appear to be a solid thick disk that has had grooves relieved into it, like a drill that went around and drilled out cylindrical sections. That is like your top A example.

The lower example looks like a thinner disc that has ridges applied to it: Notice how the grooves are not cylindrical, but rather are just pointy valleys between the ridges.

My modern GMTII-C has the "thicker disk with cylindrical recesses" type construction

-------
edited later

Looks like a trick of the light in your second photo... the bottom photo shows it to be the same construction as the other, but with cylinders closer together that allow the ridges to be more pointy, less flat topped.

[omitohud]

Originally Posted by southtexas

So 1970's 1680 inserts should look substantially similar to those in your pics, being at least fat font?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From what I learned, that seems to be the consensus. Some believe the curved top is earlier than the serif top, but both are considered as mark III.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk