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Old 21 June 2015, 01:50 PM   #1
M3ZCP
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Rolex GMT II Ceramic Bezel Install Questions

I took off the bezel off my GMT to give it a clean because it was not turning smoothly. For some reason I can not put the bezel back on for the life of me. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Old 21 June 2015, 01:51 PM   #2
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I heard its really hard to put it back. I would go to a watchmaker to take care of that.
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Old 21 June 2015, 01:52 PM   #3
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Whoops. Yeah, that's only supposed to be done by the RSC, with special equipment. It's not like the aluminium ones. I can only recall one other person doing this, quite some time ago, but can't recall how it worked out.
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Old 21 June 2015, 01:56 PM   #4
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP68mpUsoBE

check this out
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Old 21 June 2015, 01:58 PM   #5
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I heard its really hard to put it back. I would go to a watchmaker to take care of that.
I was under the impression it was like the aluminum ones. I'm assuming it just lines up with those 3 prongs and you push it in? If all else fails i'll just take it some place.
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Old 21 June 2015, 01:59 PM   #6
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That's for an aluminium insert/bezel. A ceramic assembly is different. Not a DIY job.
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Old 21 June 2015, 02:00 PM   #7
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Probably, I just noticed you were talking about the ceramic. Good luck! Post what happens
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Old 21 June 2015, 02:00 PM   #8
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That's for an aluminium insert/bezel. A ceramic assembly is different. Not a DIY job.
Yep I stand corrected
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Old 21 June 2015, 02:01 PM   #9
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That's for an aluminium insert/bezel. A ceramic assembly is different. Not a DIY job.
That's the video I used to get it off lol. Thanks for the effort.
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Old 21 June 2015, 02:23 PM   #10
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Rolex is NOT DIY. Take it to a wachmaker
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Old 21 June 2015, 02:41 PM   #11
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Rolex is NOT DIY. Take it to a wachmaker
Any recommendations on what time of jewelry store would be able to handle such job besides an AD.
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Old 21 June 2015, 02:44 PM   #12
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Any recommendations on what time of jewelry store would be able to handle such job besides an AD.
One with a Rolex certified watchmaker on staff
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Old 21 June 2015, 02:58 PM   #13
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One with a Rolex certified watchmaker on staff
Where could I find the closest one in my area? I did a quick google search and didn't find much.
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Old 21 June 2015, 04:27 PM   #14
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I'm trying to wrap my head around this situation. If I understand correctly, you took a ceramic bezel off by watching a video on taking an aluminum one off, you can't even figure out how to find a watchmaker in your area, but you were going to fix the watch by yourself? Really?

Tell us where you in New Jersey you live and perhaps someone here can direct you to a qualified watchmaker.
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Old 21 June 2015, 04:55 PM   #15
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Where could I find the closest one in my area? I did a quick google search and didn't find much.
Some Ben Bridge Jewelers (or most?) have a Watchmaker in store. Mine does, and he replaced all the gaskets sealing my GMT II Coke last week.
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Old 21 June 2015, 09:59 PM   #16
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From everything I understand its not a do it yourself job. I dont even think most watchmakers are capable of doing this because they use a specific press for the Ceramic bezels at RSC. If they do try it they may crack the ceramic in the bezel. I would send it to NY RSC to be done correctly.
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Old 21 June 2015, 10:11 PM   #17
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Where could I find the closest one in my area? I did a quick google search and didn't find much.
Leonardo's in Red Bank
732-747-7880

They do have another store in Elizabeth. 908 351-0880
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Old 21 June 2015, 10:32 PM   #18
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Let us know how this turns out. Id be inclined to send to RSC NY
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Old 21 June 2015, 11:02 PM   #19
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FWIW, I clean my GMT periodically by simply turning the bezel as I hold the watch under running water.
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Old 21 June 2015, 11:19 PM   #20
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I'm trying to wrap my head around this situation. If I understand correctly, you took a ceramic bezel off by watching a video on taking an aluminum one off, you can't even figure out how to find a watchmaker in your area, but you were going to fix the watch by yourself? Really?

Tell us where you in New Jersey you live and perhaps someone here can direct you to a qualified watchmaker.
I really had no idea it was going to be this much of an ordeal to clean the bezel. If I would have known the ceramic bezel was constructed completely different I wouldn't have even tried it. I'm located in Somerset county. Leonard's in Elizabeth isn't that far I might just go there unless anyone knows of anything closer.
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Old 22 June 2015, 02:22 AM   #21
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I really had no idea it was going to be this much of an ordeal to clean the bezel. If I would have known the ceramic bezel was constructed completely different I wouldn't have even tried it. I'm located in Somerset county. Leonard's in Elizabeth isn't that far I might just go there unless anyone knows of anything closer.
Yeah, when they went to the ceramic bezel they modified how it went off an on to discourage doing it yourself. This seems the way it's going, they would much rather try to force you to send the watch to the RSC for repair and also discourages aftermarket parts and bezel collecting like with the aluminum ones. The new WG BLRO bezel has even been modified so that no way will it even fit on an LN or BLNR.
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Old 23 June 2015, 09:09 AM   #22
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Martin Jewelers,

Address: 12 N Ave W, Cranford, NJ 07016

Phone:(908) 276-6718
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Old 8 July 2015, 11:15 AM   #23
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From what I've heard, it's not a DIY. Good luck,
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Old 1 April 2018, 06:15 AM   #24
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I know it's an older thread but like to add something to it since I ran into similar problems as OP. I just took my bezel off my BLNR and had a difficult time to get it back on. After looking at it for a while I noticed a nylon o-ring that was left on the watch. So I removed the o-ring and fitted it into the bezel. To be more specific the o-ring goes right between the bezel and the ceramic insert, there is a notch where the o-ring fits in perfect. Make sure you don't kink the o-ring when you try to fit it back in. Then I lined up the bezel and snapped it back on with ease, done.
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Old 1 April 2018, 06:33 AM   #25
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I know it's an older thread but like to add something to it since I ran into similar problems as OP. I just took my bezel off my BLNR and had a difficult time to get it back on. After looking at it for a while I noticed a nylon o-ring that was left on the watch. So I removed the o-ring and fitted it into the bezel. To be more specific the o-ring goes right between the bezel and the ceramic insert, there is a notch where the o-ring fits in perfect. Make sure you don't kink the o-ring when you try to fit it back in. Then I lined up the bezel and snapped it back on with ease, done.
From what I have read in the watchtech sub forum section recently that gasket is a one time use gasket. It gets ruined when the bezel comes off and needs to be replaced with a new one when its put back on. I dont fully understand it or if theres any water leak issues if this isnt followed. Would be prudent to talk to a Rolex certified watch repair person to make sure. Bas said theres all sorts of special tools/jigs that he cant even talk about per Rolexs agreement when you get certified to do bezel work correctly.
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Old 1 April 2018, 07:04 AM   #26
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Hi Jim.
It is not a water seal. Looks more like a seal to keep debris from entering between the insert and the crystal.

Thomas
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Old 2 April 2018, 04:51 AM   #27
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Hi Jim.
It is not a water seal. Looks more like a seal to keep debris from entering between the insert and the crystal.

Thomas


It’s a Hytrel fastening ring 316-1167-1,
It’s used to attach the rotating bezel, it is ONE use only, it MUST be replaced once the bezel is removed, it will not hold the bezel securely if reused.,


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