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joefow · 29 July 2010, 09:09 AM

Hey all-
I recently inherited a very old Rolex Submariner. It is 15+ years old? It is black and has a black bezel. However, the bezel paint has started to fade/chip? Sorry if I seem ignorant, but is this heard of after 15+ years of ownership. I don't know much about watches, but I really want to learn. And, besides that, I just want to know if Rolex will repaint? the bezel for free. Yet, I sort of like the look, it seems, well, rugged. \
Thanks- Joe

Lol-x · 29 July 2010, 12:30 PM

Vintage and aged looking bezels are quite sought after by collectors and can yield much higher prices (I've seen up to $500) than a new bezel purchased from Rolex ($90).

So I would strongly suggest that you keep your bezel the way it is. You could buy another new bezel. Some Rolex Service Centres will require that you hand over the old bezel when they fit a replacement.

fusionstorm · 29 July 2010, 01:13 PM

Do not let Rolex keep the old bezel insert. There's a decent likelihood it's a "fatter" font bezel compared to the thin font bezel inserts that Rolex sells nowadays. Collectors like the thicker font.

ABBFan1969 · 30 July 2010, 01:22 AM

Joe, thanks for posting this question. I have a similar situation with a vintage 6536-1. The black paint on the bezel is totally gone, as is the little stone on the 12. I found bezel inserts on e-bay for $50 to $70 dollars, but my sense is, from a value standpoint, to leave it the way it is.

Any comments, or assistance, would be appreciated.

Michael

adam78 · 30 July 2010, 01:57 AM

A picture is worth the proverbial thousand words...

datejust1 · 30 July 2010, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam78

A picture is worth the proverbial thousand words...

Some Pair · 30 July 2010, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABBFan1969

Joe, thanks for posting this question. I have a similar situation with a vintage 6536-1. The black paint on the bezel is totally gone, as is the little stone on the 12. I found bezel inserts on e-bay for $50 to $70 dollars, but my sense is, from a value standpoint, to leave it the way it is.

Any comments, or assistance, would be appreciated.

Michael

Yes, leave that 50+ year old Rollie be, to age gracefully....JMO

sakuraba · 30 July 2010, 08:14 AM

you might want to replace your old insert with a new one to keep it from getting banged up even more.

Just remember to keep it in a safe place.

gmtking · 9 December 2010, 05:29 AM

better pics would help!

HL65 · 9 December 2010, 05:33 AM

Are we resurrecting the dead?? July?? Merry Christmas!!

29 July 2010, 09:09 AM	#1
joefow "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Posts: 7	ROLEX SUBMARINER. Please Help! Hey all- I recently inherited a very old Rolex Submariner. It is 15+ years old? It is black and has a black bezel. However, the bezel paint has started to fade/chip? Sorry if I seem ignorant, but is this heard of after 15+ years of ownership. I don't know much about watches, but I really want to learn. And, besides that, I just want to know if Rolex will repaint? the bezel for free. Yet, I sort of like the look, it seems, well, rugged. \ Thanks- Joe

29 July 2010, 12:30 PM	#2
Lol-x Facilitator Join Date: Nov 2005 Real Name: Steve Location: Omnipresent Posts: 33,263	Vintage and aged looking bezels are quite sought after by collectors and can yield much higher prices (I've seen up to $500) than a new bezel purchased from Rolex ($90). So I would strongly suggest that you keep your bezel the way it is. You could buy another new bezel. Some Rolex Service Centres will require that you hand over the old bezel when they fit a replacement. __________________ *Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.* ~Abraham Lincoln Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy ROLEXploitation - yeah I'm a victim

29 July 2010, 01:13 PM	#3
fusionstorm "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Piedmont, CA Watch: various vintage Posts: 2,272	Do not let Rolex keep the old bezel insert. There's a decent likelihood it's a "fatter" font bezel compared to the thin font bezel inserts that Rolex sells nowadays. Collectors like the thicker font. __________________ 1680 MK II 2.2M (my daily); 1655 MK IV 8.1M (my 1st vintage); 16660 x 4 - 8.0M spider & matte 7.4M, 8.0M, 8.0M; 16610LV F MK I/MK I; 116528 Z; 14060 M COSC; Tudor 75090 Gone.....never forgotten: 14000 F, 14060 V COSC, PAM 048, 16623 F, 1680 MK V 3.1M, 16800 matte 8.3M & 1655 MK IV 7.4M

30 July 2010, 01:57 AM	#5
adam78 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,829	A picture is worth the proverbial thousand words... __________________ Cheers, Adam

30 July 2010, 08:14 AM	#8
sakuraba "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Jib Location: SJ, California Watch: sun dial Posts: 8,189	you might want to replace your old insert with a new one to keep it from getting banged up even more. Just remember to keep it in a safe place. __________________ F 14000 AirKing black F 16710 GMT Pepsi F 16570 Explorer II white T 16600 SD D 16610 LV "fine quality is remembered long after the pain of spending money" -Steve Mulholland

30 July 2010, 01:22 AM	#4
ABBFan1969 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2	Joe, thanks for posting this question. I have a similar situation with a vintage 6536-1. The black paint on the bezel is totally gone, as is the little stone on the 12. I found bezel inserts on e-bay for $50 to $70 dollars, but my sense is, from a value standpoint, to leave it the way it is. Any comments, or assistance, would be appreciated. Michael

9 December 2010, 05:29 AM	#9
gmtking "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Italy Posts: 21	better pics would help!

9 December 2010, 05:33 AM	#10
HL65 TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Ken Location: SW Florida Watch: One on my wrist. Posts: 63,472	Are we resurrecting the dead?? July?? Merry Christmas!! __________________ *SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT*

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