Broken Ceramic Insert

[EddieK12]

Well, curiosity pushed me to see what the assembly of the insert is like myself in person. A normal pry in between the case and bezel popped it, and cracked it at the noon marker... THEN FIGURING OUT THIS FUNKY SPRING AND PLASTIC GASKET.
Put it back together, hard to rotate.. took it apart, put the gasket in clearly the wrong spot putting pressure on the insert from the inside out, pushed down to snap it in and BOOM. Figured someone would enjoy some ceramic Pepsi brittle..
It's a one time use gasket guys lol

[-Ally-]

That’s gonna hurt.

Oops.

[Seibei]

Man....

I hope you get this fixed with a minimal amount of pain. Thanks for sharing.

[woof]

Wow..... I was also going to open up my watch ... Now, I won't. Thank you for sharing and please keep us up to date on the fix.

[1665fan]

Looks like you broke a mark1 Insert and I’m sure they are only making 2 inserts so that will have to your replacement.......not very smart

[EddieK12]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Looks like you broke a mark1 Insert and I’m sure they are only making 2 inserts so that will have to your replacement.......not very smart

Lol thanks.. thus the double

[SearChart]

Yeah it is a washer gasket and you'll need a good set of Rolex tools to reapply the bezel without killing the gasket...

I always pry the bezel off with a knife though and never have I broken a ceramic insert, you gotta be careful though.

[lightingball2]

i'm curious, but why would you want to take a part your watch if you are not a watch maker. I have NO desire to even attempt that......that sounds like an expensive oopsey!

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by lightingball2

i'm curious, but why would you want to take a part your watch if you are not a watch maker. I have NO desire to even attempt that......that sounds like an expensive oopsey!

With the older ones it was easy for hobbyists to swap a bezel insert and clean underneath the bezel when it started to turn hard. Not everyone knows that the ceramic ones are off limits to DIY, sucks but happens...

[EddieK12]

Originally Posted by lightingball2

i'm curious, but why would you want to take a part your watch if you are not a watch maker. I have NO desire to even attempt that......that sounds like an expensive oopsey!

I don't think you should think that you need to be a watchmaker to do some basic things on a watch. You can swap your bands, swap metal inserts out, and open your case back to check it out. Those are all things that are simple in my opinion..

With little knowledge and experience, you can take your movement out with a small flat head screwdriver, a thin pin, and a some steady hands :)

From there it gets a little more advanced but still not to difficult.. If you break something, it will cost you some money, but that's a lesson.

[EddieK12]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Yeah it is a washer gasket and you'll need a good set of Rolex tools to reapply the bezel without killing the gasket...

I always pry the bezel off with a knife though and never have I broken a ceramic insert, you gotta be careful though.

What tool do you use to reapply? Didn't bother doing any searching on the forums, just asking since it's convenient

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by EddieK12

What tool do you use to reapply? Didn't bother doing any searching on the forums, just asking since it's convenient

The Rolex bezel press with a set of dies.

You apply a new gasket into the bezel, then place a special metal ring to keep the gasket in place on the crystal, then press the bezel on swiftly. Once the bezel is placed you can apply the insert.

[ajas]

Oh, I can feel your pain

[BisonHead]

Wow thats ballsy, but great.

I take it the Ceramic inserts are quite expensive compared to the old skool ones?

[Dsmith1974]

Bravo sir! Curiosity and learning is what it’s all about. I would feel more united with this watch than ever once its fixed up. Now would be a good time to buy a tropic strap and wear it without the bezel like Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now for a few weeks.

And thanks for sharing! ����

[mr_gray]

i am deeply impressed by the OP's pioneering spirit and sense of proportion about this mishap. certainly this is a post we can all learn something from.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by mr_gray

certainly this is a post we can all learn something from.

I would say I learned I shouldn't try to remove my ceramic bezel by myself, but I already knew that.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by BisonHead

Wow thats ballsy, but great.

I take it the Ceramic inserts are quite expensive compared to the old skool ones?

Yes... This is MSRP excluding VAT and the cost of placing the bezel.

[BisonHead]

Yes... This is MSRP excluding VAT and the cost of placing the bezel.


Yep thats a fair few pennies right there.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Yes... This is MSRP excluding VAT and the cost of placing the bezel.

Is labor a mandatory, additional charge? I assume RSC won't just sell the part to a customer to install himself. What's the final cost on this kind of repair?

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Is labor a mandatory, additional charge? I assume RSC won't just sell the part to a customer to install himself. What's the final cost on this kind of repair?

Yes labor is mandatory, we would charge €50 for that.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Yes labor is mandatory, we would charge €50 for that.

That's some spendy curiosity.

[AdamG]

Ouch

[Speedbird-1]

Ceramic bezel,..... on a tool watch.
Include me out!

[Dennisoul]

Oooooft

[Onikage]

Ouch. Research first is the lesson here. It's pretty well established that the newer ceramic bezel assemblies are NOT user serviceable as, unlike the aluminium ones they require special Rolex tools. Not to detract from the baddassery of blindly operating on a fabled ceramic Pepsi.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by SearChart

With the older ones it was easy for hobbyists to swap a bezel insert and clean underneath the bezel when it started to turn hard. Not everyone knows that the ceramic ones are off limits to DIY, sucks but happens...

Have to agree one of the downfalls of ceramic its been posted hundreds of times on forum the ceramic is not a DIY job unless you have the correct tools.Trouble some will not listen or go on the net perhaps look at Utube then some think its a easy job, and break insert and now left with quite a expense to replace hope they learn from their mistakes.

[The1019]

Put it back in glue it back it’s a spider insert now

[Daveclock]

The ceramic bezel is not a user removable part - Rolex have special dealer tools just for that part. LEAVE IT ALONE!
Do people try open heart surgery or minor brain ops just because of youtube tutorials?

I feel you pain though, good luck when it is back good as new.

[Switch]

I can see a lot more of these threads popping up about broken bezels if the explorer 2 gets the ceramic treatment and people use the watch in its intended environment.