My first GMT Master II Bezel Insert Change

[Ru4scuba]

Nice!

Any issues with multiple swaps? (ie is there any concern about wear of parts etc?

[Yuri.Popov]

Great!

[gummy]

Nice Work - It's like a new watch!

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by polaris72

I am seriously thinking about getting GMT II as well.

Thanks everyone!

I highly recommend the GMT Master II 16710. It's my go-to watch and the favorite in my collection.

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by Ru4scuba

Nice!

Any issues with multiple swaps? (ie is there any concern about wear of parts etc?

No, but I haven't done it frequently. It was originally a coke, and then I swapped in the pepsi, intending for it go to black in a couple of months, but I really liked the pepsi and kept it that way since early July 2015, when I posted this.

Today I swapped again, to black.

The bezel snaps out easily and the change is simple. I was back in business within minutes.

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by gummy

Nice Work - It's like a new watch!

Yes, I think so too! I was really fold on the coke, then really fell in love with the pepsi, and now I am smitten with the black. I'm of three minds, I suppose!

Now all I need is a jubilee bracelet to mix it up even more! :-)

[JohnBaker3]

Be careful Vincent....before you know it, you will have a full workbench, special tools, and start looking for things to fix!!

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by JohnBaker3

Be careful Vincent....before you know it, you will have a full workbench, special tools, and start looking for things to fix!!

Wow! Awesome and impressive! Maybe someday! :-)

[Brian Page]

Speaking of tools for this particular job - as a guitar player I use a 1mm nylon guitar pick - works perfect for popping the bezel off, just thought I would share...

[crazycarlitos]

looks great !

just be careful when popping out the insert from the bezel.

if u apply too much pressure, u can bend the insert easily.

[Pix]

Now start swapping out to a leather band.

[rmlovett1]

Did the same thing the day it was delivered. From Coke to Pepsi, wearing it today as a matter of fact.

[ddaly12]

Mine says hi. I have yet to try switching the bezel, but I've been loving the all black so far.

[VinnieVegas]

Hey friends,

I gotta say, after a day or so of sporting the black insert, I find myself really liking it a lot.

I like all three inserts, but this latest change is sharp!

[watchwatcher]

Nicely done.

[VinnieVegas]

Hey friends,

Back to Pepsi for the summer! The temperature spiked from windbreaker weather over the weekend to unambiguously late spring/summer weather here in Gotham City.

I don't change it often. I went from the original coke to Pepsi for a while. Then black for a while, and then back to coke earlier in the winter. Now Pepsi for most of the rest of 2017.

No problems swapping the bezel insert. Very smooth change! Still, I don't want to do it more than maybe 1 or 2 times a year. That being said, I will be sticking with Pepsi for a while. Turns out, it's my favorite.

The 16710 is the way to fly, fellas.

[Ben.McDonald7]

Yep, I just swapped mine from Pepsi to Coke. I need to resist the urge to swap regularly. I'll try to keep it on for 3 months or so but the swap was so easy I can see myself getting the itch to go back to Pepsi in the near future.

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by Ben.McDonald7

Yep, I just swapped mine from Pepsi to Coke. I need to resist the urge to swap regularly. I'll try to keep it on for 3 months or so but the swap was so easy I can see myself getting the itch to go back to Pepsi in the near future.

I know the feeling. The first time I did it, I was really nervous and hesitant. Now I just look at it and say "it's time."

As a general principle, I think I like Coke in the winter & fall, and Pepsi in the summer and spring, but that leaves out my black insert. I will be sticking with the Pepsi for a while, though, probably until it starts to get a little chilly!

[ras47]

You guys are giving me the courage to give this a go myself. My GMT2 Pepsi is my grail watch and when I got one a month or so ago I looked at it like Smeegle and The One Ring to Rule Them All.

[ras47]

So what are everyones' sources for authentic bezel inserts? I was going to take my Pepsi to a Rolex shop to have this done but the cost is kinda high, and I'd love to do the job myself provided I don't screw the pooch.

[sea-dweller]

I love the Pepsi bezel insert.

[Ben.McDonald7]

Originally Posted by ras47

So what are everyones' sources for authentic bezel inserts? I was going to take my Pepsi to a Rolex shop to have this done but the cost is kinda high, and I'd love to do the job myself provided I don't screw the pooch.

The one I bought for a Forum Seller came with the OEM Coke, Faded OEM Pepsi, and OEM Black bezels already. I really wanted a new OEM Pepsi bezel so I took it to a local AD who has onsite service with a qualified watchmaker and they charged $120 for the new Pepsi bezel and install. I didn't ask but my guess is they would of required the install as their work order said my OEM Coke had a ding in it but it was flawless. They gave me back my Coke bezel as asked no problem but my guess is they may have to tell Rolex that the prior one was damaged in order to do a replacement. Now I have all the bezels I needed and I did my first change myself yesterday.

It all depends on your AD as I've heard of some that won't let you keep your original and ones like mine that are fine with it.

[ras47]

I want a brand new Pepsi bezel, but of course I'll keep my old one for authenticity. I mean it's only a year 2000 GMT2 so there isn't a lot of collector's value yet, but one day...

Oh, who am I kidding? I'm never giving this one up. :)


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[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by ras47

So what are everyones' sources for authentic bezel inserts? I was going to take my Pepsi to a Rolex shop to have this done but the cost is kinda high, and I'd love to do the job myself provided I don't screw the pooch.

My 16710 is a coke, and I picked up used black & pepsi bezel inserts here at the TRF classifieds from longtime members with lots of posts and good reputations. I have no doubt they are authentic. I think I paid about $ 100-120 for each.

There are sellers in the classifieds that post ads for brand new, sealed inserts (coke, pepsi, black), for $200 each or so.

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by Ben.McDonald7

It all depends on your AD as I've heard of some that won't let you keep your original and ones like mine that are fine with it.

Once I sourced the insert, I was going to hire a trusted watch repair guy here in NYC, expecting a nominal cost ($10-$20 was my expectation, but I never got the job priced).

Then I just decided to do it myself. I'm glad I did.

[ras47]

It looks devastatingly simple to do on the videos. One guy online does the job in 22 seconds!


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[sensui]

Nice work, obviously one of the most versatile references ever for Rolex with the bezel insert/bracelet interchangeability.

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by ras47

It looks devastatingly simple to do on the videos. One guy online does the job in 22 seconds!

Yeah, it's not difficult at all. I think it just takes some nerve the first time. I did the swap today at my desk and it only took a few minutes.

[VinnieVegas]

Originally Posted by sensui

Nice work, obviously one of the most versatile references ever for Rolex with the bezel insert/bracelet interchangeability.

Thanks! The 16710 is my favorite. I have often said that if I ever had to roll back my collection to one timepiece it would be my 16710.

[FTX I]

Well done Vincent!