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RyanJames · 5 June 2016, 05:58 PM

Hi all,

Good to see the forum still active and thriving :)

I thought I'd ask for some advice from you chaps regarding an issue I've just noticed with the bezel on my ceramic GMT. The watch is coming up to 4 years old and I wasn't planning on servicing until next year as it's working great still.

However it seems to have developed a problem with the bezel working itslf slightly loose from case and its developed some play when being held either side you can rock it slightly making a slight noise as it hits the crystal.

I can also lift it somewhat from the case, whereas in the past I'm certain it was very flush.

Pic's attached, showing the difference between resting postion and when I apply pressure. Any input would be great!

SC11 · 5 June 2016, 06:03 PM

I know a certain amount of spring/play is a trait with the ceramic bezels due to how they are mounted but never heard of being able to make them catch on the crystal.

Pop into a RSC for a proper check or go compare to a new 116710 at a local AD

FXR · 5 June 2016, 06:04 PM

I own a 116710 from 2014. It's exactly the same. No worries.

padi56 · 5 June 2016, 06:08 PM

All the rotatable ceramic bezels sit on 3 spring-loaded ball-bearings plus a spring-loaded click stop so there will be some up and down movement all normal.

minute_man · 5 June 2016, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padi56

All the rotatable ceramic bezels sit on 3 spring-loaded ball-bearings plus a spring-loaded click stop so there will be some up and down movement all normal.

Had the same concerns and this is exactly what RSC explained to me when I showed them mine. Some degree of "play" is perfectly normal. It did take me about 6 months before I noticed and I was almost certain that there was something wrong.

RyanJames · 5 June 2016, 06:29 PM

Just to clarify when I take hold of the bezel at for example the 12 and 6 position and move my grip up and down it also has some play in this manor and makes a clearly audible noise is it makes contact with I presume the crystal. Also when I hold the watch and give it a light shake I can hear the bezel making contact with something as it moves. When holding the bezel still and shaking the noise is gone.

So up and down movement is normal due to spring loading. Presumably the side to side movement of the bezel around the crystal is also normal? I'm fairly sure it never made such contact noise in the past.

Appreciate the responses so far.

bondtoys · 5 June 2016, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padi56

All the rotatable ceramic bezels sit on 3 spring-loaded ball-bearings plus a spring-loaded click stop so there will be some up and down movement all normal.

On the GMT IIC bezel, there is a circular spring and no click-stop

bondtoys · 5 June 2016, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanJames

Just to clarify when I take hold of the bezel at for example the 12 and 6 position and move my grip up and down it also has some play in this manor and makes a clearly audible noise is it makes contact with I presume the crystal. Also when I hold the watch and give it a light shake I can hear the bezel making contact with something as it moves. When holding the bezel still and shaking the noise is gone.

So up and down movement is normal due to spring loading. Presumably the side to side movement of the bezel around the crystal is also normal? I'm fairly sure it never made such contact noise in the past.

Appreciate the responses so far.

Imo, the springs from the bearings should push the bezel up strong enough so that it does not move up and down when you are giving it a shake.

Has someone previously removed the bezel and reinstalled it without the spring-loaded ball bearings?

minute_man · 5 June 2016, 06:44 PM

OP,
Mine has the lateral movement and noise exactly as you describe.
There's also some noise when I shake the watch but can't quite tell whether it's the bezel or the bracelet.

RyanJames · 5 June 2016, 06:49 PM

In case my second explanation of the other movement is a bit trickier to decipher. Here's another pic showing the area between the bezel and crystal where there is also some movement an play that makes an audible noise when shaken or the bezel moved side to side, up and down etc. I would add it's a very small amount of movement and doesn't feel like the bezel will come off but I'm pretty sure it wasn't always this way and didn't always move.

bondtoys · 5 June 2016, 06:52 PM

The slight circular movement is normal for the C bezels but they should not make noises when you shake them.

minute_man · 5 June 2016, 06:57 PM

This movement is exactly what I have, too.
RSC said it's normal. To be very honest, I also was pretty sure it shouldn't be that way. However It's now been more than a year and despite the heavy use, it hasn't come any looser than that.

nch209 · 5 June 2016, 07:26 PM

Mine is nice and tight. Perhaps just swap that bearing and see if it tightens up? I bet it will...

Suboc · 5 June 2016, 11:23 PM

Any movement of the bezel should have a bit of tension from the springs. If it has an audible rattle I'd take it it and have it looked at.

RyanJames · 6 June 2016, 12:20 AM

Thanks for the responses. I'm fairly confident it wasn't always this way although I'm somewhat bemused as to what could have caused it unless some of the innards of the bezel mechanism have worn loose. It still rotates smoothly and holds its position but has this fraction of a mm play that I'm not too happy about.

ppalasthira · 6 June 2016, 12:26 AM

A little play is ok. But the noise, not so normal.

bondtoys · 6 June 2016, 04:57 AM

You did not reply to this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bondtoys

Has someone previously removed the bezel and reinstalled it without the spring-loaded ball bearings?

RyanJames · 6 June 2016, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bondtoys

You did not reply to this:

Sorry I appear to have missed that reply. To my knowledge the only time the bezel was/may have been removed was when I had the watch serviced in June 2012 as I'd acquired it pre owned and I sent it in for a service and piece of mind to RSC Kent.

CRM114 · 6 June 2016, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanJames

Just to clarify when I take hold of the bezel at for example the 12 and 6 position and move my grip up and down it also has some play in this manor and makes a clearly audible noise is it makes contact with I presume the crystal. Also when I hold the watch and give it a light shake I can hear the bezel making contact with something as it moves. When holding the bezel still and shaking the noise is gone.

So up and down movement is normal due to spring loading. Presumably the side to side movement of the bezel around the crystal is also normal? I'm fairly sure it never made such contact noise in the past.

Sounds like there is too much play in it if merely moving the watch is causing it to rock or slide, or is scraping against the crystal if you rock/slide it. Cheaper to have the underlying spring etc looked at now than lose the bezel completely and have to buy a new one.

RyanJames · 6 June 2016, 05:35 PM

Thanks for the responses so far. I've decided to get the watch looked at but I'm having great difficulty finding a Rolex accredited watchmaker in the North West of England that is willing to work on a ceramic bezel due to fear of cracking the insert.

I'm considering RSC Kent but I'm sure they will just force me into a full service. Any suggestions?

Thanks

RyanJames · 7 June 2016, 12:32 AM

Just an update on this. I went to Mappin and Webb (Local AD) today on my lunchtime and compared my watch to an off the shelf GMT. The brand new watch had some play albeit very little. The in house watchmaker took my watch and offered to change the nylon ring free of charge to see if that was causing the looseness. This had no effect and the watch was returned as I brought it in. The watchmaker was at a loss as to what may be causing this other than the fact the watch is 4 years old?? he assured me it's not likely to come off but I'm somewhat at a loss as to what to do now. Rolex confirmed over the phone they won't do a one off piece of work so I'm now forced with paying in excess of £500 to potentially have my watch remedied and fully serviced when it's not needed. Very unhappy to say the least.

I was also told today that the GMT isn't spring loaded and only the Submariner has springs. Very confused.

RyanJames · 9 June 2016, 07:32 AM

After discussing minute_man in more detail and him kindly sending me a video clip with exactly the same issue I'm having. Here's a clip of the movement in experiencing. FYI it appears I'm pushing down on the bezel but I'm actually sliding it to and from the crystal bilaterally. This isn't present on the brand new GMT I handled in store the other day.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i37a8bilriiy6ai/IMG_0423.MOV

This bezel movement occurs also when shaking the watch and makes a clink clink noise as it makes contact.

minute_man · 10 June 2016, 09:14 PM

Perhaps some more knowledgeable members can chime in as to which part secures a snug fit of the bezel or better, which one could be the culprit. I understand (from a diagram kindly shared on a related thread) there's some plastic ring involved in the assembly.
Fwiw though, tolerance has remained the same (not worsening) in almost 2 year of ownership.

RyanJames · 10 June 2016, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minute_man

Perhaps some more knowledgeable members can chime in as to which part secures a snug fit of the bezel or better, which one could be the culprit. I understand (from a diagram kindly shared on a related thread) there's some plastic ring involved in the assembly.
Fwiw though, tolerance has remained the same (not worsening) in almost 2 year of ownership.

Agreed, would be interesting to gather some more input!

traf · 9 September 2016, 10:15 AM

My blnr does the same thing as of last week... Only 1 year old. Did anything become of this @ryanjames and @minute_man?

Sent from my  iPhone 7 using Tapatalk

Longhorn02 · 16 October 2018, 07:21 AM

Just noticed this play in my LN yesterday and found this thread while searching for answers. I've had my LN for 1.5 years and never noticed it until now. I guess it is pretty normal, but I certainly thought there might be something wrong as soon as I discovered the bezel play!

GMT Aviator · 17 October 2018, 08:33 AM

Pretty sure it’s normal. My LN does the same and it’s a couple years old now, but it’s no different from when I bought it new.

Baco Noir · 17 October 2018, 08:40 AM

EDIT: just saw this is a old thread revival. I'm out.

Wobbly · 1 September 2020, 03:18 AM

Reviving an old thread.

My two and a half year old BLNR ( bought new ) has just started with the movement that the OP had with side to side and up and down.
The bezel has never been off and seems very strange that it should go like this all of a sudden.

Although it seems to be normal, it certainly feels like something is a miss.

islandtime · 1 September 2020, 04:30 AM

There's a Hyrtel ring that I guess acts as a bearing surface for the bezel. Since it is some sort of plastic or something it would seem normal that it would have some wear over time. I think only the RSC can fix this for you.

5 June 2016, 06:08 PM	#4
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 52,266	All the rotatable ceramic bezels sit on 3 spring-loaded ball-bearings plus a spring-loaded click stop so there will be some up and down movement all normal. __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

5 June 2016, 07:26 PM	#13
nch209 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Nathan Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 2,775	Mine is nice and tight. Perhaps just swap that bearing and see if it tightens up? I bet it will... __________________ nch209

17 October 2018, 08:40 AM	#28
Baco Noir "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Roger Location: Colorado Watch: this ya'll Posts: 4,814	EDIT: just saw this is a old thread revival. I'm out. __________________ Current Collection: Rolex 116710BLNR & 216570 polar Explorer II; Omega Apollo 8 Speedmaster; Tudor BB Bronze Bucherer Blue Edition; Heuer Heritage Autavia; Nomos Club Sport Neomatik 42; Breitling Aerospace, Avenger Blackbird, & Superocean 44; Seiko Black Monster; Mickey Mouse Timex Electric; and dare I say it...an Apple Watch too

5 June 2016, 06:03 PM	#2
SC11 Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: Sam Location: UK Watch: AP ☠️ Posts: 6,151	I know a certain amount of spring/play is a trait with the ceramic bezels due to how they are mounted but never heard of being able to make them catch on the crystal. Pop into a RSC for a proper check or go compare to a new 116710 at a local AD

5 June 2016, 06:04 PM	#3
FXR "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Paris Watch: 5167 Posts: 52	I own a 116710 from 2014. It's exactly the same. No worries.

5 June 2016, 06:29 PM	#6
RyanJames "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Ryan Location: Manchester Watch: GMTiic Posts: 333	Just to clarify when I take hold of the bezel at for example the 12 and 6 position and move my grip up and down it also has some play in this manor and makes a clearly audible noise is it makes contact with I presume the crystal. Also when I hold the watch and give it a light shake I can hear the bezel making contact with something as it moves. When holding the bezel still and shaking the noise is gone. So up and down movement is normal due to spring loading. Presumably the side to side movement of the bezel around the crystal is also normal? I'm fairly sure it never made such contact noise in the past. Appreciate the responses so far.

5 June 2016, 06:44 PM	#9
minute_man 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Real Name: Basil Location: Athens, GR Watch: BoctokKomandirskie Posts: 2,874	OP, Mine has the lateral movement and noise exactly as you describe. There's also some noise when I shake the watch but can't quite tell whether it's the bezel or the bracelet.

5 June 2016, 06:52 PM	#11
bondtoys "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: World Watch: 16750 Posts: 2,719	The slight circular movement is normal for the C bezels but they should not make noises when you shake them.

5 June 2016, 06:57 PM	#12
minute_man 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Real Name: Basil Location: Athens, GR Watch: BoctokKomandirskie Posts: 2,874	This movement is exactly what I have, too. RSC said it's normal. To be very honest, I also was pretty sure it shouldn't be that way. However It's now been more than a year and despite the heavy use, it hasn't come any looser than that.

5 June 2016, 11:23 PM	#14
Suboc "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: At my forge Posts: 494	Any movement of the bezel should have a bit of tension from the springs. If it has an audible rattle I'd take it it and have it looked at.

6 June 2016, 12:20 AM	#15
RyanJames "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Ryan Location: Manchester Watch: GMTiic Posts: 333	Thanks for the responses. I'm fairly confident it wasn't always this way although I'm somewhat bemused as to what could have caused it unless some of the innards of the bezel mechanism have worn loose. It still rotates smoothly and holds its position but has this fraction of a mm play that I'm not too happy about.

6 June 2016, 12:26 AM	#16
ppalasthira Banned Join Date: May 2007 Location: ASK Watch: SubC.5711.D500 Posts: 2,236	A little play is ok. But the noise, not so normal.

6 June 2016, 05:35 PM	#20
RyanJames "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Ryan Location: Manchester Watch: GMTiic Posts: 333	Thanks for the responses so far. I've decided to get the watch looked at but I'm having great difficulty finding a Rolex accredited watchmaker in the North West of England that is willing to work on a ceramic bezel due to fear of cracking the insert. I'm considering RSC Kent but I'm sure they will just force me into a full service. Any suggestions? Thanks

7 June 2016, 12:32 AM	#21
RyanJames "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Ryan Location: Manchester Watch: GMTiic Posts: 333	Just an update on this. I went to Mappin and Webb (Local AD) today on my lunchtime and compared my watch to an off the shelf GMT. The brand new watch had some play albeit very little. The in house watchmaker took my watch and offered to change the nylon ring free of charge to see if that was causing the looseness. This had no effect and the watch was returned as I brought it in. The watchmaker was at a loss as to what may be causing this other than the fact the watch is 4 years old?? he assured me it's not likely to come off but I'm somewhat at a loss as to what to do now. Rolex confirmed over the phone they won't do a one off piece of work so I'm now forced with paying in excess of £500 to potentially have my watch remedied and fully serviced when it's not needed. Very unhappy to say the least. I was also told today that the GMT isn't spring loaded and only the Submariner has springs. Very confused.

9 June 2016, 07:32 AM	#22
RyanJames "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Ryan Location: Manchester Watch: GMTiic Posts: 333	After discussing minute_man in more detail and him kindly sending me a video clip with exactly the same issue I'm having. Here's a clip of the movement in experiencing. FYI it appears I'm pushing down on the bezel but I'm actually sliding it to and from the crystal bilaterally. This isn't present on the brand new GMT I handled in store the other day. https://www.dropbox.com/s/i37a8bilriiy6ai/IMG_0423.MOV This bezel movement occurs also when shaking the watch and makes a clink clink noise as it makes contact.

10 June 2016, 09:14 PM	#23
minute_man 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Real Name: Basil Location: Athens, GR Watch: BoctokKomandirskie Posts: 2,874	Perhaps some more knowledgeable members can chime in as to which part secures a snug fit of the bezel or better, which one could be the culprit. I understand (from a diagram kindly shared on a related thread) there's some plastic ring involved in the assembly. Fwiw though, tolerance has remained the same (not worsening) in almost 2 year of ownership.

9 September 2016, 10:15 AM	#25
traf "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Real Name: dave Location: miami Watch: me ride bikes Posts: 1,938	My blnr does the same thing as of last week... Only 1 year old. Did anything become of this @ryanjames and @minute_man? Sent from my  iPhone 7 using Tapatalk

16 October 2018, 07:21 AM	#26
Longhorn02 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: TX Watch: 116710LN Posts: 67	Just noticed this play in my LN yesterday and found this thread while searching for answers. I've had my LN for 1.5 years and never noticed it until now. I guess it is pretty normal, but I certainly thought there might be something wrong as soon as I discovered the bezel play!

17 October 2018, 08:33 AM	#27
GMT Aviator 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 X2 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Real Name: Mike Location: London Posts: 3,276	Pretty sure it’s normal. My LN does the same and it’s a couple years old now, but it’s no different from when I bought it new.

1 September 2020, 03:18 AM	#29
Wobbly "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 1,392	Reviving an old thread. My two and a half year old BLNR ( bought new ) has just started with the movement that the OP had with side to side and up and down. The bezel has never been off and seems very strange that it should go like this all of a sudden. Although it seems to be normal, it certainly feels like something is a miss.

1 September 2020, 04:30 AM	#30
islandtime "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Austin TX Posts: 20	There's a Hyrtel ring that I guess acts as a bearing surface for the bezel. Since it is some sort of plastic or something it would seem normal that it would have some wear over time. I think only the RSC can fix this for you.

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