bruce79

For some reason, the above link to The Zigmeister's post is not working.

It would make things interesting if it had 24mm lugs, wouldn't it?

Will do, thanks.

Ok, bit of an UPDATE: I just decided to leave the bezel on the watch...it turns a bit tight but at least it's on there. It never really turned very freely in the first place so I can live with it...don't really turn it that much anyhow. Plus I don't want to run the risk of bending the bezel. So I went forward with my initial intentions which was to remove the crystal. I pulled the stem out to the time setting position, push the stem release button just enough to remove the stem and pulled the stem out. Then I managed to get the movement holder screws out though the heads of them were quite small even for my 1mm screwdriver. I actually had to file down the screwdriver head so it would fit. Once the movement was removed I placed the case up upside down on top of a hollow 36mm die and pushed the crystal out with a 20mm die, no problem. So before I can rest a bit easier, I'd like to press the crystal back into the case just to know I can do it before sending it out to Chief. You guys said that I shouldn't need to remove the bezel to pop the crystal out but what about putting it back into the case? Do I have to push it though the bezel insert a bit to get it going or should I just center it as much as I can and push? The outer sides of the crystal are scraping the inner sides of the bezel insert, not bad but noticeably so. I just don't want to crack the crystal as that would be catastrophic at this point and would send me into a deep depression...jk. But it would be a bummer. What do you think?

Tell me, did you have to tweak the retaining ring at all? Did it need any re-bending or repositioning?

Thanks...I just found it and was about to do the same. It if I understand his last instruction correctly, one just start with one end of the retaining ring and slowly press around the bezel. The open gap where the two ends meet should be the last part to go down.

Thanks Chief, I'm heading down to my local jewelry supply store to get a proper case back opener now so I to knick up the case using a screwdriver to pry the bezel off. The bezel was ever so slightly bent but I straightened it out so that it's no more than .5 mm off if anything. Thank you for the lead...I searched and searched yesterday...all of the boards and came up short...I'll search his posts.

Thanks for the input guys. I managed to get it on last night before going to bed though I don't think it's seated correctly because now the bezel is very difficult to turn. Suppose I'll need to pop it off again and give it another go. It seems to me that the retaining ring (bent wire) got a little tweaked in the process of trying to get the bezel back on and it's just a matter of getting it to sit correctly in the bezel groove. I'll try what Rob said but let me ask, the two ends of the retaining ring don't touch, is that a problem? Are they suppose to be touching? They are about 1cm short of touching. Perhaps I'll post pics, pictures are always make everything better.

I removed the bezel in preparation of removing the crystal for your ar run... I figured I could save it the 12000 miles of flight to Rob if I could remove the crystal myself and just send it up the coast to you. I see the groove that the bent wire thing sits in but how tucked in there does it need to be? It's obviously bent several times and those angles cause it to sit out a bit in certain areas...won't these catch the case as I try and seat the bezel...is there a trick to this?

This afternoon, I thought I'd give my new crystal press a try and decided to use my UPO as the guinea pig. Removing the bezel was quite difficult although this was to be expected as removing the bezel has never been a walk in the park for me. Broke one of my jewelers screw drivers in the process but I needed a new set anyways. So after removing it, I tried to use the press to install it and am having difficulty. I'd always used the cap to a vitamin bottle and the palm of my hand for my sub bezels and that was quite a frustrating process. I thought the crystal press would make it easier but that does not seem to be the case as I can't get the darn thing back on. The trouble seems to be getting the bezel to sit evenly on the case so that the press can get an even contact with the bezel. But here is the thing that really perplexes me. There is a bent wire on the inside of the bezel which seems to be some sort of tension mechanism to keep the bezel nice and tight. Having had a similar bent wire in an old cn sub of mine give me trouble then, I suspect it is now giving me trouble with the UPO too. So I pulled the bent wire out just to see if it made a difference in getting the bezel on and the bezel and it now sits flush with the case but there is nothing holding it on and it comes off freely. So it looks like the bent wire is absolutely necessary and keeps the bezel on. But if I can recall correctly, I just removed the bent wire from the bezel on my old cn sub and the bezel was a bit loose but was fine and stayed on the case. Though it was so long ago I can't remember. Perhaps I just removed the insert so that I could reach in through the top of the bezel and help to seat the bent wire. At any rate, is this normal? Is the bent wire holding the bezel to the case? Do I have to remove the insert and help the bent ring sit properly because it seems that it's getting caught between the bezel and the case and preventing the bezel from snapping on. Can anyone make sense of what I just wrote? What do I need to do to get the bezel back on??? Thanks in advance.

I just acquired a crystal press and though it seems like it would be self explanatory, I need help with how to use it. I'm pressing my UPO & my 112 crystals and am a little concerned about the UPO crystal because it's domed. I have some hollow dies and some flat dies...I'm assuming that I use the hollow die to press the UPO crystal? If yes, where to I position the lip of the hollow die? At the outer part of the crystal? Any help would be appreciated, I just don't want to break my crystal.

very high wattage halogens...very hot too, everything that sparkles looks great though!!! Noticed that when I was engagement ring shopping.

You could get the double and then remove the outer layer...see if you like the double first though...

Getting the DAR done on my 112h in this run and can't wait.

You mean that's not gen?

I'll take your word for it.

How does the double ar look on a pam?

Please sign me up for 2. Thanks.

gettin ready to go out here in San Diego, one of the last NYE celebrations out there from the looks of it. A Happy & Healthy 2008 to all. Cheers. B79

yeah, it's a tough call but I'd like to see if a can't add a little cream to it. This is what it looks like now. The lighting shows them to be of closer color than they actually are. Not a big deal but something I notice.

I need help to add a bit of patina to the pearl on my 16800. The dial is gen and the tritium has developed a nice cream patina but the insert (also gen) is more the standard modern lume color and it bugs me. Any suggestions? Shoe Polish? Bake in the oven? I dunno, please help. Thanks

One of the best gen reference threads out there...well done Stephane.

I've received watches/parts from all over the world via registered mail and have never had a problem (I'm in CA). I say if your not looking to insure what you are buying, registered mail should be fine.

3 seconds, I suck

Stephane was kind enough to offer me a couple of links. Very kind gesture from a first class member. Thanks Stephane!!!