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INSERTS OF ROLEX AND TUDOR DIVING WATCHES OF THE ROLEX ACRYLIC ERA researched and written by Xeramic, on VintageRolexForum © 2021, all rights reserved 1 INTRODUCTION 2 SIDE EFFECT 3 THE MAKING-OF 4 LEVEL OF DETAIL 5 MISPRINTS 6 COLOR AND SURFACE VARIATIONS 7 DIMENSIONS 8 SPOTTING THE VERSIONS 9 NUMBERING OF THE VERSIONS 10 VERSIONS 11 BACKS AND BORDERS 12 LUME PEARLS 13 HOW TO USE 14 A WORD ABOUT FAKES 15 FINAL NOTES 1 INTRODUCTION This is an in-depth article about the contemporary bezel inserts of Rolex and Tudor diving watches of the Rolex acrylic era (so, up to 1990, with the very latest ref. 5513 – I didn’t extend my research to the remained years of the last Tudor acrylic Sub ref. 79090). Besides of the dial, the insert is the most esthetic-relevant and – due to aging/wear – also the most individualizing part on vintage Subs or Sea-Dwellers; fully exposed to environment conditions but not to refurbish, it’s a highly sought-after and valuable spare. The goal of this documentation is to enable you to identify any era-conform version, to distinguish genuine from aftermarket stuff as well as correct from incorrect watch configurations, and – thanks to the detailed font descriptions – to spot versions even on blurry or incomplete images; further, to eliminate common uncertainties in regard to dimensions, surface properties, color variations, back profiles and lume dots. (EDIT: and there you have it folks, the introduction to the most complete and well-researched Rolex bezel inserts guide I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This is a Copyrighted work and as such the author has requested RWG keep only the Introduction here, with a link to its current published location. This makes sense, as all detailed works such as this go through edits and enhancements over time. Having the source document in only one location gives us all access to the freshest information available. Please visit the VintageRolexForum to read the rest of this piece: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/vintagerolexforum/inserts-of-rolex-and-tudor-diving-watches-of-the-r-t266367.html -Admin) Thanks for reading, stay healthy, Xeramic