The Invincible Bezel Insert

[Alextor]

Hello guys,

I'm experimenting with bezel insert and 'vintagizing procedures'...I have read cautionary tales of fellow forum members about leaving the insert in the 'bath' too long ...usually over 1/2 hour...

So I dipped my bezel insert (from RaymondLee Jewelers) in a progressive torture bath...

1) espresso (apparently works for Panerai only )

2) detergent (palmolive)

3) 1/2 water

for 1 hours (with 10 minute check ups)...

NOTHING...still shining ... black as new

then

4) more detergent (tide with bleach)

5) NaCl (salt)

4) H2O2 (peroxide)

for another hour...NOTHING

I got a great antiseptic-cleaner that can be used for superficial wounds and washing dishes

then

5) more salt

6) citric acid (lemon juice)

7) pine sol (that irresistible fresh scent)

for another hour

NOTHING.....NOTHINGGG!!!

I got an antiseptic-dishwashing fluid- hemorroid cleanser that smells like a chemical bomb but can be used to spike a tea.

so I added

scrubbing bubbles...(it that rips the grime off my bath tiles...)

NOTHING....another hour and NOTHING...

I'm running out of detergents at home...so where can I get kryptonite?

any ideas...???

Alex

[Alextor]

Here's a shot of the insert 4 hours after the torture and the chemical bath... (never mind the scratches...it was me with my new dremel... )

[ubiquitous]

Alex-

For my insert vintagizing jobs, I use bleach. Usually, 3 - 5 minutes in gives a nice faded result. I recently did one that came out looking chocolate brown. Perhaps the new owner will post pics of it when he has it installed

Here's one I did recently- In the bath for 5 minutes...

[Alextor]

Thanks so much Randy...! So I'll be buying bleach in the morning...

Alex

[kingkitesurf]

Yep I did it with bleach (the regular 50 cent toilet stuff) 50%, 50% water and a tip of salt. Worked great. I doubt if you need the salt and water. It goes quicker without....Like Ubi did.

[Edge]

Glad to see you managed to get it done, and I know you posted in this thread already but here is the thread regarding vintagizing the bezel insert, which is a reasonably simple process, with some good examples from Myself, and Ubi at this point, but hopefully some good examples from Repaustria soon, as well as some NOT SO GOOD examples of what happens if you leave it in too long from both me and Ubi.

VINTAGIZE YOUR BEZEL INSERT

[Alextor]

Hola Edge

I actually followed the recommendations on your thread but I think this particular insert has a glossy coating on the surface that makes it impermeable to anything. I'll try bleach later on today!! I'll post the post experiment pictures...

Cheers

Glad to see you managed to get it done, and I know you posted in this thread already but here is the thread regarding vintagizing the bezel insert, which is a reasonably simple process, with some good examples from Myself, and Ubi at this point, but hopefully some good examples from Repaustria soon, as well as some NOT SO GOOD examples of what happens if you leave it in too long from both me and Ubi.

VINTAGIZE YOUR BEZEL INSERT

[Edge]

Hola Alextor

La buena suerte con el proyecto y me dejó sabe va. El blanqueo es definitivamente la mejor opción, sin el agua agregada, blanqueo justo del uso.

Buonas tardes

Edge

[cib0rgman]

Well I try that with mine and did not work, I think it will only work on genuine bezel inserts. I got my from helfhands and no luck, still dark.

I wish I can get my hand on a genuine insert that will make my life easier.

Regards

Edited August 20, 2006 by cib0rgman

[Guest avitt]

Well I try that with mine and did not work, I think it will only work on genuine bezel inserts. I got my from helfhands and no luck, still dark.

I wish I can get my hand on a genuine insert that will make my life easier.

Regards

This thread is funny...It reminds me of the efforts I made earlier this year, on a helfands insert.

First, I left the inserts face-up outside on my bbq bar, were it experienced over 30 days of California sun and acid rain....nothing. It still looked as good as the day I bought it. Next, I tried the 50/50 bleach with salt solution: 1/2 hour...nothing. 1 hour...nothing. 2 hours...nada. Next came staight up 100% bleach...again, no effect.

Finally, I found a product that could get to the helfands: Duro Tub'N Sink Jelly, with Phosphoric Acid. I covered the insert with this stuff, and after a couple of minutes, I could see the color leaching away....very nice effect.

However, in the end, I decided to just use a NOS genuine insert on my DRSD. In about 20 years, it'll look perfect