Linder Posted September 13, 2006 Report Posted September 13, 2006 Hi guys, I have been looking for the past 2 months and have finally been sent this pic of a claimed OEM bezel insert. Does this look legit? Here is the best pic I have and I do not have a closer pic of the pearl. Thanks!
Linder Posted September 13, 2006 Author Report Posted September 13, 2006 Okay, so the $210 offer is out. I will look into the $275 offer more
HauteHippie Posted September 13, 2006 Report Posted September 13, 2006 Definitely not gen... For the edification of non-experts such as myself, what is the tip off? PS I am going to follow up with a pic or two of a supposed gen insert that I'm now wondering about.
ubiquitous Posted September 13, 2006 Report Posted September 13, 2006 Color. Shimmer. Font. Markers. Pearl. Setting. But, what was the first thing your eye was drawn to when you first looked at it? For me... It was that marker at 9:00. Everything else listed above fell into place after I studied it. That marker though... That's really no good at all.
Linder Posted September 13, 2006 Author Report Posted September 13, 2006 Thanks for the education, Ubi. You are right, of course. I saw the 9 marker and too thought something was up with it. So I looked at my MBW insert, saw it looked sort of the same and thought, "hmm, maybe it is supposed to look like that." I should have been more skeptical. For reference, assuming RSC would sell you a new one, they quoted me $120 - $150 for it.
ubiquitous Posted September 13, 2006 Report Posted September 13, 2006 If you can get one from one of the RSC's (assuming they'd sell it outright without having the watch in hand to service and install for you), I say get it. Especially at that price. Typically, the cost on these things isn't very much; I seem to recall $50 - $70 or right abouts believe it or not. But that's if you can find them from a direct source, i.e. usually from RSC as a replacement to your existing, damaged insert. On the secondary market, they sell for very high prices as they are commonly used to convert black 16610's into LVs (and are then sold at LV prices to the unsuspecting). I was told that there was one shop that would turn a genuine 16610 into an LV for $950.00 At any rate... If you can find one at a reasonable price, get it!
Linder Posted September 13, 2006 Author Report Posted September 13, 2006 Unfortunately, I have not had good luck finding one at all. RSC would quote me a price but not sell it to me without the serial number of the watch it would be put on.
Linder Posted September 13, 2006 Author Report Posted September 13, 2006 Chances are, my only friend with a genuine LV sitting around is my friend Ubi and it is probably sitting in his parts bin just waiting to be put together
ubiquitous Posted September 13, 2006 Report Posted September 13, 2006 Wish I had one for you... But unfortunately, I do not But, if I happen to come across one, I'd be glad to let you know (or pick it up for you on your behalf)
vaccum Posted September 13, 2006 Report Posted September 13, 2006 I am also in the search of a 16610 insert and crown....so far zip These parts are hard to find.
ubiquitous Posted September 14, 2006 Report Posted September 14, 2006 They're out there... don't give up the hunt!
Linder Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 The seller of the original pic insists the insert is genuine and has supplied two more pictures. The 9PM marker still looks crooked but they all do I think in relation to the opposite marker. Could it be the curvature or possible bending of the insert?
HauteHippie Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 I will make an observation here.... The underside of the bezel looks different than the underside of the black/silver sub bezels I have. This LV bezel is more substantial, thicker - there is more metal there. Check the pics of the underside of my black bezel in a previous thread to see what I mean. I have also noticed (and Ubi can correct me if I'm wrong certainly) that the vintage bezels I've seen look like this on the underside... Thicker and more substantial than the modern black/silver.
ubiquitous Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 Indeed. That looks to be VERY thick on the underside. Far thicker than any genuine 16610 insert I've ever seen. Also... The diameter of the pearl setting from the back looks too small- The gen's pearl setting is larger in diameter. The pearl also looks incorrect from the front, still- Though it's hard to really see it for what it is because of the lighting.
HauteHippie Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 I think one potential problem here might be the fact that nobody here has ever seen a loose LV bezel insert. We can certainly try to make determinations based on color and font, but both of those things can be distorted and inaccurately depicted in lousy photos such as these.
Linder Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 Well, this has been a very educational process for several of us and I truly appreciate everyone's help.
ubiquitous Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 I've had a few of the genuine LV inserts- But never loose. Still... They would be very similar to the black 16610's, so it's still possible to identify the difference, as the LV is simply a different color. Physical attributes, such as setting size for the pearl, insert size, etc. should all still be the same.
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