Problem bezel change,help!

[Mike on a bike]

Ok so changing blk to green on LV dial sub , can not get it off. Watched vidio have all the right tools it will not pop up, mind you I put some serious presure on it I am a large guy. Any hints!

[woof*]

What exact watch do you have?

[TeeJay]

No need to remove the outer bezel... Use your thumbnail to lift out the luminous pearl, then use something like a small screw driver/hairclip/etc to use the hole as a lever to start lifting the insert away from the bezel. Depending if you want to keep said insert, you can either be careful or forceful

[woof*]

No need to remove the outer bezel... Use your thumbnail to lift out the luminous pearl, then use something like a small screw driver/hairclip/etc to use the hole as a lever to start lifting the insert away from the bezel. Depending if you want to keep said insert, you can either be careful or forceful

Yeah.....unless he has a TC/Wm9/Bk and a gen insert.

[TeeJay]

Yeah.....unless he has a TC/Wm9/Bk and a gen insert.

It's not, it's the same budget Sub as I have

[Mike on a bike]

Cheap LV sub from snead 16610, came blk figured I go 50th with green. Teejay seems I f**** ed up inside someware as now it doesn't want to rotate click you know. I was able to line back up pearl with a real lot of force. Oh well will give the Teejay method a try. Thanks guys .

[Mike on a bike]

Teejay yes budget sub!

[TeeJay]

Not sure what to suggest about the rotation aspect, other than trying to keep rotating it and seeing if it 'settles back'... But pulling the insert out is an easy process

[woof*]

Sounds like you tried to remove the bezel. They are easy to bend and mess up on the cheaper models.

[Mike on a bike]

Yes woof I did, it should have worked followed Video to the tee. Going to leave well enough alone I think if I pull the blk & green does't go in well watch useless. Thanks again gentlemen .

[TeeJay]

Yes woof I did, it should have worked followed Video to the tee. Going to leave well enough alone I think if I pull the blk & green does't go in well watch useless. Thanks again gentlemen .

Does the green insert sit cleanly on top of the black? I figure if you've gone this far, you might as well try to perform the swap, or the damage to the bezel will be for nothing...

[Mike on a bike]

Teejay yes its sits well, as far as damage internal so still looks good have it lined up on the 12. It is on a Bond blk/red/grey nato really comfortable , still debating in my head . I may get the bug to do in a day or two.

[woof*]

Mike, that style of bezel isn't intended to be taken off. Don't feel bad, many of us have done the same thing. They usually get bent by the time you get them off. They are held in by a wire spring, and when you try to reinstall it seems impossible to get back on. It can be done though. The bezel can be flattened in a vice and with the insert off, you can use a tool to work on that spring to get the bezel back on.

Easiest way to get the insert out is like TJ says..remove the pearl and pick at it and pull it out from the hole. A hair dryer helps a bunch. Softens the adhesive and the insert will just lift off. Good luck!

[Mike on a bike]

Ah! I see the vid was of a gen, just googled how to take bezel off Rolex. Next time check here first as there are obviously different methods involved. You live you learn.

[woof*]

Yes, and that's exactly why my first question was about what watch you had. Couple years ago I saw same video. I promptly got a knife and tore into my cheap GMT...bent the bezel bad too lol

The better watches, MBW, Wm9, BkTw and the TC watches are all made just like the gen. You can do what the guy in the video does with those watches.

[Mike on a bike]

Woof thanks now I do not feel so bad. Maybe I will go for a better grade Rolex someday, bought this for 79 figured what the h *ll.

They play so small on my wrist (8.65in) so for me the money would be better spent on larger high end gen. I am aware of the 43mm Dweller but maybe a tad to small, wish I could try one on you never know. Well there is one for $148 w/2813 on trusty maybe I take a chance.

[TeeJay]

Teejay yes its sits well, as far as damage internal so still looks good have it lined up on the 12. It is on a Bond blk/red/grey nato really comfortable , still debating in my head . I may get the bug to do in a day or two.

If it sits well, you definitely have nothing to lose by going ahead with the swap When you get the insert out of the bezel, you may see a fine wire spring which is what holds the bezel on place. If you're able to find the end of the wire, then with a fine pair of tweezers, you might be able to remove the wire, which would in turn allow you to remove the bezel and possibly fix the issue of why it's not turning properly

[kbh]

If you get the insert out you can probably get the bezel off easier. If it's got the bent spring wire holding it you'll be able to get to it and work it out of the way.

[Mike on a bike]

OK guys sounds like a plan I will give it a try next Sunday as it is the only day I have the time . And thanks for the help.

[JoeyB]

automatico suggested this, and it works well for me. If you get the insert off and can see the any of the bent wire retainer for the bezel, use a thin feeler gage and wedge it so that it pushes the wire out into the bezel. About 1/3 around will give you enough to pop the bezel off without any damage to it.

http://www.rwg.cc/topic/142481-bezel-remover/page__hl__feeler#entry1065900