Bezel Modifying on a CW

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rkovars
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by rkovars »

Okay, I would recommend against it for a couple of reasons (at least on the C65). My tool would not work as the underside of the bezel has a flat cutout. Under the coin edge is a surface that is completely flat, 90 degrees from the coin edge.


20210126_184000905_iOS (2).jpg


The tool simply seated on the flat part of the bezel and would go no further. You would need to get the bezel tool that is more like a pair of pliers to pry it off (like this Bergeon set).

The mechanism internally is very simple.


20210126_184756312_iOS (2).jpg


The friction ring and click spring are all one piece. There are two guide pins on the underside that keep it in place. There are 4 click springs that bend up from the friction ring.


Around the inner ring of the bezel is a spring with straight bends in it that holds the bezel in place when it is affixed. If this gets bent out of shape the bezel won't seat properly and won't turn. I found out the hard way :oops: .

20210126_184746478_iOS (2).jpg


I was able to bend the click springs into a tent shape so that they no longer stop the bezel from going backwards but will still click when the bezel is turned. This is a little tricky because you want the tip of the tent to be in the same spot as the click spring to keep the bezel alignment consistent.

20210126_185236297_iOS (2).jpg


The bezel is a little stiff now due to the inner retention spring being bent slightly out of shape. All in all, the risk of damage to the case without the proper tools is high. Risk of damaging the inner retention spring is also high. I took a bullet for the team on this one. :wave:
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Bahnstormer_vRS
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

That's excellent work and a great write up. Thank you.

The phrase 'Don't try this at home' springs to mind.


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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by jkbarnes »

I applaud your boldness in doing this - both popping the bezel then actually modding it to suit your needs.

Even more impressive than that though, is your write up of the process. I don’t think I could have...no, make that I KNOW I could not have....explained everything as clearly and concisely as you did. I enjoyed the write up thoroughly!
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rkovars
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by rkovars »

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 1:32 am That's excellent work and a great write up. Thank you.

The phrase 'Don't try this at home' springs to mind.


Guy

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Definitely without the right tools! The bezel is really tricky to get off and you could damage the case and bezel ring pretty badly if you aren't really careful on how you do it. I've been turning the hell out of the bezel and it seems to be getting better. Seeing how simple the mechanism is, it is a little disappointing that a correct bezel friction ring/click spring just wasn't installed from the get go. It seems like a standard off the shelf part to me. I would think that both a diver and GMT version should be available to manufacturers.
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by rkovars »

jkbarnes wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 2:57 am I applaud your boldness in doing this - both popping the bezel then actually modding it to suit your needs.

Even more impressive than that though, is your write up of the process. I don’t think I could have...no, make that I KNOW I could not have....explained everything as clearly and concisely as you did. I enjoyed the write up thoroughly!
Thanks! I work at a really small company as an engineer so it is pretty typical to get your hands dirty doing any number of things. You just have to be resigned that you might cock it up the first go around!
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by Robotaz »

Nice. Proud of you for digging in. And, glad you like the results.
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by jkbarnes »

rkovars wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 4:24 pm Thanks! I work at a really small company as an engineer so it is pretty typical to get your hands dirty doing any number of things. You just have to be resigned that you might cock it up the first go around!
Between your success in doing this and your facility for explaining with such clarity what it was you actually did, I assumed you were coming from some type of engineering background. :thumbup:
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by brash47 »

You might consider putting a light coat of silicon lubricant if its really stiff. I had to do that with an Orient Pro Saturation Diver that had a bezel action so hard you needed gloves to turn it. Bezel was same as many many watches. Simple spring with raided catches. I took some angle out of the spring edges and added a little silicon. It's still tight, but a good tight, movable by hand.

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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by tikkathree »

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 1:32 am That's excellent work and a great write up. Thank you.

The phrase 'Don't try this at home' springs to mind.


Guy

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I think you really clicked there. :lol:
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by tikkathree »

So was the answer that having pinged the bezel off the case you'd then carefully ease the bezel insert off by pushing it from "behind", easing it away from the double-sided sticky stuff?
C60 MKI, MKII, MKIII: "some",
C6 & C60 Kingfishers,
C600 Tritechs,
C63 "some",
C65 "some",
C4, C40, C8, C9, C3, C5, C20 & 23FLE
Some other brands
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by JAFO »

Dan Dodson (I think that's the right name) does a lot of watch mods on his "watch me with watches" channel, and he soaks bezel insert rings off with nail polish remover. Don't do this if there is paint on the bezel, he says.
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Re: Bezel Modifying on a CW

Post by rkovars »

I definitely wouldn't pry the insert off. It is very narrow and I would imagine easily bent. I didn't change the insert in any way so I left it alone. It is probably on there with some sort of adhesive.
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