Evening folks. I've just come into possession of a Lympstone from a reputable dealer. Love the watch but I have a question for those larger Ward Nerds out there: on my watch the bezels numbering and the extra chunky flutes on the bezel aren't aligned, I'm trying to figure out if this is something that I should talk to Christopher Ward about or if it's a sign of a dodgy repair in which case I need to have a discussion with the seller.

That is a new one. I doubt it is a dodgy repair. It more likely has always been that way. Definitely a downside of that bezel design.

To be honest, I am not sure it would bother me as long as everything else is aligned. Everyone is different though.

It can't hurt to ask CW but bezel issues haven't exactly been received with open arms at HQ. But you never know.

An interesting conundrum and I agree that the numbers on the bezel insert of your watch do not align with either the ridges or troughs of the bezel itself.

If you look at the pics of the Lympstone in the CWArchive you'll see the numbers aligned with the ridges.

If you then follow the link back to the Forum Reference Gallery, you'll see one watch with a set of pics where the numbers align with the ridges (as in the CWArchive). There is then a second watch where the numbers align with the troughs.

However, yours are neither, being kind of in between.

Guy

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There is one on Chrono24 that aligns with the troughs too. I was looking around because I was curious as well.

EDIT: Looking at all of the images on Google it is a decent split between troughs and ridges (looking at real world photos only). I did see a couple of sale posts that were misaligned like the OP.

PS> Frustrating as the apparent misalignment may be, at least the important alignment of numbers and 12 o'clock triangle appear to line up with the indices on the dial.

Guy

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That would drive me mad as it doesn’t seem aligned at all. It’s as if the bezel insert was placed in the bezel without checking the bezel was in the right place first. With most standard edged bezels that’s not an issue but here it looks wrong.

I’d be speaking to the dealer you bought it from and seeing if they would be happy to come to an arrangement on a fix. Whether this is some discount or if they’d agree to part (or fully) fund a repair with CW.

I don’t think it’s that big an issue for CW to repair it. It’s a case of removing the insert, setting the bezel to the correct position and sticking the insert back. However I suspect CW won’t give any indication of costs until you sent it in to them.

Thanks all. Glad it's not just me!
I got in touch with the dealer and he's informed me that this watch is one of the production run that was sold exclusively to the Royal Marines themselves. I suppose that may have something to do with it and, if so, I'll keep it as is so that it's set apart.
I'll get in touch with CW and see if they can help me out with some more info.

Numbers are aligned with the bezel ‘peaks’ on mine (late 2023 purchase).

timepieces_and_bags wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 11:47 pm Numbers are aligned with the bezel ‘peaks’ on mine (late 2023 purchase).


IMG_0642.jpeg

From you photo it almost looks like the bezel is of two-part construction, rather like a wooden cartwheel: the part with the flat numbered part and then a ring of blocks on the outside?
Or maybe it's just a styling thing with a distinct line separating the top from the sides?

tikkathree wrote: ↑Sat Mar 15, 2025 9:20 am

timepieces_and_bags wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 11:47 pm Numbers are aligned with the bezel ‘peaks’ on mine (late 2023 purchase).


IMG_0642.jpeg

From you photo it almost looks like the bezel is of two-part construction, rather like a wooden cartwheel: the part with the flat numbered part and then a ring of blocks on the outside?
Or maybe it's just a styling thing with a distinct line separating the top from the sides?

It’s a standard bezel construction I expect. The outer part with the ‘peaks’ is like the usual stainless steel bezel, with the numbers parts being the ceramic insert. In the case of this watch they are the same colour so I might look like all one piece at a glance.

This is why I suspect it might not be a big job to fix it. The insert just needs taking out and reseating in the correct position.

UPDATE: CW have agreed that it's not correct and have accepted a repair request. So hopefully it get's sorted. Thanks everyone for the help.

FURTHER UPDATE: Took CW a couple of weeks to tell me that the bezel was 'within spec' so it wouldn't be covered under warranty. I spat my dummy out (very politely) to no avail and have ended up paying for the repair to be done. Only £48 so guess that's not too bad in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks to all for the support!

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That is absolutely appalling. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of my hard earned dollars for a repair that they have admitted, by saying it is within specs, is shoddy QC. It would bother me, and I would have it repaired, but by a third party.

Very poor from CW.

Regards Steve

In this case "within spec" seems to mean that the numbers have been printed somewhere