regarding gmtiic bezel.. interesting..

[broncophil]

was doing some reading about my new watch so i googled "rolex gmt ceramic durable" and found this link.. just thought i'd share..


http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/w...mic-bezel.html

[PanAm]

I have nightmares about dropping my Rolex and chipping the case :S

[ayecarumba]

Thanks for sharing..this topic is making the rounds of the forums it seems...

The longstanding battle of sapphire crystal vs. tiled floor is well documented. As is other potential damage to your Rolex:

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=57777

http://www.minus4plus6.com/photos/photo34.htm

I have yet to see any pictures of shattered or broken ceramic bezels (or ceramic anything on a watch for that matter)

I suppose this type of damage may be possible, but the single picture would go a longer way than any descriptions ever can. Post 'em if you got 'em!

But please don't try to shatter your bezel to prove any points!

[handdoc]

i worry about mine dropping...just try to be careful

hope they fix it like new

[LocoNBroko]

I had a Daytona fall to the floor in Home Depot once while loading lumber on a rack. Somehow one of the spring bars was tweaked allowing the watch to just come off. Shattered the crystal, damaged the dial and 2 of the hands.
Cost over $2200 to have repaired.
I learned a valuable lesson that day!

[ayecarumba]

I am becoming skeptical about these claims..

I believe this topic was posted a few weeks ago but the ones making the claim couldn't provide any photographic evidence to support it.

He claims he dropped his GMT IIc onto the ground from height of about 1 meter and it shattered the bezel. The crystal remained intact? What are the odds?! If you look at your GMT IIc from the side you'll notice the crystal is slightly raised above the bezel....His price claims and story are all over the map. I'm having a hard time believing this scenario.
Without the pics, this claim is a bit

I've tried reaching out to a few members who might be able to help verify these stories and will let you know if I hear anything.

[BigHat]

Well, I don't know why he'd post to a car sight and lie about dropping his watch. Concur with you that the crystal is at a greater risk than the bezel in most circumstances, but from three feet onto a hard floor lots of stuff can happen.

He's off on his prices though. As was stated down the thread, about $600 for the bezel and that's consistent with discussion here.

Like you, still awaiting a pic of a broken ceramic bezel. I'm sure there are GMT-IICs that have been smashed to bits if you consider the number in circulation, yet none posted in this WIS niche or anywhere else.

[watchmaker]

I was asked to take a look at this thread an offer an opinion.

I have not encountered a shattered ceramic bezel through my own workshop. But I previously worked with Rolex in Switzerland, and I have seen the extremes the bezel are designed to withstand.

Without saying too much, it is safe to say they will withstand more than a fair amount of abuse. My own experience shows (and please nobody be offended) that when a customer describes how their watch sustained damage, they are very often 'conservative' when describing. Meaning, quite often people do not like to admit they have caused the damage themselves.

[BondandBigM]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

I was asked to take a look at this thread an offer an opinion.

I have not encountered a shattered ceramic bezel through my own workshop. But I previously worked with Rolex in Switzerland, and I have seen the extremes the bezel are designed to withstand.

Without saying too much, it is safe to say they will withstand more than a fair amount of abuse. My own experience shows (and please nobody be offended) that when a customer describes how their watch sustained damage, they are very often 'conservative' when describing. Meaning, quite often people do not like to admit they have caused the damage themselves.

It's hard to see how a fall of a couple or three feet would smash the bezel, even onto stone tiles. The actual bezel is slightly recessed so the crystal and outside surround would give it some protection.

I've had mine for just short of two years now and it has had a hard life, Big M wore every day it for the first 7 or 8 months. She has no idea of value it's just a watch to her and she used to just leave it lying around on her dressing table with all her stuff, watches, jewellery and so on or in the bathroom. I then had the links put back in and have worn it plenty myself even at work. I work in engineering machine shops spending plenty of time on the shop floor sorting out problems on machines or inspecting parts and so on and it's still ticking away, all be it looking a bit well used, but there is not a mark on the ceramic.

I'm not saying it couldn't happen but I have a feeling that if one were to be smashed or broken there would be more than a couple of feet and a tile involved.

B.

[postiff]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

I was asked to take a look at this thread an offer an opinion.

I have not encountered a shattered ceramic bezel through my own workshop. But I previously worked with Rolex in Switzerland, and I have seen the extremes the bezel are designed to withstand.

Without saying too much, it is safe to say they will withstand more than a fair amount of abuse. My own experience shows (and please nobody be offended) that when a customer describes how their watch sustained damage, they are very often 'conservative' when describing. Meaning, quite often people do not like to admit they have caused the damage themselves.

You mean that saying that the ceramic bezel just spontaneously combusted while wearing it will not work?

Danny


<>

[seantk]

I have read this exact story before


http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=67216


I can believe it - if it were dropped on tile

Sean

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by postiff

You mean that saying that the ceramic bezel just spontaneously combusted while wearing it will not work?

Danny


<>

Oh absolutely. You would be amazed how many problems people say are caused by spontaneous combistion lol.

I believe every one of them, but my accountant is the cynical one.

[diablojota]

I have yet to see pictures of any of this damage. I would expect that someone would have taken a picture of this damage to a ceramic bezel. The ceramic they use is the same ceramic that Porsche and other exotic car manufacturers use to make brake rotors out of. This stuff is pretty freakin' strong. It can withstand extreme temperatures and some pretty significant hits.

[JIM-]

WTF is that really the repalcement cost of a C bezel? Thats crazy.

[diablojota]

Originally Posted by JIM

WTF is that really the repalcement cost of a C bezel? Thats crazy.

1500, short answer is no. I believe that it is somewhere around 600.

[JIM-]

Maybe someone will post the exact cost so we all know, cause 1500 sounds like anawful lot, 600 is alot but comon it can't be 1500 can it?

[postiff]

Originally Posted by diablojota

1500, short answer is no. I believe that it is somewhere around 600.

This is from that same thread. It looks like the below would explain these high dollar quotes people get. I guess if they have to replace the whole bezel plus insert then it would cost 1000 plus USD.

"The head of repair at Rolex looked at my watch and said that they will not need to do a full service and they will be able to just replace the ceramic part of the bezel and not the whole bezel this time.

Basically I was told that this is not the 1st ceramic bezel they have had to replace and in the past repairs they have found the bezel to be bent...even a fraction of a millimeter and the ceramic part will not lay correctly. My gold bezel did not bend so they will not need to replace it.

This $1500 charge plus the $500 in full service has not been reduced down to right around $300 for ceramic bezel and case polish. I will not risk claiming this on my insurance because we are afraid that State Farm would drop us".

[Brunotheboxer]

I googled and actually found a picture of a cracked ceramic bezel.









































































So there you are.

[JIM-]

Thats gonna be really expensive to replace.

[diablojota]

See Matt's (BigHat) post. 600 is the number that has been the common response. 1500 would only be the case if the crystal shattered too and he needed a full service with crystal, bezel, and service.

[postiff]

I think I will go break mine just so we have a picture…

[mfer]

I still have never seen a picture...

[joeyk]

Originally Posted by mfer

I still have never seen a picture...

mee too pls show us a pictures other wise HERE COME A BIG SHOW

[watchmaker]

I'm afraid like I said, I have never had one in my workshop with that problem. Though I would be interested to see a picture also. Particularly the damage sustained by tv rest of the watch after such an impact.

[valentine]

I was rough housing on the ice with my girlie not too long ago at the local rink, and took a fall...deepsea bezel straight to the ice...no cracks, scratches...nothing...

[ayecarumba]

I have reached out to several members who appear to have backgrounds/experience in watch repair or with Rolex S.A. Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

The jury's still out....BUT:

The claim and story about shattering a GMT ceramic bezel from a height of 1 meter, no other damage to the case or crystal, repair and price quotes that are all over the map, and no photographic evidence just sound about as likely as this fellow:



In case you misplaced your glasses...that is allegedly a pig...who might be mistaken for a cat at first glance...flying...with bat wings...wearing a top..but no pants....it is either an alien (evidenced by the antenna on his head) or has a spring mounted red 3 ball on its head....very carelessly flying with its eyes closed....

Until I see some pics, I remain skeptical

PS- Did see a ceramic IIc bezel for sale on Ebay for about 500 gbp ($744 usd)...

[jaycee]

Quote "You would think a tough Rolex movement could handle a drop of 3 feet to the floor. I see now that Rolex movements are very fragile." Unquote

As I found out a couple of years ago, a drop of 2 feet from my bed to a carpet resulted in my GMT going from +2 seconds a day to +60 and an eventual hairspring renewal, though it was generously treated as a warranty repair.