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Old 24 March 2021, 03:30 PM   #1
russeree
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Explorer 1 [214270] Bezel Removal

What technique is used to remove the smooth bezel on these models?

Thanks in advance.
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Old 24 March 2021, 09:59 PM   #2
watchmaker
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https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=171003

Rolex have a bezel removal tool, which you can see in this previous thread. Hope that helps.
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Old 26 March 2021, 04:32 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by watchmaker View Post
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=171003

Rolex have a bezel removal tool, which you can see in this previous thread. Hope that helps.
Thank you watchmaker
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Old 10 April 2021, 10:34 PM   #4
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Not something I am willing to do myself, pretty sure I will mess up
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Old 25 March 2021, 04:12 AM   #5
Ironstark
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Give it to an experienced watchmaker who has Rolex training and Rolex specific tooling.
If you want it removed I assume you'll want it (or a replacement) back on too?
Re-fitting is a whole other set of specific tools
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Old 11 April 2021, 08:57 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Ironstark View Post
Give it to an experienced watchmaker who has Rolex training and Rolex specific tooling.
If you want it removed I assume you'll want it (or a replacement) back on too?
Re-fitting is a whole other set of specific tools
You covered this and more in the thread that Scott linked.
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Old 11 April 2021, 08:04 PM   #7
Watchcollectables
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You can use a thin and sharp case knife , be careful to mask the sides of the case . The bezel comes off relatively easily the only issue will be retaining the plastic gasket / ring on the inside of the bezel for refitting which incorrectly seated will crush it on refiting and render it useless .The channel it sits should be clean and the ring should sit flush in the channel all the way round . hope this helps !
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Old 11 April 2021, 08:25 PM   #8
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You can use a thin and sharp case knife , be careful to mask the sides of the case . The bezel comes off relatively easily the only issue will be retaining the plastic gasket / ring on the inside of the bezel for refitting which incorrectly seated will crush it on refiting and render it useless .The channel it sits should be clean and the ring should sit flush in the channel all the way round . hope this helps !
No. Just no. Horrible advice.
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Old 11 April 2021, 10:36 PM   #9
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No. Just no. Horrible advice.
I disagree.

Using a thin case knife is fine for taking bezels off. The 4 'knife' case tool that we Rolex watchmakers use is not as fool proof as you might think, you can easily damage the lugs and rehaut if you screw it down too hard.

A knife gives you more control.
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Old 12 April 2021, 01:33 AM   #10
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I disagree.

Using a thin case knife is fine for taking bezels off. The 4 'knife' case tool that we Rolex watchmakers use is not as fool proof as you might think, you can easily damage the lugs and rehaut if you screw it down too hard.

A knife gives you more control.
A case knife is wonderful if you know how to use it - recommending it to an amateur is a bad idea IMO. A rotating bezel maybe, but not Explorer I. I'd sooner 'pop' it off the proper way with the proper tooling.
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Old 15 May 2021, 07:28 AM   #11
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A case knife is wonderful if you know how to use it - recommending it to an amateur is a bad idea IMO. A rotating bezel maybe, but not Explorer I. I'd sooner 'pop' it off the proper way with the proper tooling.
Thanks for your observations , the newer model bezels are not as tight fitting as the older models , mostly due to the Titanium glass retaining ring which is not so flexible as the plastic gasket that the older Bezels secure around which is why a thin gasket is in place Inside the bezel to give extra seating security . Using the general bezel removing tool is over egging the job on these models and the use of a good firm sharp case knife is all that is required . It removes any metal damage risk which you can get from the hard blades in the bezel tool and provides more closer accuracy with a steady hand .
Just my experience of completing many hundreds of this procedure 👍
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Old 8 November 2021, 08:53 AM   #12
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No. Just no. Horrible advice.

Agree-Makes me nervous just reading that.


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Old 14 May 2021, 06:34 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Watchcollectables View Post
You can use a thin and sharp case knife , be careful to mask the sides of the case . The bezel comes off relatively easily the only issue will be retaining the plastic gasket / ring on the inside of the bezel for refitting which incorrectly seated will crush it on refiting and render it useless .The channel it sits should be clean and the ring should sit flush in the channel all the way round . hope this helps !

I prefer a serrated steak knife


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Old 15 May 2021, 04:16 AM   #14
Nickn
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I use a sharpened pen knife starting at side opposite the crown
Bezel Gasket on a 1016???
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