Has anyone modded their watch into a ceramic Kermit or blueberry?

[blada4life]

I’ve seen a pic or two before but if anyone here has done the mods I’m curious to see more pics and approx cost associated with it.


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[BNABOD]

Been thinking of doing it ....question is where to find the parts and if you don’t go oem then where to go for something that doesn’t look like crap ?

[cleanupinaisle3]

Eh? Do you mean put a ceramic insert on a 16610LV, or put a green insert on a 116610? I'm confused.

I didn't realize this could be, or has, been done.

[MattPegler]

I can't answer any of your questions but I implore you not to do it. Your Rolex is a Rolex, the best tool watch in the world. No need to pretend.

[SearChart]

Good luck sourcing an OEM ceramic insert

[Lgear080]

^and installing it without breaking the original

[BNABOD]

Originally Posted by MattPegler

I can't answer any of your questions but I implore you not to do it. Your Rolex is a Rolex, the best tool watch in the world. No need to pretend.

I look at it as a fun thing to do . Not a pretend thing. There is nothing more valuable about a green sub vs a black one aside from the hype . The blue one is different in wg but if the OP is happy swapping bezel + inserts (I would not attempt to remove the existing ceramic bezel out of the bezel ring ) then why not . This is a hobby after all....

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by BNABOD

I look at it as a fun thing to do . Not a pretend thing. There is nothing more valuable about a green sub vs a black one aside from the hype . The blue one is different in wg but if the OP is happy swapping bezel + inserts (I would not attempt to remove the existing ceramic bezel out of the bezel ring ) then why not . This is a hobby after all....

It's not something you can do at home, nor is it likely that he is able to acquire the genuine ceramic inserts.

[Loevhagen]

Buy two Submariners (LV and LN) and mix it up. Not more complicated than that.

Many members have already both and know a watchmaker; so if it was a good mod it would have been done many times already.

[drtii]

Pretty sure Bark & Jack did it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDsxC0YNcxQ I highly doubt most are OEM, but it looks like he added a green insert to a stock sub and then some different versions to his GMT's.

The process isn't that difficult. Looks like it takes about 30 seconds to pop off the bezel, take out the spring and remove the insert. Putting it back takes longer, but it's definitely doable.

If you read a bunch of threads on TRF regarding insert swaps you'll see that if you go OEM at an AD or RSC they're going to require a 1:1 swap, which means you lose the original insert in exchange.

There are some tricks around this, but ultimately it's AD-dependent. They may let you keep the original and get a new one for $100+, or they may not. Many don't allow it per Rolex.

Going aftermarket (non-OEM or Gray OEM) is an option, however, you get what you pay for in most respects and you're still left with figuring out how best to do this DIY which may not be for you.

I can only comment on bezel inserts because I researched it, I know nothing about dials or other mods beyond bracelets.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by drtii

The process isn't that difficult. Looks like it takes about 30 seconds to pop off the bezel, take out the spring and remove the insert. Putting it back takes longer, but it's definitely doable.

Of course, but what you're showing is the old aluminium insert, not a ceramic (which the thread is about).

[drtii]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Of course, but what you're showing is the old aluminium insert, not a ceramic (which the thread is about).

Fair enough, my mistake.

[broken_link]

There is a post by someone who broke his ceramic insert trying to do something like this. It seems to be very brittle. An AD didn’t want to regulate my watch I haven’t bought from them explicitly because they were afraid of breaking the insert.

[BNABOD]

Originally Posted by broken_link

There is a post by someone who broke his ceramic insert trying to do something like this. It seems to be very brittle. An AD didn’t want to regulate my watch I haven’t bought from them explicitly because they were afraid of breaking the insert.

You don’t need to remove the darn bezel to regulate a watch nor would one break it . This is nuts that a respectable watch maker wouldn’t know that ....

[blada4life]

Through my research looks like Eric Ku did it using a bezel from a smurf.


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[broken_link]

Originally Posted by BNABOD

You don’t need to remove the darn bezel to regulate a watch nor would one break it . This is nuts that a respectable watch maker wouldn’t know that ....

Maybe to do the pressure test after resealing?

[Luap1976]

Yes I've seen a ceramic Kermit a few times it looks nice

[Luap1976]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=320656


Look at this ceramic Kermit click link

[Luap1976]

Originally Posted by blada4life

Through my research looks like Eric Ku did it using a bezel from a smurf.


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Nice shark

[blada4life]

Originally Posted by Luap1976

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=320656


Look at this ceramic Kermit click link

no pics there. i wish rolex would put this blue bezel version out

[BNABOD]

Originally Posted by broken_link

Maybe to do the pressure test after resealing?

Certainly will need to be pressure tested once the case back is popped open and movement regulated but that’s about it but this isn’t a front loaded movement a la marine master so the bezel won’t come into play ..

[Notsoprobro]

I'm too lazy to dig it up but if you find the modification megathread there are a few examples out there. The black sub with the blue insert (i believe the whole wg bezel was swapped to the steel sub) is quite a nice mod imo.

[1Daytona]

Be aware that if you remove ANY part of a Rolex watch and replace it with any non-Rolex part, Rolex will consider that watch counterfeit and they will refuse to service it. Could also void any warranty, even if it has nothing to do with the movement.
My friend is a Certified Rolex technician (over 25,000 Rolex services) with a Rolex parts account and he showed me the memo from Rolex USA that stated this policy. If any Rolex part needs replacement, the Rolex part is removed and sent back to Rolex when the new part is installed. Rolex keeps a tight grip on all authentic parts and components of their watches to avoid resales in the gray market and the Internet.

[blada4life]

Originally Posted by 1Daytona

Be aware that if you remove ANY part of a Rolex watch and replace it with any non-Rolex part, Rolex will consider that watch counterfeit and they will refuse to service it. Could also void any warranty, even if it has nothing to do with the movement.

My friend is a Certified Rolex technician (over 25,000 Rolex services) with a Rolex parts account and he showed me the memo from Rolex USA that stated this policy. If any Rolex part needs replacement, the Rolex part is removed and sent back to Rolex when the new part is installed. Rolex keeps a tight grip on all authentic parts and components of their watches to avoid resales in the gray market and the Internet.

The Erik Ku pic I posted is a sub with smurf bezel. All Rolex parts.


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[Luap1976]

Originally Posted by blada4life

no pics there. i wish rolex would put this blue bezel version out

.it looks good but I prefer the green hulk dial myself and the hulk dial looks black most of the time anyway

[Roddypeepa]

Originally Posted by blada4life

Through my research looks like Eric Ku did it using a bezel from a smurf.


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[georgekart]

This tread has some Shark mods in it. "Ceramic blueberry" as you call it is called "Shark mod". Some people have done it, but it is very hard to source a Smurf bezel insert. The "ceramic Kermit" doesn't have a recognizable name. But Hulk bezel inserts are easier to source as they pop up here and there from time to time. Even easier is just getting a Hulk and buying the black dial for it. Those are really easy to source.

[O M Z]

Does that guy shave his arms?!


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