I'm sad - My GMTIIc and a broken bezel

[tgoose1]

Originally Posted by FLB03TT

These problems w/ the Ceramic besels is very disconcerting. The SUB C is a watch I am interested in down the line when prices moderate, but that interest is being diminished greatly by these issues. My GMT II has a very durable besel which, if scratched, can be replaced with little effort by the AD, if not by me. They cost $80 new and probably half that for a clean used one. They're also available in Black, Coke, Pepsi- which is a fun option GMT II owners have. If I damage my GMT II besel I can easily live with replacement cost financially and rationally.

The GMT IIC is another story. It's another example of the technological horse leading the cart. Under the guise of "NEW & IMPROVED" this concept of a scratch-proof besel insert starts working it's way around Rolex. So they come up with the Ceramic concept which certainly IS scratchproof and away it goes. Oodles of $$ are spent on this project and trying to get the besel numbers to work and look right and the marketing people are all excited and they finally think they've got a finished product that is superior to the previous version. BUT THEY DON"T.

What they have is a product which CRACKS more easily ("I guess we should have smacked it a few times on the side of the besel to see what happens".) AND if cracked (which the old ones DIDN'T) cost 10 to 20 times more to replace than the old one!!!
This is not progress, this is a mistake which never should have found it's way into mass production. I think Rolex screwed up BIG TIME on this one!!

Rolex is an incredible brand which I respect and admire more than any other. Hopefully they will see the error of their ways and find an alternative to the Ceramic Besel.

Couldn't have said it better myself.