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FlyingMoose · 17 July 2013, 01:54 PM

Something I've been wondering for a while is how Rolex makes the fluted bezel, and if it's possible to restore the sharp peaks and valleys and mirror-polish surfaces.

I've seen many polished ones with the peaks rounded off. This kind of ruins the effect to some extent. I've seen pictures of them fresh back from service from Rolex with this same rounded-off corners, so they don't even refinish it besides polishing it. Is there anyone who can refinish a fluted bezel to factory-like condition? Or is there at least anyone who knows how it's produced?

The platinum bezel in the Yachtmaster line had me puzzled until I figured out that it was bead-blasted, but I still have yet to stumble upon anything about the fluted ones. I hope someone here can enlighten us.

T. Ferguson · 17 July 2013, 02:04 PM

I figured they were CNC'd then polished. Will probably find out now if this is correct.

newbieincali · 17 July 2013, 03:48 PM

It's gold so I would think its through casting and just polished

TSW · 17 July 2013, 05:05 PM

RCS only polish them or have a exchange bezel as optional.

padi56 · 17 July 2013, 07:37 PM

Expect today as Rolex is highly robotised its a machine that makes, polishes, and refurbishes such bezels if too bad then they are replaced at owners discretion.

joe100 · 17 July 2013, 08:25 PM

I'd imagine it would be a solid ring, milled, then given to the CNC robot. Rolex is one of the most vertically integrated and automated companies around.

Remember it takes a year to make a Rolex....

77T · 17 July 2013, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Is there anyone who can refinish a fluted bezel to factory-like condition?

Not really. Any manual effort in that pursuit would necessarily deepen the valleys between each peak and remove a significant amount of gold - not to mention the risk of uneven results due to uneven polishing from the past...

watches4me · 17 July 2013, 09:29 PM

I would say the bezels are all die struck....

77T · 17 July 2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watches4me

I would say the bezels are all die struck....

Ummm...no - clearly that process would not create the necessary tight tolerances to fit the case. They are machined and then polished.

Baselman · 17 July 2013, 11:06 PM

Like the rest of their watches by machines - all manufacturers use machines no matter what their websites tell you about grey haired old watchmakers hand finishing the watches and movements meticulously. It's what they call marketing. Only engraved cases require "hand finishing". cast - mill - machine - assemble - marketing mumbo jumbo - sell

17 July 2013, 01:54 PM	#1
FlyingMoose "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York, USA Posts: 502	How does Rolex make fluted bezels? Something I've been wondering for a while is how Rolex makes the fluted bezel, and if it's possible to restore the sharp peaks and valleys and mirror-polish surfaces. I've seen many polished ones with the peaks rounded off. This kind of ruins the effect to some extent. I've seen pictures of them fresh back from service from Rolex with this same rounded-off corners, so they don't even refinish it besides polishing it. Is there anyone who can refinish a fluted bezel to factory-like condition? Or is there at least anyone who knows how it's produced? The platinum bezel in the Yachtmaster line had me puzzled until I figured out that it was bead-blasted, but I still have yet to stumble upon anything about the fluted ones. I hope someone here can enlighten us.

17 July 2013, 02:04 PM	#2
T. Ferguson "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Left Coast Posts: 7,025	I figured they were CNC'd then polished. Will probably find out now if this is correct. __________________ *Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.*

17 July 2013, 05:05 PM	#4
TSW "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: TSW Location: Le Brassus Watch: Rolex & AP's Posts: 27,449	RCS only polish them or have a exchange bezel as optional. __________________ AP Owners Club IG @swiss.watch.connection

17 July 2013, 07:37 PM	#5
padi56 "TRF" Life Patron Join Date: Jun 2005 Real Name: Peter Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng Watch: ing you. Posts: 53,062	Expect today as Rolex is highly robotised its a machine that makes, polishes, and refurbishes such bezels if too bad then they are replaced at owners discretion. __________________ ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder

17 July 2013, 08:25 PM	#6
joe100 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Joe Location: New Mexico Watch: Explorer Posts: 12,840	I'd imagine it would be a solid ring, milled, then given to the CNC robot. Rolex is one of the most vertically integrated and automated companies around. Remember it takes a year to make a Rolex.... __________________ It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy. -TRF Member 6982-

17 July 2013, 03:48 PM	#3
newbieincali Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 411	It's gold so I would think its through casting and just polished

17 July 2013, 09:29 PM	#8
watches4me "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Sergio Nuncio Location: Houston Watch: Rolex GMT Posts: 232	I would say the bezels are all die struck....

17 July 2013, 11:06 PM	#10
Baselman "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Switzerland Watch: 1665 GreatWhite SD Posts: 1,527	Like the rest of their watches by machines - all manufacturers use machines no matter what their websites tell you about grey haired old watchmakers hand finishing the watches and movements meticulously. It's what they call marketing. Only engraved cases require "hand finishing". cast - mill - machine - assemble - marketing mumbo jumbo - sell

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