Cracked Bezel Pearl!

[SUBlime]

I noticed tonight that the light caught the bezel pearl on my M series 16610 in an odd way. Upon closer inspection it appeared to have a crack running diagonally from upper left to lower right. I ran my fingernail across it and could actually feel the crack, inspection with maginfying glass shows that it's cracked in three places. While I do wear the watch for weeks at a time (rotate it with a Tutima) I don't recall banging the watch on anything (I do try to be careful with it). I find this especially odd since the watch is otherwise unblemished. Had I really knocked it I'd think I'd have a mark nearby on the soft aluminum insert, if not the bezel itself. Regardless, a bezel insert isn't really a big deal (snap out - snap in), but I'm wondering if something like this is covered under the two year warranty, or is this considered "normal wear and tear". I guess I'll find out tomorrow - off to an AD. There's one nearby in Tyson's Corner where I purchased my wife's datejust four years ago (my watch was purchased by her in Charlottesville this past July - thank you, thank you). I'll let y'all know what the fallout is.

[diablojota]

I'm curious to hear what the AD says. My understanding is that the pearl is actually covered by a piece of sapphire crystal (which is fairly brittle upon the proper impact). It probably wouldn't have taken too much force if you hit it upon a hard enough surface to cause those cracks to form.

Sorry to hear about it, but worst case you may get charged something like a 100 bucks to replace the bezel insert. My guess is that since there is no other obvious damage, the AD may offer to send it to Rolex for a free bezel swap.

[SUBlime]

Thanks, if it's free I'll do it. If they're gonna charge me $100, I'll just wait 'till it's serviced a few years down the road. No one will notice but me and I may as well continue to mess up the current bezel insert since they're generally replaced as a part of the service anyway.

[diablojota]

Originally Posted by SUBlime

Thanks, if it's free I'll do it. If they're gonna charge me $100, I'll just wait 'till it's serviced a few years down the road. No one will notice but me and I may as well continue to mess up the current bezel insert since they're generally replaced as a part of the service anyway.

I think your only concern then is the crystal covering the pearl actually coming completely off. I have seen it mentioned somewhere to just apply a dab of clear nail polish to protect the lume.

[pdxrolex]

My 14060 pearl cracked too, but I'm not going to sweat it. I'll buy another insert once it gets scratched up a little.

[SUBlime]

Well, here's the skinny. The two year warranty does NOT cover the exterior of the watch. Lenkersdorfer offered to send my watch out for an estimate for the insert replacement, but I declined. I'll just wait for the service a few years down the road. Like I said earlier, I'm sure it'll aquire a few more battle scars in the interim. If the pearl falls completely out there's a Rolex certified watchmaker in Vienna (Va.) who, I'm sure, can just swap the insert while I wait for a nominal fee (+ cost of insert). Frankly, I'm disapointed that the AD couldn't just do this simple procedure themselves. It's gotta be the most common "repair" performed on most Rolexes with the aluminum inserts (Sub/Dweller/GMT). I've done it myself on other watches.

[jtapa73]

Hello to all i would like to ask a qestion i just bort a new sub 116610 and have had it for a month one day looked at the time and the peal was missing from the bazel so i went back to the store and will send it to rolex and just wanted to ask some one will thay change the hole bazel or put a peal back on? ??? i all so have a garantee with it but if that does not cover how much would it cost if thay have to change the hole bazel??

Hope some one could help with my answer.. Thanks