Rolex Explorer I 114270 bezel replacement?

[Foxglove]

Hi All,

I am the proud new owner of the Exp I 114270 pictured below, but it does have a small ding on the bezel. Is this plain bezel replaceable? I couldn't find the spare part anywhere and don't really want to send it into RSC, but would if necessary. Is the bezel replaceable at all?

Thanks!
Ross

[joe100]

A rolex watchmaker with a parts account may be able to do it, but the rsc may be the best and quickest option....or just leave it

[Rolex fan 61]

It will collect more marks, scratches etc the more you wear the watch so I would not worry, just wear and enjoy the watch.

[JayJ]

Have you ever thought about repairing the bezel?
I'm not an expert but it might be possible to buff it out.

[cop414]

I've always wondered about this also, I thought the bezel was press fit and could only be replaced with the proper tools? Also, again this is my assumption that improper installation would affect water resistance? OP, maybe repost this in the watch tech section?

[ernie2]

With the way you put the crown on stone, you will need a new crown pretty soon too

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by ernie2

With the way you put the crown on stone, you will need a new crown pretty soon too

+1, always crown up.

[RogerF]

My thoughts are to see if someone can just give it a quick polish. I call my 2 month old 214270 Mr Scratchy for a reason .....

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by JayJ

Have you ever thought about repairing the bezel?
I'm not an expert but it might be possible to buff it out.

Yeah, I was thinking about just buffing it out, but it's a pretty good ding. I'm sending it over to Rik for regulation anyway, so I will ask him to do a light buff on the watch overall and see how well he can get that done.

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by Etschell

+1, always crown up.

Of course I VERY gently sat it on this outdoor table at my house for these photos. Normally when not on my wrist it's in a watch box or on my night stand , neither of which can scratch it.

Also just FYI at least one jeweler recommends laying it on the crown.

https://youtu.be/uLuM6Tyzvs8?t=2m24s

All the best
Ross

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by RogerF

My thoughts are to see if someone can just give it a quick polish. I call my 2 month old 214270 Mr Scratchy for a reason .....

Yeah, the more I think about it, I'm certainly going to do just this. Over to Rik for regulation, quick polish, and water resist testing (just to be sure).

I will still ask him about whether the bezel can be replaced .. If I get an answer from him, I will pass it on to the group through this thread.

All the best
Ross

[cop414]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

Yeah, the more I think about it, I'm certainly going to do just this. Over to Rik for regulation, quick polish, and water resist testing (just to be sure).

I will still ask him about whether the bezel can be replaced .. If I get an answer from him, I will pass it on to the group through this thread.

All the best
Ross

Good to know Ross, keep us posted. Curious though, how far is it out that it needs regulated?

[RogerF]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

Yeah, the more I think about it, I'm certainly going to do just this. Over to Rik for regulation, quick polish, and water resist testing (just to be sure).

I will still ask him about whether the bezel can be replaced .. If I get an answer from him, I will pass it on to the group through this thread.

All the best
Ross

Ok just remember you can take my idea but you can't take my watch' nickname there can only be one Mr Scratchy ok?

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by cop414

Good to know Ross, keep us posted. Curious though, how far is it out that it needs regulated?

Timegrapher shows it a round +8, but wearing shows it to be more like +5. So I've actually just asked him to check to see if it does need regulation before performing it. I trust his instruments and experience much more than mine.

More sending it in for the light polish and bezel advice

[sea-dweller]

I had a dent on my 114270 and when I got it serviced in April 2014 at RSC Dallas, they buffed it out, so it looked new.

[Matt748]

RSC will replace it easy.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by Foxglove

Timegrapher shows it a round +8, but wearing shows it to be more like +5. So I've actually just asked him to check to see if it does need regulation before performing it. I trust his instruments and experience much more than mine.

More sending it in for the light polish and bezel advice

Good deal, keep us posted.

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by cop414

Good deal, keep us posted.

My Explorer I is back from the Rik spa and he did amazing work. It appears like the bezel replacement cannot be done, but then I thought about it more and I agree with some of the commenters that it adds character and I shouldn't worry about it. So saving a RSC trip, I sent to Rik for a light polish of the case, bracelet, and bezel + regulation and water testing. He did an amazing job. He's regulated it from the +5/6 sec/day down to +2 sec/day in multipositions.

The light polish on the case didn't touch the sharp edges anywhere and removed 90% of the hairlines and swirls that had covered this watch from the previous owner. Bracelet was restored to new condition. (please note that the photo of the side has a couple lint specs on it..woops!).

Bottom line - Rik did great work, watch is keeping even better within COSC time, was lightly polished, and water tested. Turnaround time was great and so was the service.

to note also - he also regulated a Doxa 1200T of mine that was +15-20 sec/day down to around +0-2 sec/day depending on position... Amazing work.

Some new shots after Rik spa:





note that there are a couple specs of dust on the side


and the morning brew with the freshly minted ExpI.


Cheers
Ross

[Ancestral Star]

Absolutely gorgeous, Ross. Nice photos, too. The 114270 is one of my absolute favorite references, definitely next on my purchase list.

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by Ancestral Star

Absolutely gorgeous, Ross. Nice photos, too. The 114270 is one of my absolute favorite references, definitely next on my purchase list.

Thank you! I'm really loving it. Love the smaller size on my bit smaller (6.75") wrist.

Totally satisfied.

Ross

[GGGMT]

Get ready for many more scratches and marks on the smooth bezel., If you where the watch. I would not get it buffed out. Because it's coming back.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Rolex fan 61

It will collect more marks, scratches etc the more you wear the watch so I would not worry, just wear and enjoy the watch.

Have to agree if one is going out to replaced things like bezels for the slightest ding or mark Rolex watches will soon become very very over expensive.If the bezel ever needs replacing then replace it at the appropriate time,and that's at next routine service.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by cop414

I've always wondered about this also, I thought the bezel was press fit and could only be replaced with the proper tools? Also, again this is my assumption that improper installation would affect water resistance? OP, maybe repost this in the watch tech section?

The bezel has nothing to do with the watches W/R its just a press fit on the case.

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have to agree if one is going out to replaced things like bezels for the slightest ding or mark Rolex watches will soon become very very over expensive.If the bezel ever needs replacing then replace it at the appropriate time,and that's at next routine service.

Sounds good for yall. But I preferred to start out with the watch in a relatively non-scratched condition. I obviously kept the bezel ding (Rik could have buffed it out more with additional effort, but I said nope). Also don't forget I also sent it in to get regulated and water tested because it was new to me (water testing) and running a little fast.

Please enjoy the photos!

All the best
Ross

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Get ready for many more scratches and marks on the smooth bezel., If you where the watch. I would not get it buffed out. Because it's coming back.

Maybe. I am typically gentle on my watches, so I doubt they will come back very quickly for me. i've been waring a 16610 for the last few years and it only has a couple minor swirls on the case and it's been through swimming, vacations, travel, everything I would normally do.

So we'll see about the Exp I -- but it looks amazing and is a great starting place for me to add a few of my own swirls :)

Cheers
Ross

[SemperFi]

It looks great Ross. Wear it well.

[REFZ]

If the scratches bother you that much you could have bought a "like new" watch but in the end the watch will be scratched anyways when wearing it.

[cop414]

Looks great Ross, but I don't understand, Rik is saying that the bezel can't be replaced or that he can't replace it? In any event it looks great.
My DOXA 1200 has recently fell a little of time too, used to gain .25 sec per day! I hadn't worn it for about 2 years and this spring I strapped it on and it was around -4 sec per day. I don't think that it appreciated being stored for so long!
It might need a service, one of these days I'll have Rik take a peek at it.

[Foxglove]

Originally Posted by cop414

Looks great Ross, but I don't understand, Rik is saying that the bezel can't be replaced or that he can't replace it? In any event it looks great.
My DOXA 1200 has recently fell a little of time too, used to gain .25 sec per day! I hadn't worn it for about 2 years and this spring I strapped it on and it was around -4 sec per day. I don't think that it appreciated being stored for so long!
It might need a service, one of these days I'll have Rik take a peek at it.

I'm not exactly sure which he was saying - I don't think he really got that far. He said he could buff it out, but considering the depth it might still look a bit off, otherwise he said he could just lightly buff the rest of the bezel and buff that a little bit .. and I said fine at that point - I more wanted the thousands of hairlines out of the side / bezel which he did.

Yeah, he can regulate your Doxa without an issue and he also have the ability to perform high pressure (lower depth) water resist test if you need that.