Need help finding insert please

[RJC1]

I have a 1971 red submariner with, I believe, a mk3 insert. Anyway, my insert broke at the top, where the pearl dot is. I was wondering if anyone could help direct me where to look for a new one. I searched TRF and have had no luck. This is my grail watch and I'm freaking out. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Jude

[swish77]

I feel your pain. I just went through this twice, for my 1680 and 5512. There are more for-sale listings for old Sub inserts over on VRF. You can also try EBay, but be careful, of course.

The bad news is that the prices are insane now. And yes, I believe you need an MK3 fat font to keep your 1680 period-correct. Even mediocre inserts without tritium pearls are well over $1K now. And if you want a faded insert with pearl intact, closer to $2K, depending on condition. I hadn't bought an insert in a couple of years, so I was shocked at the current prices. Here's what I ended up with, mainly because I love inserts when they get that silvery fade. Good luck hunting!

[RJC1]

Thanks, yours looks great. Is there an easier way to search on vrf. I'm having trouble using their search function.

[azguy]

the search function on VRF sucks, get in the right frame of mind, the right bezel will be a fortune. You could try some dealers; HQMilton, LA Watchworks and ABC Watchwerks all do a lot of vintage work

[swish77]

Originally Posted by RJC1

Thanks, yours looks great. Is there an easier way to search on vrf. I'm having trouble using their search function.

In the "Market" section, just search for "insert." Make sure you search based on "date," which is an option. You'll need to weed through non-Sub inserts and the ones that aren't correct for your watch, but you should find some that would work. Check there frequently, because they sell quickly. Good luck.

[RJC1]

Originally Posted by swish77

In the "Market" section, just search for "insert." Make sure you search based on "date," which is an option. You'll need to weed through non-Sub inserts and the ones that aren't correct for your watch, but you should find some that would work. Check there frequently, because they sell quickly. Good luck.

Thanks!!

[theflywrist]

Originally Posted by RJC1

I have a 1971 red submariner with, I believe, a mk3 insert. Anyway, my insert broke at the top, where the pearl dot is. I was wondering if anyone could help direct me where to look for a new one. I searched TRF and have had no luck. This is my grail watch and I'm freaking out. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Jude

Dont freak out! Not a difficult fix, unfortunately not a very cheap one anymore though.
As Aaron has said, you can find plenty on VRF if you keep looking.
Out of curiosity, how did it break? Were you mounting it on the bezel ring? Where did you start from?
Just curious as I like to teach myself of what not to do. Have done some damage myself in the past, and scratched one of my inserts as well. Thankfully the damage wasn't too bad.

Originally Posted by swish77

I feel your pain. I just went through this twice, for my 1680 and 5512. There are more for-sale listings for old Sub inserts over on VRF. You can also try EBay, but be careful, of course.

The bad news is that the prices are insane now. And yes, I believe you need an MK3 fat font to keep your 1680 period-correct. Even mediocre inserts without tritium pearls are well over $1K now. And if you want a faded insert with pearl intact, closer to $2K, depending on condition. I hadn't bought an insert in a couple of years, so I was shocked at the current prices. Here's what I ended up with, mainly because I love inserts when they get that silvery fade. Good luck hunting!

Stunning insert and watch Aaron! Love it!
Can I also ask how you broke yours? Was it too tight when you tried fitting it onto the bezel ring?
I am very careful in always starting from 12 clock where the pressure point would be, and try to end at the 6 click position, and when trying to remove the insert, always remove from 6 clock, away from the pearl side.
I guess sometimes you just get unlucky..

Ps. Time to dome that 1680!!! :D

[soundserious]

You probably should think about getting a full bezel replacement. It's not a guarantee that you will be able to fit a pricey insert without snapping that one too.....

[swish77]

Originally Posted by theflywrist

Stunning insert and watch Aaron! Love it!
Can I also ask how you broke yours? Was it too tight when you tried fitting it onto the bezel ring?
I am very careful in always starting from 12 clock where the pressure point would be, and try to end at the 6 click position, and when trying to remove the insert, always remove from 6 clock, away from the pearl side.
I guess sometimes you just get unlucky..

Ps. Time to dome that 1680!!! :D

Thanks! I've found through the years that some inserts are very easy to install and some are virtually impossible. It's a crapshoot. The tolerances are so tiny that a slight bend or variation in the insert or the bezel itself can turn a DIY into a nightmare.

I broke a stunning Ghost insert a couple of years ago trying to get it on my 5512. The area around the pearl is the weakest, so after numerous attempts of trying to jam it in the bezel, it just snapped at that spot. Now, if an insert doesn't go in with minimal effort, I give up. For anyone doing it themselves, I highly recommend you let a watchmaker take care of a tricky installation. Give it a try, and if it doesn't pop in fairly easily, let an expert do it. Inserts are too valuable nowadays to take a chance.

P.S. A Dome on a 1680? Sacrilege! Top hat only! I'll keep the dome on my 5512!

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by swish77

P.S. A Dome on a 1680? Sacrilege! Top hat only! I'll keep the dome on my 5512!

With all due respect to a fellow New Yorker (I'm down in the West Village, Aaron) I love the dome look on a 1680. I think cyclops' ruin the symmetry of the watch. Plus, with my eyes, the magnification doesn't even help!

Here's my 1680 w T19 from MW

[springer]

Originally Posted by swish77

Thanks! I've found through the years that some inserts are very easy to install and some are virtually impossible. It's a crapshoot. The tolerances are so tiny that a slight bend or variation in the insert or the bezel itself can turn a DIY into a nightmare.

I broke a stunning Ghost insert a couple of years ago trying to get it on my 5512. The area around the pearl is the weakest, so after numerous attempts of trying to jam it in the bezel, it just snapped at that spot. Now, if an insert doesn't go in with minimal effort, I give up. For anyone doing it themselves, I highly recommend you let a watchmaker take care of a tricky installation. Give it a try, and if it doesn't pop in fairly easily, let an expert do it. Inserts are too valuable nowadays to take a chance.

P.S. A Dome on a 1680? Sacrilege! Top hat only! I'll keep the dome on my 5512!

Personal preference for me....I'll take the dome crystal any day on a Sub 1680 over the top hat...

[theflywrist]

Originally Posted by swish77

Thanks! I've found through the years that some inserts are very easy to install and some are virtually impossible. It's a crapshoot. The tolerances are so tiny that a slight bend or variation in the insert or the bezel itself can turn a DIY into a nightmare.

I broke a stunning Ghost insert a couple of years ago trying to get it on my 5512. The area around the pearl is the weakest, so after numerous attempts of trying to jam it in the bezel, it just snapped at that spot. Now, if an insert doesn't go in with minimal effort, I give up. For anyone doing it themselves, I highly recommend you let a watchmaker take care of a tricky installation. Give it a try, and if it doesn't pop in fairly easily, let an expert do it. Inserts are too valuable nowadays to take a chance.

P.S. A Dome on a 1680? Sacrilege! Top hat only! I'll keep the dome on my 5512!

Got you man!
I do know a friend in Singapore that has a Tool 1006. Tightens or expands the bezel ring, and it help the side where the insert needs to get mounted, as well as the bezel ring fitting onto the watch itself. Both can sometimes be problematic.
Expensive tool but if you find a watch maker that has it, you're grand!

Took my a while to dome up my 1680, but when I did, I kept wondering what took me so long!

Originally Posted by Kingface66

With all due respect to a fellow New Yorker (I'm down in the West Village, Aaron) I love the dome look on a 1680. I think cyclops' ruin the symmetry of the watch. Plus, with my eyes, the magnification doesn't even help!

Here's my 1680 w T19 from MW

Stunning 1680! Here mine's on a dome.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by theflywrist

Got you man!
I do know a friend in Singapore that has a Tool 1006. Tightens or expands the bezel ring, and it help the side where the insert needs to get mounted, as well as the bezel ring fitting onto the watch itself. Both can sometimes be problematic.
Expensive tool but if you find a watch maker that has it, you're grand!

Took my a while to dome up my 1680, but when I did, I kept wondering what took me so long!


Stunning 1680! Here mine's on a dome.

Wow, great insert! I wish I had that 1006 tool. Would make life a lot easier!

Like a lot of vintage watch lovers, I'm a stickler for originality and correctness. We sweat over the tiniest details of the correct MK-whatever dial for the right serial number case, or an insert is the wrong MK-whatever for a certain year Sub, or the dial font doesn't look right under a loupe, or a microscopic minute marker at a dial's edge is missing a pixel-sized bit of paint, oh, no! etc ...Surprises me that some of those same watch lovers slap an "incorrect" crystal on a 1680, no matter how cool it might look. I just wouldn't put a dome on a 1680, the same way I wouldn't put a GMT bezel insert on a Sub. If I want a date and a dome, I'll take a 1665. To each their own, of course!

Besides, you'll only get this cool effect in the sun with a Top Hat!

[springer]

Originally Posted by swish77

Wow, great insert! I wish I had that 1006 tool. Would make life a lot easier!

Like a lot of vintage watch lovers, I'm a stickler for originality and correctness. We sweat over the tiniest details of the correct MK-whatever dial for the right serial number case, or an insert is the wrong MK-whatever for a certain year Sub, or the dial font doesn't look right under a loupe, or a microscopic minute marker at a dial's edge is missing a pixel-sized bit of paint, oh, no! etc ...Surprises me that some of those same watch lovers slap an "incorrect" crystal on a 1680, no matter how cool it might look. I just wouldn't put a dome on a 1680, the same way I wouldn't put a GMT bezel insert on a Sub. If I want a date and a dome, I'll take a 1665. To each their own, of course!

Besides, you'll only get this cool effect in the sun with a Top Hat!

Great observation Aaron. One thing I've noticed about the vintage Subs, while many might be sticklers for having a correct watch, many, a very large percentage, have the wrong bracelet - such as the 93150. I see nothing wrong with changing out parts if one keeps the original part. Having the correct, original part is a bonus - whether it be a crystal, bracelet, insert etc.

[Robbyvm]

My top hat plexi has been polywatched to often and the cyclops is not big enough anymore.. i'm in dubio to install a dome plexi or go for the tophat again