Opinion on this sub bezel

[HectorM]

Hi all. Would be grateful for help with:

1) what mark/era this is/would be correct for; and
2) an assessment of its condition (has it been artificially distressed etc).

Thanks.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by HectorM

Hi all. Would be grateful for help with:

1) what mark/era this is/would be correct for; and
2) an assessment of its condition (has it been artificially distressed etc).

Thanks.

it looks like a nice fat mk3. early 70's era.

hard to say what has been artificially aged today and what hasn't.

the inserts fade looks natural to me. See if you can get a picture of the back, as dipped inserts that have been artificially faded will have a faded back as well.

When in reality, the back should stay solid black as it is not exposed to UV.

[dhknola]

Thanks for the above info^ SubKing! I have been worried about all 'ghost' bezels these days as the after market fade is all to popular :(

[HectorM]

Originally Posted by SubKing

it looks like a nice fat mk3. early 70's era.

hard to say what has been artificially aged today and what hasn't.

the inserts fade looks natural to me. See if you can get a picture of the back, as dipped inserts that have been artificially faded will have a faded back as well.

When in reality, the back should stay solid black as it is not exposed to UV.

Super info thank you. I’ll grab a photo of the reverse of the bezel.

So is it widely accepted that it’s the combo of UV and salt water that bleached the bezels or is it one of those things that just... happens to certain examples and doesn’t to others?

[Pureform]

Originally Posted by SubKing

it looks like a nice fat mk3. early 70's era.

hard to say what has been artificially aged today and what hasn't.

the inserts fade looks natural to me. See if you can get a picture of the back, as dipped inserts that have been artificially faded will have a faded back as well.

When in reality, the back should stay solid black as it is not exposed to UV.

Its called taping up the back to protect from artifical fading, Ive seen it done

[HectorM]

Originally Posted by Pureform

Its called taping up the back to protect from artifical fading, Ive seen it done

The back on this one is pretty pristine (in the sense that it doesn’t show any signs of acid washing or bleaching). Appreciate that can, as you suggest, be fudged but bringing it back to the case in point, what would you say about the above example?

And if the back isn’t a fail safe, what’s the methodology for determining interference?

[springer]

While the photos presented in this thread are not the best quality, the dial appears to have been artificially aged. Look at the uneven edges on the top right where the edge was masked with tape or something and the color there is still black or the insert was left in the bezel when it was altered. Notice the nicks which are still black. In the photos below there is also evidence of a chemical alteration line observed in photo 2 highlighted by the arrow on the left and also the same alteration line in photo 4.

[1665fan]

Isn’t the pip also too large?

[4rnold]

I think you're right springer , good eyes. You keep surprising me with your knowledge. What a shame.
It surely doesnt belong in my ghost/faded bezel only thread

[HectorM]

Thanks, springer. Sharp eyes indeed.