Scratched Ceramic Bezel

[Magic-Matt]

Originally Posted by Rolex Richie

If i were you Steve, i would approach the Rolex Customer Service people with a letter concerning the issue.

Yes, that does look a nasty gouge, very surprised at that! I would suggest what the above poster says, it wont cost you anything to give it a try

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by Rolex Richie

If i were you Steve, i would approach the Rolex Customer Service people with a letter concerning the issue and if you are in the vicinity of the Rolex Service Centre at West Malling, take it there for their inspection.
As it is in the warranty, i would go with the point that you bought the watch on the understanding that the new ceramic bezel was unscratchable and give them a sob story.
I think you will have some level of success in my humble opinion !
I wish you the best of luck with your unfortunate situation.
I really sympathise with your predicament.

This is not a bad idea, especially given how clean the rest of the watch looks. If there are sigs of other abuse, I wouldn't bother but yours still looks new! They might see it as a defect but it's up to them at the end of the day...

[CKL1213]

I think is a crack than scratch

[Stevieb]

Thanks all once again. I have decided to take it back to the AD from where it was bought to express my concerns and ask what can be done. They know me well as I have bought a number of watches from them in the past

I will of course update the Forum when I have any news.

[Stevieb]

Update........

I did take it back to an AD and tried to make a claim under warranty. RSC UK have examined it and said that the damage is accidental and a new bezel insert will cost £310. I have told them to do the work.

However every cloud has a silver lining. My gorgeous wife has said that because I am watchless for the next few weeks, I can go and treat myself to something new. Speedy Pro here we come

Thanks everyone for your input

[Rolex Richie]

Did I hear you right ?
You need your wife's permission to spend your own money !
Get real man !

[Brandon(phila)]

More and More I keep thinking about switching back to the aluminum.

I understand warranties and I am a reasonable person...but if you bump your watch and unlucky enough that the bezel cracks or scratches....you have to get a new bezel and pay for it, b/c that is considered not normal use. If you ask me, wearing a watch daily there is good chance it's going to get bumped once and while.
If the entire watch is all banged up, then maybe you could say this person may have mistreated the watch
...But if watch is in 95% condition......hey maybe these bezels aren't holding up the way that they should.

The ceramics have been out for 5 years or so, I'm sure they have replaced more Ceramic bezel inserts in the past 5 years than they probably replaced in any other 5 year span with the older aluminum inserts.

[Stevieb]

Originally Posted by Rolex Richie

Did I hear you right ?
You need your wife's permission to spend your own money !
Get real man !

Who said anything about spending my money?????????

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by Stevieb

Update........

I did take it back to an AD and tried to make a claim under warranty. RSC UK have examined it and said that the damage is accidental and a new bezel insert will cost £310. I have told them to do the work.

However every cloud has a silver lining. My gorgeous wife has said that because I am watchless for the next few weeks, I can go and treat myself to something new. Speedy Pro here we come

Thanks everyone for your input

Glad it worked out...except that you have to fork over the cash for a new bezel insert.

Good choice on a replacement! LOVE the Speedmaster!

[gwozhog]

Your scratch was definately more deeper than mine. I think you did the right thing by just biting the bullet and buying another one. 300 bucks is not to bad anyways. My gold one was quoted 2200 bucks so that's why I gave it a shot first before I threw in the towel. I hope it works out better for you this time around. I quit riding my harley with my rolex on.

[Chaching]

That sux! B.S. I wouldn't have paid a penny. Replace it or .....yeah...

[gwozhog]

Originally Posted by Chaching

That sux! B.S. I wouldn't have paid a penny. Replace it or .....yeah...

You would be living with a scratched bezel then. Rolex knows that you have to bang your watch pretty hard to scratch there precious bezel. They will never give one away unless they damage it.

[Mystro]

How could anyone think these ceramic bezels are superior to their replacement?? The only redeeming quality is that it seems to make more money for Rolex.

[Stevieb]

Got the watch back today and Rolex have done a great job - looks like it has a had a very light polish and clean as well.

[cop414]

Good to hear, glad that you got it all sorted out. Did you ever get the Omega?

[Billywiz]

$400..ouch...sorry to hear that...good luck.

[Stevieb]

Never got the Omega............went to look at one, great watch but it wasn't for me.

[nickng]

Always glad to hear a happy ending.
Cheers!

[RRGHOST1]

Originally Posted by Stevieb

Never got the Omega............went to look at one, great watch but it wasn't for me.

I am the same and I used to wear a Speedmaster but I couldn't wear one now,its Rolex or nothing !

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by Billywiz

$400..ouch...sorry to hear that...good luck.

Closer to $500.
I'll stay old school...

[Bangel]

Glad to hear the ordeal is over.

[ec51]

That doesn't seem as expensive as I thought.

Do you happen to remember the "bang" that did it?

[Lurch104]

£ not $$

[padi56]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

Your scratch was definately more deeper than mine. I think you did the right thing by just biting the bullet and buying another one. 300 bucks is not to bad anyways. My gold one was quoted 2200 bucks so that's why I gave it a shot first before I threw in the towel. I hope it works out better for you this time around. I quit riding my harley with my rolex on.

Its £300 not $300 which is around $460.

[Rashid.bk]

Y'all whining about a $460 bezel replacement when you're buying a luxury item?
I think the benefits and aesthetics of the ceramics are worth the price and it isn't like damaged ceramic bezels are an epidemic. I've read of like five cases out of how many tens of thousands of ceramic bezels out there(haven't heard of a single one for an Omega), the damn bezel pearl is more of a issue than ceramics.
$500 for a repair isn't extreme, how's that any different than owning a sports car and having to pay out expensive maintenance and repairs. I wonder about you all sometimes. Yeah the aluminum insert is cheaper but so was the watch, 16610 didn't retail for $8500, it's all relative.

I may be able to outright buy an Audi R8 but what I can't do is pay for maintenance, insurance...etc, so guess what no R8 for me.

....and by no means am I "wealthy", but gotta pay to play.

Op: so happy it all worked out and your watch is back to normal.

[daytonastl]

Perfect.

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Y'all whining about a $460 bezel replacement when you're buying a luxury item?
I think the benefits and aesthetics of the ceramics are worth the price and it isn't like damaged ceramic bezels are an epidemic. I've read of like five cases out of how many tens of thousands of ceramic bezels out there(haven't heard of a single one for an Omega), the damn bezel pearl is more of a issue than ceramics.
$500 for a repair isn't extreme, how's that any different than owning a sports car and having to pay out expensive maintenance and repairs. I wonder about you all sometimes. Yeah the aluminum insert is cheaper but so was the watch, 16610 didn't retail for $8500, it's all relative.

I may be able to outright buy an Audi R8 but what I can't do is pay for maintenance, insurance...etc, so guess what no R8 for me.

....and by no means am I "wealthy", but gotta pay to play.

Op: so happy it all worked out and your watch is back to normal.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

Your scratch was definately more deeper than mine. I think you did the right thing by just biting the bullet and buying another one. 300 bucks is not to bad anyways. My gold one was quoted 2200 bucks so that's why I gave it a shot first before I threw in the towel. I hope it works out better for you this time around. I quit riding my harley with my rolex on.

I think the 300 pounds is for the insert only, not the entire bezel. Still even at about $450-$500 US that's less expensive than I thought it was.

[Puffy]

mental

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Y'all whining about a $460 bezel replacement when you're buying a luxury item?
I think the benefits and aesthetics of the ceramics are worth the price and it isn't like damaged ceramic bezels are an epidemic. I've read of like five cases out of how many tens of thousands of ceramic bezels out there(haven't heard of a single one for an Omega), the damn bezel pearl is more of a issue than ceramics.
$500 for a repair isn't extreme, how's that any different than owning a sports car and having to pay out expensive maintenance and repairs. I wonder about you all sometimes. Yeah the aluminum insert is cheaper but so was the watch, 16610 didn't retail for $8500, it's all relative.

I may be able to outright buy an Audi R8 but what I can't do is pay for maintenance, insurance...etc, so guess what no R8 for me.

....and by no means am I "wealthy", but gotta pay to play.

Op: so happy it all worked out and your watch is back to normal.

[OmegaJJH]

Well I must admit I feel slightly relieved at this. I was really concerned that if I were ever unfortunate enough to scratch the bezel so badly that it needed replacing £300 doesn't seem so bad compared to the other figures mentioned of upwards of £700+ (you could buy a watch for that!)