I faded my sub 16800 bezel

[Baselman]

faded my 1665 it's stunning now :) I am extremely pleased with my great white ghost
before

during

after

[Fenster]

@Basel

Now i think that looks amazing, gives your watch a hole new life ;)

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by Baselman

faded my 1665 it's stunning now :) I am extremely pleased with my great white ghost

I took from your previous posts that you were into your watch looking as new as possible, with service dial, hands and insert? Now it has a new dial/hands and a 'pseudo vintage' insert.
As long as it makes you happy

[Fenster]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

I'd like to add that not all naturally faded inserts have retained their top satin coat intact.
Just because a faded insert has acquired a matt finish, does not automatically make it an artificially/chemically faded insert.

That is correct, i have seen many normal faded inserts matt finished, the coat will come of but it takes like 40-50 years. It also depends how you abuse your inserts! If your in salt water and sun regular it will fade much faster!

[Baselman]

I like it as an alternative but I have a nos insert that I can switch back to ;)

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by Baselman

I like it as an alternative but I have a nos insert that I can switch back to ;)

good plan!

[magnetized]

Originally Posted by mluther

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I'm not convinced by the bleached insert. The difference between bleaching and natural is like light and day and therefore pretty obvious to me. As Kevin mentioned above, the naturally faded insert still retains its outer coat that gives it that gorgeous metallic finish - that will never happen with a bleached one. I have a few faded inserts and I love them. They really enhance the look of the watch they are on - I have to say that the bleached versions have the opposite effect.

agree

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by russellnyc

Another pic — the match between the dial fade and the insert fade looks so good to me. Pictures don't quite convey it. This one comes close:

Fantastic match, it clearly look much better now. Well done, Sir.

[azguy]

The results are quite amazing, I'd do it in a second.

[TheBluePrince]

As long as you like it that's all that matters. I think it looks great too. As already said there are a lot of "interesting" processes going on to get people to spend $$$ on faded inserts and while some bleach or bake jobs are easy to spot the more skilled people doing this are fooling a lot of buyers.

[joli160]

I tried my ceramic in the bleach, but still black

[els4]

I guess the new ceramic bezels will never achieve such an awesome patina.

[RollieVerde]

It looks to me like the bezel was exposed to a powerful chemical, which of course it was. You guys actually like this look? I don't get it. But I don't get any type of artificial aging, either.

[HERITAGE82]

What a difference a lil fade makes in getting the right look!!

I just took the shine off and dulled the black a bit.

Now it has a matte black finish without the chemical spotting.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by QCASANOVA

What a difference a lil fade makes in getting the right look!!

I just took the shine off and dulled the black a bit.

Now it has a matte black finish without the chemical spotting.

very nice. what did you use to get the effect, was it a rubbing compound?

[HERITAGE82]

Originally Posted by Johny

very nice. what did you use to get the effect, was it a rubbing compound?

Thanks!

I did 10 minutes in a 1/2 water 1/2 bleach mixture. Then I took some steel wool and rubbed it around the insert just to break up any spotting. Then I put it in a 1/3 water 2/3 bleach mixture for another 5-7 minutes.

During the time it was in the mixtures I would move the inset around so the bleach wouldn't settle in specific spots.

I am very very happy with the result and there is no chemical spotting at all...


Here is a BEFORE pic:

[Johny]

Originally Posted by QCASANOVA

Thanks!

I did 10 minutes in a 1/2 water 1/2 bleach mixture. Then I took some steel wool and rubbed it around the insert just to break up any spotting. Then I put it in a 1/3 water 2/3 bleach mixture for another 5-7 minutes.

During the time it was in the mixtures I would move the inset around so the bleach wouldn't settle in specific spots.

I am very very happy with the result and there is no chemical spotting at all...


Here is a BEFORE pic:

thank you.

[Dries]

looks great.

[StaceeJaxx]

That looks great. I have a nice FF insert that is too much like new. I am going to make a few test run on a few service inserts so I can nail the look I want. Awesome

[linesiders]

Originally Posted by StaceeJaxx

That looks great. I have a nice FF insert that is too much like new. I am going to make a few test run on a few service inserts so I can nail the look I want. Awesome

First - I have never faded an insert - thought about it but I can't do it. Only inserts I'd want are nice fatties and to maybe pull a little extra value is simply not worth the risk of ruining a good insert. I have however purchased inserts that I think have been faded chemically and some look like crap and some look OK.

I am going to guess - unless someone tells otherwise - that the effect and steps you will use on a recent service insert will have a different effect on a 30-40 year old slightly faded insert. So don't use some combination of bleach for 3 hours on a used 5 year old service insert and expect the same on a 40 year old MK3 ;) that has spent equal time in the safe and sun. And that is everything goes right and doesn't get upgefucht (US Army German for FU'd ;) ) in the process.

My suggestion would be find the right existing faded insert for 400-800 that gets you wound up and either keep your original insert or sell that for the same or slightly less. Some want the near original 40 year old insert.

See a Tudor Mid Font that was likely screwed up:

[HERITAGE82]

Originally Posted by linesiders

First - I have never faded an insert - thought about it but I can't do it. Only inserts I'd want are nice fatties and to maybe pull a little extra value is simply not worth the risk of ruining a good insert. I have however purchased inserts that I think have been faded chemically and some look like crap and some look OK.

I am going to guess - unless someone tells otherwise - that the effect and steps you will use on a recent service insert will have a different effect on a 30-40 year old slightly faded insert. So don't use some combination of bleach for 3 hours on a used 5 year old service insert and expect the same on a 40 year old MK3 ;) that has spent equal time in the safe and sun. And that is everything goes right and doesn't get upgefucht (US Army German for FU'd ;) ) in the process.

My suggestion would be find the right existing faded insert for 400-800 that gets you wound up and either keep your original insert or sell that for the same or slightly less. Some want the near original 40 year old insert.

See a Tudor Mid Font that was likely screwed up:

I agree that chemically aging inserts is a dangerous game to play with expensive consequences if not done carefully. Also, as has been pointed out in this thread is that there is a different appearance to a naturally vs. chemically faded insert. I was trying to acheive a more matte black look and not the washed out faded look since I knew the limitations of the chemicals.

I stopped "fading" my insert when I felt I had found the balance between removing the newness from the insert without entering the world of it obviously being chemically faded. The easy giveaway for a chemically faded insert is the blotching (IMHO) that occurs as it eats away the black of the insert but does not occur when removing the top coating.

Also, in regards to purchasing a faded insert for a few hundred to thousands of dollars that we really don't know 100% was naturally faded is a big pill to swallow knowing I can achieve a similar look with the chemicals in my cabinet.

I am very happy with my results and the results on this thread have made all of the owners happy so as long as we disclose the facts to future buyers if we sell no harm done and more enjoyment for us with our watches.

[wisguy]

Wow! Looks way better!

[cwru32]

i accidentally exposed my GMT to bleach, and reading all the bluff about quality of metal in rolex I was sure nothing would happen. I noticed it got a black hue, and to my surprise, i see people do it on purpose and like it!!...my bezel is ceramic and looks good, and whole watch looks more harmonious being less shiny. but just curious, can the shine put back with buffing?

[anirudh.412]

Anyone trying this on a Pepsi?

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by anirudh.412

Anyone trying this on a Pepsi?

Certain sellers on ebay all day long

[jacko1]

Originally Posted by southtexas

Certain sellers on ebay all day long

lol

[anirudh.412]

Originally Posted by southtexas

Certain sellers on ebay all day long

I am sure of that! A few of them are painfully obvious