Is it possible to fast fade a bezel?

[frch1104]

Hello
Just want to check if it is possible to "fast" fade a GMT or sub bezel
to match a vintage looking case and dial...
Thanks
//Fred

[swatty]

Put it out in the sun might work

[padi56]

If you expose anything to ultra violet light artificial or sunlight long enough all things will fade,just take the insert out and experiment

[snow_rocks]

we would put a FUGI color print and a KODAK color print in the window, afternoon sun, to test the fading.

after a month, the KODAK print had started to wash out. FUGI print looked good.

take insert out, and try rubbing compound (automotive product) on it.

[watchmaker]

Ultrasonic cleaning fluid, or an ammoniated solution fades the inserts if the are left in for too long. How long? I dont know. Just a tip from sad experience.

[thesharkfactor]

caustic soda..
careful, nasty shit.. get it from your local DIY/hardware store.

mix it up as directed in a bucket as for clearing drains. .. rubber gloves and tongs, pop the bezel insert for a couple of seconds.

the cuastic soda will remove/fade the anodizing on the insert. careful dont leave it too long, plonk it only a second or two at a time until you have desired aged effect..

leave it too long, and it'll fade completley and the metal will pitt.

do a test run with a used insert before hand so you know how long to leave it..

rubber gloves is essential.. and dont breath any of the highly dangerous fumes either!

all the best..

[Speed]

Man, this is the first I have heard of someone wanting to fade their bezel insert.

Diff'rent Strokes.

[sea-dweller]

I have to ask, why ?

[OrchidDR]

I guess they want to give it that "worn and used" look!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

I have to ask, why ?

Me too!!!

[Pep04]

I'm with you "WHY THE HELL" guys. I can't fathom why you would purposely age your watch.

Buy a vintage and then you have the new and old look.

[Tools]

Sure you can "fast fade" one... and dials too..

The fakers and counterfeiters do it all the time............

[thesharkfactor]

Originally Posted by frch1104

Hello
Just want to check if it is possible to "fast" fade a GMT or sub bezel
to match a vintage looking case and dial...
Thanks
//Fred

perhaps you guys (above) missed the reason the OP wanted to fade his insert.. "to match a vintage looking case and dial".. perfectly understandable to me?

a new insert on an old watch with a faded dial, worn case and bracelet doesn't look right.

nothing wrong wtih that.. i would do the same if i was replaceing a damaged insert on an old sub or similar.(if i couldnt find a worn used one that would do)..

best of luck with the 'soda.. it works a treat on anything anodized.. ive not done it with a bezel insert before, but i have done with other anodized parts before.. works very well..

[Poohsan]

I've noticed a tone of faded bezel inserts on the Bay recently. They all look way to good to me as they are faded but do not have any other damage. I speculate that people have started making prematurely faded bezels for a while. The faded bezels fetch a much higher price than new.

Interesting....

[DadsWatch72]

I think this is a crazy thread. Faking patina is wrong. I like my watch having a nice new insert. It doesn't make the watch any more desireable if it looks old and used, it just makes it look "run down". Putting new tires on a Model A Ford doesn't make it any less of an antique.

[therolexguy]

Well, actually, if you watch the auctions, "old and used" is exactly what a lot of people want. Everyone's got different opinions but I like the older, used look too, even "beat up" is ok with me.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by DadsWatch72

I think this is a crazy thread. Faking patina is wrong. I like my watch having a nice new insert. It doesn't make the watch any more desireable if it looks old and used, it just makes it look "run down". Putting new tires on a Model A Ford doesn't make it any less of an antique.

+1

[Speed]

Originally Posted by therolexguy

Well, actually, if you watch the auctions, "old and used" is exactly what a lot of people want. Everyone's got different opinions but I like the older, used look too, even "beat up" is ok with me.

As long as it is a "legit" beat up look, eh?

[Flaxmoore]

Originally Posted by DadsWatch72

I think this is a crazy thread. Faking patina is wrong. I like my watch having a nice new insert. It doesn't make the watch any more desireable if it looks old and used, it just makes it look "run down". Putting new tires on a Model A Ford doesn't make it any less of an antique.

So you'd be totally cool with a repair shop putting a new panel on your car that has the original factory color while the rest of your car is a bit faded? They're trying to avoid that kind of mismatch.

[frch1104]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

perhaps you guys (above) missed the reason the OP wanted to fade his insert.. "to match a vintage looking case and dial".. perfectly understandable to me?

a new insert on an old watch with a faded dial, worn case and bracelet doesn't look right.

nothing wrong wtih that.. i would do the same if i was replaceing a damaged insert on an old sub or similar.(if i couldnt find a worn used one that would do)..

best of luck with the 'soda.. it works a treat on anything anodized.. ive not done it with a bezel insert before, but i have done with other anodized parts before.. works very well..

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT
The reason is:
I have a GMT from the early -70. It looks great with the Pepsi bezel and I have a brand new jubilee braclet and a vintage oyster bracelet in perfect condition, to the watch. I recently got a Pepsibezel the colors looks almost brand new, really good, there is just a small scratch on it.

Was thinking I could make the watch look different using the different bracelets and the different Pepsi bezels.

-Vintage oyster bracelet and faded Pepsi bezel.
-Brand new jubilee bracelet and a perfect Pepsi bezel.

It is all original and correct parts for the watch. Don´t really have the cash to get a new watch, so I was trying to make one watch into two.

Lets see if I have the balls to try to fade it:)
//Fred

[Tools]

There is a poster from a few months back who showed a variety of inserts that he had faded for different looks..

You might search for it........

[therolexguy]

Now if I could just fade a dial.......

[DoubleRedRolex]

No harm in fading a bezel insert to match an original that you lost or broke. I personally think the people paying $800 for a grey faded 5513 insert on ebay are nuts, as most of them are chemically faded, but that another topic.

Scuff lightly with green 3m kitchen scrubber just to get the gloss shine off
Soak in bleach. Dont let it soak and leave the room. Only takes a few minutes at most. use half bleach half water to slow down the process. When faded to where you want it, run the water tap into the bleach container to start the rinsing process. Do not just pull out the insert and expose to air right away. Run it under the tap for a minute until the water in the container is thouroughly flushed. Remove insert and dry. If you take the insert out of the bleach to rinse off, it can flash fade when exposed to the air and become much lighter than you wanted. Just a quick scuffing and 15-30sec in the bleach can give you a nice flat black color that takes the "factory fresh" look off the insert to better match your orig faded dial or hands.

You can manually or chemically age just about anything... stainless steel, bezel inserts, dials, leather straps, crystals, tritium color, whatever you want. You need to trust who you are buying from these days. Its too easy to make a part look used and faded and sell it for 5 times the price.. stupid if you ask me.

L

[Singslinger]

To each his own. The vintage look is a big thing with guitars - Fender in particular, regularly offer (very expensive) replicas of their classic models from the 1950s and 60s, complete with faded, aged and chipped paintwork to give it an "authentic'' vibe.

Personally, I'm not a fan but since the range keeps expanding, then presumably the demand does exist.

[crash_c]

Tried this on a spare 14060 insert and no luck. 3 parts bleach to 1 part water. Bezel is unchanged after about 3 hours of submersion. Crazy!

Unfortunately no ghost bezel for me. Any ideas?