Ceramic Inserts, big $$$$$!!!! :-(

[nch209]

Obviously there has been a bit of hype with swapping ceramic sub inserts as of late, but is this the cause of the staggering prices these are commanding? I know Rolex has chopped the proverbial cord for parts, and price is based on supply and demand, but I wish they would cut us a bit of a break!

I wonder if the prices will fall over time, or if this is just the beginning for the blue and green ceramic inserts?

Any comments? Better yet, if anyone finds a deal on either, let me know! LOL!!!

[boogiebot]

i was watching a youtube review the other day on the Subc and the guy was saying the ceramic bezel is about a thousand dollars ...is that true? if so that is quite a bit. however in the review he also said something to the effect that the numbers were blasted on in platinum.

[Kanger]

That'd be my review, and yes it's true.

[Beyond Man]

Originally Posted by kanger

That'd be my review, and yes it's true.

link please?

[Kanger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmkGZp5oMsw

[bscepter]

so... the bezel accounts for the cost of 1/7 of the entire watch? that's a bit insane, isn't it?

[nch209]

These are SO hard to find, it almost justifies the price. I've seen them go for well over a grand...

[Kanger]

The research and development and the machinery needed to make a ceramic bezel somewhat justifies the ceramic bezel's cost, but don't get me wrong the price is still simply outrageous. But seeing that no RR and special machinery is needed to make a small aluminum bezel that costs $150, I see the ceramic bezel as less of an outrage.

[Speed]

Unfortunately, it's not Rolex's desire to have folks like us buy extra bezels and swap them out. Therefore. making them reasonably priced is not going to happen.

[MortgageGuy]

Originally Posted by bscepter

so... the bezel accounts for the cost of 1/7 of the entire watch? that's a bit insane, isn't it?

No this is the price from Rolex for a replacement... If you bought all the parts to replace a Sub it would probably be $20k... Same as a car, several times the price of the vehicle new... this should not be a surprise

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by boogiebot

i was watching a youtube review the other day on the Subc and the guy was saying the ceramic bezel is about a thousand dollars ...is that true? if so that is quite a bit. however in the review he also said something to the effect that the numbers were blasted on in platinum.

Originally Posted by bscepter

so... the bezel accounts for the cost of 1/7 of the entire watch? that's a bit insane, isn't it?

This is all internet hype....

Fact is, depending on your country, the ceramic insert runs around 3 to 4 hundred dollars. With the bezel ring, about 6 hundred US dollars.(A rough estimate allowing for the ever changing currency divide!)
The swap or exchange can only be done at an RSC, and these parts are NOT offered to even the Independent watchmaker with a Rolex part account!
For this reason, they are almost impossible to find on the grey market and command such high prices if they are found!!

The ceramic numerals are made up of Platinum (For SS models) and gold (For TT and solid gold models), which is bombarded onto the ceramic as it's being fabricated...I believe there is a video on the process on the Rolex website! (At least there was!)

I hope this clears some things up!

[nch209]

All good info- and just as I suspected for the most part. Oh how I want to make a "shark" or old style "Kermit"!!!!


Thanks all!

[xelor63]

The guy who worked on the Single red deepsea and the Hillary Tensing explorer replaced the blue insert on mine. The tool you need to take the bezel of he made it himself.



XELOR

[nch209]

Originally Posted by xelor63

The guy who worked on the Single red deepsea and the Hillary Tensing explorer replaced the blue insert on mine. The tool you need to take the bezel of he made it himself.



XELOR

Looks awesome as usual! My hunt for a blue insert continues!

[klayface]

Atttn: to the guy that posted the link to the youtube vid.

Quick ?, can you slide the and adjust the clasp on the new daytona too?

Oh, do you still have the proctective stickers on it?

[Kanger]

LMFAO yeah I no longer own the Sub C, but yeah when owned it I kept as much stickers as I could. The new daytona does not have glidelock, it is a diving feature.

[George Ab]

Originally Posted by sleddog

This is all internet hype....

Fact is, depending on your country, the ceramic insert runs around 3 to 4 hundred dollars. With the bezel ring, about 6 hundred US dollars.(A rough estimate allowing for the ever changing currency divide!)
The swap or exchange can only be done at an RSC, and these parts are NOT offered to even the Independent watchmaker with a Rolex part account!
For this reason, they are almost impossible to find on the grey market and command such high prices if they are found!!

The ceramic numerals are made up of Platinum (For SS models) and gold (For TT and solid gold models), which is bombarded onto the ceramic as it's being fabricated...I believe there is a video on the process on the Rolex website! (At least there was!)

I hope this clears some things up!

Thank you for clearing up the misinformation. Yes, in the US a ceramic bezel cost is $330.

Anniversary parts (like dials and LV inserts) are no longer being sold to folks with parts accounts. The watch needs to be sent to RSC. So a LV aluminum insert which costs $120 becomes $200 when you factor in shipping cost both ways. If sent in by an individual a service is required. If sent in by someone with a parts account (Rolex watchmaker), a service is not required. So have your watchmaker send it in.

[wokafu]

man...this just put me off a SubC .....sigh...

[Darlinboy]

Originally Posted by wokafu

man...this just put me off a SubC .....sigh...

Illegitimi non carborundum

Love the SubC - it's a great watch, but like any other, not without its flaws, and not for everyone.

As has been said many times, don't let someone else keep you from getting "the one" that's for you.

[travisb]

Originally Posted by xelor63

The guy who worked on the Single red deepsea and the Hillary Tensing explorer replaced the blue insert on mine. The tool you need to take the bezel of he made it himself.



XELOR

Love it!!! Spool nice!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by boogiebot

i was watching a youtube review the other day on the Subc and the guy was saying the ceramic bezel is about a thousand dollars ...is that true? if so that is quite a bit. however in the review he also said something to the effect that the numbers were blasted on in platinum.

Quite true but words like Platinum, Gold etc, sounds expensive but in reality the amount of precious metals are a very very very tiny amount.The retail price for the ceramic insert for say a SS GMTII is £375 ($734) + plus applicable taxes in your country these are UK prices quoted a few months ago from Rolex parts.The retail price for the bezel complete for a SS GMTII is £676 ($1324) + plus applicable taxes in your country.The subs are around $425 for the insert only expensive yes myself got to wonder why.
I know the marketing etc says it take 40 hours to make them,but brands like Rado have been making ceramic watches since the 1960s so the technology is not something new.But now with many brands jumping on the ceramic fashion band waggon, I have to ask myself why now, when the technology been around for 40 years, perhaps simply down to the latest fashion.

[rolexertion]

Originally Posted by Darlinboy

Illegitimi non carborundum

I always heard it as 'Nilli illegitimati nolo carborundum', Don't let the bastards grind you down.

[Speed]

Strap on a ceramic...and live it up! Come on already ;-)

[SCD]

Originally Posted by kanger

The research and development and the machinery needed to make a ceramic bezel somewhat justifies the ceramic bezel's cost, but don't get me wrong the price is still simply outrageous. But seeing that no RR and special machinery is needed to make a small aluminum bezel that costs $150, I see the ceramic bezel as less of an outrage.

Wait...Rado's been making entire cases, bands, and crowns out of the exact same stuff for quite some time. Rolex has managed to make it seem like this Zirconium oxide ceramic stuff is exotic. It's a really really cool material, but c'mon...it's nothing that super-special.

Incidentally, here's my ceramic Rado True Multifunction...

[Darlinboy]

Originally Posted by rolexertion

I always heard it as 'Nilli illegitimati nolo carborundum', Don't let the bastards grind you down.

You're spotus onusI must confess that Latin isn't my first language.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by kanger

The research and development and the machinery needed to make a ceramic bezel somewhat justifies the ceramic bezel's cost, but don't get me wrong the price is still simply outrageous. But seeing that no RR and special machinery is needed to make a small aluminum bezel that costs $150, I see the ceramic bezel as less of an outrage.

£26. for an insert in Scotland.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Johny

£26. for an insert in Scotland.

they're only 50-75 bucks in the US too, unless you buy them off the Internet..

Still, griping about high Rolex prices is silly... Buy some Lexus parts.... they're the same as Toyota but with a doubled price tag... Buy some Lincoln parts for your Ford...they'll fit..

If luxury products don't sell for higher prices, they wouldn't be luxury products, would they......

[Speed]

I hear you Larry.

The PAM folks have it tough as well...

- Panerai deployant buckles - $ 400
- Panerai tang buckles - $220
- Panerai Gator strap - $320

[nch209]

Originally Posted by Tools

they're only 50-75 bucks in the US too, unless you buy them off the Internet..

Still, griping about high Rolex prices is silly... Buy some Lexus parts.... they're the same as Toyota but with a doubled price tag... Buy some Lincoln parts for your Ford...they'll fit..

If luxury products don't sell for higher prices, they wouldn't be luxury products, would they......

Agreed, but at least we can buy late model Lexus and Lincoln parts!!! Sure the prices are high on the inserts, but thats only a fraction of the battle- finding one is the big thing!!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by kanger

The research and development and the machinery needed to make a ceramic bezel somewhat justifies the ceramic bezel's cost, but don't get me wrong the price is still simply outrageous. But seeing that no RR and special machinery is needed to make a small aluminium bezel that costs $150, I see the ceramic bezel as less of an outrage.

Don't now where you get these prices from for a aluminium insert from not from Rolex themselves would doubt in the UK inserts are less than £30.