I really hate to ask....Proper bezel insert 67/68 GMT...

[flyinghell34]

I hate to ask because I hate asking questions I know have been posed before but the more I look at bezel inserts I get more confused about what is the proper bezel insert for my 67/68 1675 GMT.

I'm entering the phase where I would like to restore my GMT to the most period correct representation I can starting with a period correct bezel. I have found a few threads but they are quite old and archived and the images are not present.

Can a resident expert postman image of the bezel I want and maybe a few words about the tell tail signs of a period correct piece and what it should look like?

Thanks the time and any input you can provide.

[CrownMe]

A fat font pepsi insert would be perfect. Check out the forum they sell a lot on there.

[springer]

The early 1960's inserts had the fattest fonts which some guys refer to as super-fat fonts. Sometime during the mid 1960's, I don't know exactly when, the fonts became a little smaller, and this next variation of fat fonts were introduced which lasted for many years - well within the serial number range for your watch. Here are a few for you to look at. Notice the positioning of the 18 on each insert - which is a little different on each one. I can't explain the positioning of the numbers being different on each insert, except that it might have occurred when they were printed. What is interesting is if you look at the first and third inserts below, the 6's line up the same with the blue/red color break, but the 18's do not.

[iclick]

Originally Posted by springer

Notice the positioning of the 18 on each insert - which is a little different on each one. I can't explain the positioning of the numbers being different on each insert, except that it might have occurred when they were printed. What is interesting is if you look at the first and third inserts below, the 6's line up the same with the blue/red color break, but the 18's do not.

Your watch and mine (2.32m, late-1969) have the same "long-E" dial and the "18" on my original insert (left photo) is yet another variant. I'm wondering if these weren't handmade and subject to individual variation, but if so why do the 6's always seem to be the same with the red-blue transition falling near the exact middle of the "6"?

The right photo is the same watch with a service insert (circa ~1980), and although the font is narrower than your second photo the transition on the "18" is similar.

[springer]

I can only guess, but I believe it would have something to do with the manufacturing process since the fonts appear to be the same. Now, if we were talking about Submariner inserts, there would be all kinds of crazy ideas being bantered around, mark numbers, which came first, what fits what and what isn't incorrect! Someone would probably need a secret Rolex document to decode all this information if it were even available.

[skprd13]

Originally Posted by springer

The early 1960's inserts had the fattest fonts which some guys refer to as super-fat fonts. Sometime during the mid 1960's, I don't know exactly when, the fonts became a little smaller, and this next variation of fat fonts were introduced which lasted for many years - well within the serial number range for your watch. Here are a few for you to look at. Notice the positioning of the 18 on each insert - which is a little different on each one. I can't explain the positioning of the numbers being different on each insert, except that it might have occurred when they were printed. What is interesting is if you look at the first and third inserts below, the 6's line up the same with the blue/red color break, but the 18's do not.

Excellent thanks John! You da man when it comes to GMT's! Learn something new with each of your responses for the GMT line. Had second look at my collection and noticed the various inserts.
Mahalo,
Tom