Aftermarket ceramic bezel insert in a 16610?

[Wild Skies]

Has anyone here had an aftermarket ceramic bezel insert installed to replace the original finish bezel insert in their Submariner 16610? If so, are you happy with the results? I'm considering going with a ceramic bezel insert in favor of a cleaner, less scratchy appearance.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Wild Skies

Has anyone here had an aftermarket ceramic bezel insert installed to replace the original finish bezel insert in their Submariner 16610? If so, are you happy with the results? I'm considering going with a ceramic bezel insert in favor of a cleaner, less scratchy appearance.

A plain and simple fact a genuine ceramic bezel and insert will not fit on a 16610 as the genuine ceramic bezel floats on 3 spring-loaded ball-bearing and a spring loaded click stop, totally different fitting to the aluminium bezel and insert. And in over 20 years of hard wearing and using my 16600 SD as a real working tool watch, just replaced one insert cost then about £30.And what's the point putting aftermarket parts which in the real world would be fake on any genuine Rolex watch, if you want ceramic buy a genuine ceramic Rolex Sub.

[Tools]

Ceramic inserts are thin and glued into the bezel. Do you really want that?

[TunaTuna]

I think you are looking for the seiko forum?

[Stan Cooper]

I did something similar with the bezel insert on my 16710 GMT II. I got tired of the scratches on the anodized aluminum insert and machined an aftermarket "ceramic" insert to fit the 16710 bezel securely without glue. Frankly, I also prefer the larger engraved font of the aftermarket insert.

I can swap the bezels and inserts (aluminum to ceramic and vice versa) in about five minutes.

Original:


Aftermarket "ceramic":

[cht]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

I did something similar with the bezel insert on my 16710 GMT II. I got tired of the scratches on the anodized aluminum insert and machined an aftermarket "ceramic" insert to fit the 16710 bezel securely without glue. Frankly, I also prefer the larger engraved font of the aftermarket insert.

I can swap the bezels and inserts (aluminum to ceramic and vice versa) in about five minutes.

Original:


Aftermarket "ceramic":

Wow…not bad!

[77T]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

I did something similar with the bezel insert on my 16710 GMT II. I got tired of the scratches on the anodized aluminum insert and machined an aftermarket "ceramic" insert to fit the 16710 bezel securely without glue. Frankly, I also prefer the larger engraved font of the aftermarket insert.

I can swap the bezels and inserts (aluminum to ceramic and vice versa) in about five minutes.

Original:


Aftermarket "ceramic":

That mod turned out great.

If I was the OP and wanting to find a similar aftermarket Sub insert, you’d be the one I’d PM.

On the purist spectrum it’s not a mod that violates Rolex trademarks. More ambitious than a rubberB but a beautiful custom look.


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[KermitGang]

I like this more than the current Pepsi..

[Chester01]

sooo, take the last of the best rolex subs and slap the same material you have in your cereal bowl. Like botox for your sub lol. The sub 16610 aluminum insert like you will age, but also less likely than ceramic to fail when things get tough....or as a recent post here shows, uh a tumble off a golf cart no less. lol Keep the aluminum, it can handle a tumble off a golf cart.

[Boaters]

Nice mod Stan. I also have a 16710 D series could never get it comfy on the wrist so modded it with a glidelock what a difference perfect fit now all the time

[padi56]

Not my cup of tea cannot see the point when genuine Rolex aluminium inserts cost so little around $70 direct from Rolex.