1016 - bezel looks odd - help please.

[boxsash]

I’ve just bought a 1016 from the original owners niece. It was in watch finder and they polished it! I have pictures pre polishing and to me the bezel looks odd. A bit slim and thinner.

Is this just a effect from polishing or a bigger issue.

The bezel on my 1016 is whiter in colour and has a flatter more pronounced bezel. The new 1982 watch has more patina but the bezel looks off.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Perhaps I’m just being a bit OCD….lol.

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts.


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[southtexas]

I definitely see what you’re talking about, but I’m no help. Maybe post it on VRF?


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[MrBlobby]

They look the same to me.

[boxsash]

Thanks for your replies.
Yes, I’ll ask over on the VRF

I’ve never heard of a service bezel being any different and the watch with the smaller bezel is all original I believe.

I’d possible that the profile changed slightly during the 1980s ?

I’ll let you know when I find out more.


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[Toronto Soup King]

If you're worried someone might've converted a 1018 please note the difference between those two cases is far more pronounced than the slight difference shown in your pics (I checked mine).

[Kingface66]

Sadly, there’s a lot of fake 1016 parts out there. To someone who can’t tell the difference , passing one along may have even been inadvertent.

[MrBlobby]

You’re not suggesting either watch or one of its part are fake are you?

[boxsash]

The cases look good to me. On looking a more pictures on line there does seem to be a ‘smaller look’ to some 1016 bezels when viewed straight on. I’m thinking the difference is an affect of polishing perhaps. I’m feeling less concerned but still interested.


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[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by MrBlobby

You’re not suggesting either watch or one of its part are fake are you?

There are tons of aftermarket Rolex parts floating around there. A cursory search on 1016 r*plicas will verify that, sadly. One of these parts showing up on an authentic Rolex (the same way bezel inserts, hands, DIALS, etc. show up on watches for sale every day) is hardly a stretch. No, I’m not saying one of these watches is fake. I’m saying if you have two bezels that, by all accounts, should look the same, and yet don’t, there’s always a possibility one could be aftermarket.

[MrBlobby]

The photos in this thread are really good but even the watches side by side are shown at slightly different angles. I think you could have identical bezels that look different due to the photography.

I notice this when people are comment on lugs being over polished. Photography angles can make lugs appear thin.

Of course all we have to judge is the photos.

Just to add the profiles of the crystals look different too…..but only slightly. I also think the bezel can look different by how the bracelet and end links sit.

I just don’t see any significant difference between the two bezels.