GMT 6542 Bakelite bezel and insert id help.

[James 45]

Hello I have a very old bezel I am not sure about.
I got it from a rolex dealer deal where i got a lot of parts from the 60s-70s
and boxes etc.

Well this bezel was in it, among others.

I just don't know what year it falls in? I know 1956-59 but which one?

And of course if there was something wrong with it(fake anything)
i would like to know that to.

Measures 38.25 od and 33.25 id of the bezel
30.04 id of the insert.
I wont take the insert out incase it breaks so i have to od of the insert.

Thank you for your help.

[Paul]

Hi James,

I'm an enthusiastic 6542 owner (with original bakelite insert) and certainly not an expert but I'll stick my neck out


Your insert and bezel looks AOK to me. Typical bakelite fading and oxidising with similarly typical fractures. Nice to see that they are still out there. The digits look ok, the blending in where the red section joins the blue section looks ok. On many fake Bakelite inserts the '8' digits are a key problem area. Someone with more skills that me will have some thoughts on how your 8s look. It's worth noting too that most non-original 6542 bakelite inserts that we see are simply, legitimate, after-market items, not really intended to fool people. As such, many of those are very obviously fake. That said, I'm sure that the hard-core counterfeiters have also had a go at the 6542 bakelite insert. Once again, yours looks AOK genuine to me.



And which generation you ask ? ...... I'm fairly certain there was just the single run of bakelite inserts for the 6542. The bakelite inserts really were just a flash in the pan so didn't run to several generations like most Rolex inserts.



And I'm sure you're aware, despite the heavy ageing, there would still be some good value in there. Simply put, they are so rare, most folks who need one would consider anything to get their watch correct. Remember too, the lume is big bad radium. Handle the insert with great care (fragility of the item and your personal safety). Certainly don't lick it

[linesiders]

Get ready for your inbox to get flooded - that is 15K or more right there.

[RLX-lvr]

[mdw3]

Originally Posted by linesiders

Get ready for your inbox to get flooded - that is 15K or more right there.

I would be pretty surprised if anyone would jump at the chance to buy a bezel in that condition for "$15K or more."

[Paul]

Originally Posted by linesiders

Get ready for your inbox to get flooded - that is 15K or more right there.

Some real value there but I'm thinking the 6542 reference overall is in the shadows a bit just now and that trickles down to the price for parts. It's all about timing with the rare stuff as specific references come in and out of vogue. I was reminded of that when I sold a tropical pre-Daytona dial recently. Couldn't give it away two years ago but this time buyers were tripping over each other. Not quite in the same rarity bracket of a 6542 bakelite insert but a rare item none-the-less.

The market seems quite soft to me just now for the 6542, both watches and parts. Christies (from memory) took in CHF $47000 / US $48,000 about five years back for a heavily aged, but totally correct, tropical 6542. No way that we'd see that today. They certainly seem to languish when they come up on eBay over the past year or so. I loosely track how 6542 bakelite inserts trade too, on the rare occasions they pop up for sale. About three years back one on eBay closed at US $20,100 (splendid item and a cast-iron seller). Another well regarded seller ran a rather nice example over VRF around the same time, asking US $16,000. So, when the buyers are out there big money certainly changes hands.

I dropped the OP a message. I'm thinking $5000 on a bad day, $10,000 on a really good day, perhaps more. James' item is supremely rare ..... but it's a bit crusty. And I didn't try to buy it ....... I've already got one

[James 45]

Hey guys thank you for your comment!
I knew they where very rare but was not sure of crusty value as mentioned.
I was really after authentic conformation and thank you. I'm did not know what to look for such as the "8" so that is helpful to!

So thanks again for the info and pms
I will try to put things up in the classifieds
When I finish authenticating

Best forum on earth

[QueueCumber]

If I remember correctly, that is not the original early Bakelite insert but instead a less fragile one produced by Rolex to replace the early ones that were breaking. Again, if I remember correctly, they replaced the bezels and inserts on these at the same time when performing the replacement. One way to tell is that the bezel has notches in it at regular intervals (such as the one that is seen clearly in the closeup shot of triangle on the insert) whereas the originals do not. Another way to tell is the color of the insert, which usually has much brighter blue coloration on the replacement. Anyway, that's what I recall reading awhile ago on a thread on VRF.

If there is more up to date info on these particular variations of the insert and bezel please let me know.

[linesiders]

I stand corrected ;)

[dpa94114]

A little age is one thing...but i am at a complete and utter loss how anyone could see the condition of that bezel and find it appealing. I would be convinced if i got it caught on my jacket, I'd remove half of what's left...

But what do I know - sure you're already getting offers of 20K by now

[watchcrank]

Its a bakelite in less than great condition but try to find one in any condition :-)

[James 45]

Originally Posted by QueueCumber

If I remember correctly, that is not the original early Bakelite insert but instead a less fragile one produced by Rolex to replace the early ones that were breaking. Again, if I remember correctly, they replaced the bezels and inserts on these at the same time when performing the replacement. One way to tell is that the bezel has notches in it at regular intervals (such as the one that is seen clearly in the closeup shot of triangle on the insert) whereas the originals do not. Another way to tell is the color of the insert, which usually has much brighter blue coloration on the replacement. Anyway, that's what I recall reading awhile ago on a thread on VRF.

If there is more up to date info on these particular variations of the insert and bezel please let me know.

I just found this record breaking price with a relief dial.

http://le-monde-edmond.com/rolex-654...akelite-bezel/

I think this is the one you have described?

[Paul]

Wow. I'd completely missed that one. $32,500 ..... that's amazing.

And there are the notches Q mentioned. I was not aware of those - always learning in this great hobby

[QueueCumber]

Is it a one off auction result based on perhaps a few people not knowing what they were bidding on, or is/was it a trend?

I'm not sure how people value them personally. I wouldn't want a relief insert on my 6542 if I ever bought one, so I wouldn't pay anywhere near that price for one. On the brighter side of things, I've read they rarely (or never) crack, so I guess you can use it on your 6542 and maybe store the original Bakelite to protect it. That's an instance where I wouldn't mind having both the original and a replacement.

The person who wrote the article didn't even know what it was.

[springer]

Originally Posted by watchcrank

Its a bakelite in less than great condition but try to find one in any condition :-)

That's the key and why the prices are exorbitant. Simple...supply and demand. I've seen them in much worse condition than this one.

[R.W.T.]

It's a quite decent bezel imho. And like others have said go find one.

The plus is...NO CRACKS. You can have a really nice one paint wise and a crack kills it for me personally. This would be a very honest bezel on an honest watch. Things are OLD...they wear.

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

It's a quite decent bezel imho. And like others have said go find one.

The plus is...NO CRACKS. You can have a really nice one paint wise and a crack kills it for me personally. This would be a very honest bezel on an honest watch. Things are OLD...they wear.

There's no cracks because it isn't original Bakelite...

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by QueueCumber

There's no cracks because it isn't original Bakelite...

Q is it your opinion the insert the OP shows is not an original Rolex bakelite insert? It looks good to me.

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by greekbum

Q is it your opinion the insert the OP shows is not an original Rolex bakelite insert? It looks good to me.

Original Bakelite cracks easily. The lighter blue ones that pop up seem to be relatively immune to that issue. It's based on reading exhaustively on the 6542s on VRF. Why is it these light blue inserts appear so often in the notched service inserts as well? I don't think they are original Bakelite, but are another plastic compound. Whether or not that detracts from the value, I don't know. Perhaps they are even more rare, and potentially worth more? No idea.

Here's one thread that partially covers the topic on VRF. There are a few of them on VRF for anyone who wants to put in the time.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...some+expertise

[R.W.T.]

If you want to get technical NONE of them were bakelite anyway....

It's sort of irrelevant....by now they are mostly cracked too...even the inserts from Daytonas are cracked. SeaMasters...they're all cracked.

People didn't wear these watches in they're pockets...they worked on their cars with them.

If that bezel was on a watch people would be clamoring to buy it imho

As one gentleman said..I've seen LOTS worse.

[QueueCumber]

Look at the condition of the one in this thread even. If it were the original Bakelite plastic there is no way it would have survived with all that surface damage without becoming cracked!

[James 45]

Did I mention it still has a glow ! Not much but it lights up still
at night after I wake up and all lights have been off I can see It burn
Wish I had a gieger counter

I just found a bezel to that does not have the notches wow this box is full of cool stuff!!

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by James 45

Did I mention it still has a glow ! Not much but it lights up still
at night after I wake up and all lights have been off I can see It burn
Wish I had a gieger counter

I just found a bezel to that does not have the notches wow this box is full of cool stuff!!

Is the original radium/strontium 90 Bakelite in that box as well? That would be very cool. Though, if it were broken, or if it were the recalled strontium 90, I suppose they wouldn't return it.

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by mdw3

I would be pretty surprised if anyone would jump at the chance to buy a bezel in that condition for "$15K or more."

Looks like he might've gotten close. Congrats on your sale!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[James 45]

Tnx and yes it was a good sale We got asking price in a trade
Still had two more people interested but it went that fast.
Even the extra one with no insert gone!


Thanks all for your input.
I learnt a lot about the 6542
very cool watch
Thanks

[JustinRolex]

Sorry to drag this post back up.

Have a question for the professionals here

Isit possible a Bakelite insert could not glow green under UV light?