Change bezel/insert myself on 16800 a bad idea?

[mattg6]

Don’t want to damage the watch at all. I saw a video it didn’t look like special tools were needed but wondering if it’s harder than it looks (before I try)

[mattg6]

Update: bezel off, but the insert won’t come out. Any tips? Usually I hear about people having the opposite problem (not able to get the insert back in)

[TimeToGo]

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Hold the bezel with the back toward you and with the thumbs, push the insert outward.

It could be a very tight fit and/or glued on..

[Cooper33]

Apply pressure from the inside, the bezel insert will pop off. When putting the new insert, do the opposite: apply pressure from the outside, beginning with the PIP and slowly work your way around the bezel. It will fall into place

[swish77]

Changing inserts yourself is a crapshoot, especially on old Subs for some reason. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's very difficult, usually when installing.

These inserts are getting increasingly expensive and harder to find, so if you're really struggling, I'd just let a watchmaker do it. I once broke a stunningly beautiful semi-ghost faded insert on a 5512 after wrestling with it for hours. Not worth the risk.

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by swish77

Changing inserts yourself is a crapshoot, especially on old Subs for some reason. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's very difficult, usually when installing.

These inserts are getting increasingly expensive and harder to find, so if you're really struggling, I'd just let a watchmaker do it. I once broke a stunningly beautiful semi-ghost faded insert on a 5512 after wrestling with it for hours. Not worth the risk.

I have bent a few for my GMT. Talk about sucking canal water. On a side note they still work and fit. You are right though, getting more expensive and harder to find.

[Cooper33]

Yep - seeing how the prices for these inserts really escalated, I've been much more careful now. I used to swap them constantly on my 1680 and 16760, but nowadays I just keep the extra inserts tucked away.

[TuRo]

I'd take a cautious response to this project, there's a lot of knack to the process and some imponderables... I ham-fistedly badly creased a red triangle 37mm about ten years ago when I was a bit of a spanner at the process - circa about £10-15k damage in today's money !!!

[Bigjule1111]

I just did this ..took forever to place the insert in.. the key was too buy soft tip plyers ..learned this after 2 days and soar thumbs.. mine would not go in at all ..the plyers solved my problem