First Rolex Modification- purist look away

[Tudor66]

Many here have in inspired me to modify one of my Rolex watches. Jocke and others show their custom projects, and they end up with a great custom Rolex that is all their own.

My Polar started out with faded paint on the bezel.

Then today during our CTG, my watch got covered with handsoap, throughout the day I noticed the pain faded even more.

Finally, with a non-abrasive toothbrush and handsoap, 15 seconds of cleaning-- and there you have it. My first mod.

I really like this look, which is what matters most. I realize it's not for everyone. I'll take some better photos at a later today.

It doesn't look like I am selling this one now guys:

[Tudor66]

A fun yet reversible modification...!

Thanks to all who provided the inspiration...I think I just escalated, or de-escalated my Rolex ownership experience...

[bdex75]

Cool. I kinda like the turn o graph style of it.


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[ExplorerChris]

Looks fantastic
I went the other way and painted the numbers on my bezel when they started to fade.
To me either all on or all off its not so great with only partial numbers

http://s1266.photobucket.com/albums/...xplorerChris/?

[DK3]

It looks like a replica now.

[Tudor66]

Thanks guys. I find the less busy look of the bezel a lot more appealing than the worn out black paint. I was struggling with the idea of selling/trading this watch, now I like it even more...!

[ExplorerChris]

Don't sell or trade it
It's a keeper
I want a TT Sub 16613 Blue Sunburst Dial but as badly as I want it I won't let go of my Explorer II

[DCheeta]

Looks cool, but... Hand soap washes the paint off of a ExpII bezel??

[FiftyTwoEighty]

Looks great Al!

Enjoyed meeting you today at the GTG. Thanks for making the trip up to OC.

[2Redbulls]

but that would drive me crazy.

[Tudor66]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Looks cool, but... Hand soap washes the paint off of a ExpII bezel??

Yeah, exactly what i thought. I just got it back from a cleaning of the movement. Perhaps the watchmaker applied some cleaner on it.

I am happy with the result. If I get tired of this look I will reapply the paint...

[Jake B]

By "hand soap" do you mean "hand sanitizer" with a %70+ alcohol content?

I washed mine regularly with hand soap as I'm sure most of us do.

[Tudor66]

Yes, just your regular vanilla smelling hand soap to wash your hands- no alcohol applied here. The other thing is that the watch was in my car's trunk during most of the day- It was in the 80's, sunny and humid here today...

Perhaps the first fade was my imagination-- The tooth brush and soap really did the paint removal...

[jack81]

Wow looks vintagy now. Good job.

[Hairdude1]

Looking good

[Nycturbovr6]

Looks good

[Tudor66]

Thanks, but this mod might not be over. Quotron did the same mod with a red date wheel...Another nice, reversible yet cool modification...The red date wheel looks much easier to see than my black date wheel.
It looks like once you start modding a watch there is no end...

THanks Quotron from the original inspiration...

[Mastergreenhand]

If you like it that's all that counts. I prefer it w the paint on even if it was fading.

[pacific17]

It looks good!

[Old Expat Beast]

Is this the one that came with the blank papers, etc, that you said you might sell yesterday?

[wisguy]

Sorry, no.

[Rock]

How would it look with red numbers to match the red hand and date-wheel?

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Rock

How would it look with red numbers to match the red hand and date-wheel?

Interesting!

[Jake B]

That is bizarre. Never heard of hand soap removing enamel paint from a Rolex bezel. Can you please tell us the brand name so that we can all be careful to avoid it?

[Tudor66]

Originally Posted by Jake B

That is bizarre. Never heard of hand soap removing enamel paint from a Rolex bezel. Can you please tell us the brand name so that we can all be careful to avoid it?

I think it was the tooth brush that did the majority of the removal. Remember, this is also a 1991 year watch...

[Vincent65]

sorry, but it now looks ruined to me - but glad you're happy with it!

[Roger1079]

Originally Posted by Jake B

That is bizarre. Never heard of hand soap removing enamel paint from a Rolex bezel. Can you please tell us the brand name so that we can all be careful to avoid it?

I am fairly certain hand soap did not cause this. As the OP mentioned it was off for cleaning right before and my guess would be whatever cleaning agent was used also removed the paints bond with the steel and caused the paint to start flaking off. The soap and toothbrush simply removed the remainder if I had to guess. My SS Daytona has been exposed to several chemicals it should have never come in contact with such as undiluted degreaser and brake and carb cleaner. If this had no effect on bezel paint, I find it impossible to believe that hand soap was the cause of that.

[Tudor66]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

sorry, but it now looks ruined to me - but glad you're happy with it!

No problem, All opinions welcome Karl...

At some point I may put the paint back evenly myself. However right now I find that this mod works for me on the Polar exp II.

[Roger1079]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

sorry, but it now looks ruined to me - but glad you're happy with it!

I suppose in that case it is a good thing the watch belongs to someone else. It isn't my cup of tea either, but as long as the OP likes the result, nothing else is really important.

[Tudor66]

Originally Posted by Roger1079

I am fairly certain hand soap did not cause this. As the OP mentioned it was off for cleaning right before and my guess would be whatever cleaning agent was used also removed the paints bond with the steel and caused the paint to start flaking off. The soap and toothbrush simply removed the remainder if I had to guess. My SS Daytona has been exposed to several chemicals it should have never come in contact with such as undiluted degreaser and brake and carb cleaner. If this had no effect on bezel paint, I find it impossible to believe that hand soap was the cause of that.

I actually had this out for repairs at two different places. The first was a movement service, the second was to remove and reinstall the bezel so that it better lined up. It was originally off by one degree. I had told the second watchmaker that I was planning to remove the paint. My guess is that he applied something on the bezel, as the paint really starting coming off Friday afternoon just after that second repair.

Thanks TRF, I believe this mystery is solved...