Submariner stiff bezel
Discussion
I wear my Sub most days, and take it off at night. I certainly don’t dive with it - the only time it gets wet is in the shower.
I also never rotate the bezel. However, I’m a bit OCD and I must have knocked the bezel at some point, so the ‘pip’ wasn’t at 12 o’clock.
However, when I tried to reset it, the bezel was very stiff and when it eventually moved, there was almost no clicking.
It’s well overdue a service (9 years old now), so is it just best to send it into my local AD (WoS in Birmingham) or is there an easy home fix?
FWIW, I don’t think it needs a service - when I wore it 24 hours a day, it used to lose 3 seconds a day, but now I take it off at night, it gains 10 seconds a month, which I find amazingly accurate.
I also never rotate the bezel. However, I’m a bit OCD and I must have knocked the bezel at some point, so the ‘pip’ wasn’t at 12 o’clock.
However, when I tried to reset it, the bezel was very stiff and when it eventually moved, there was almost no clicking.
It’s well overdue a service (9 years old now), so is it just best to send it into my local AD (WoS in Birmingham) or is there an easy home fix?
FWIW, I don’t think it needs a service - when I wore it 24 hours a day, it used to lose 3 seconds a day, but now I take it off at night, it gains 10 seconds a month, which I find amazingly accurate.
The bezel will just be full of the detritus of life and multiple dead skin cells and other assorted biology. Bezel needs popping off and cleaning out, then replacing.
I know this because I had the same issue with one of my watches, but I don’t know how to do it!
Rigga, formerly of these parts, did mine. He’s set up in watch repair full time now.
ETA: RiggaRepairs@hotmail.com
I know this because I had the same issue with one of my watches, but I don’t know how to do it!
Rigga, formerly of these parts, did mine. He’s set up in watch repair full time now.
ETA: RiggaRepairs@hotmail.com
Which Submariner is it? For something like a 16610 (pre-ceramic, post-plexi):
Very easy to pop the bezel off safely. I change the inserts in mine all the time.
Plenty of YouTube videos, be confident and you won't do any damage at all.
You're basically just slotting something under one side of the bezel and levering it up.
Be careful the first time you do it so the click spring and washer don't fly off, never to be found again. Go gently and they won't.
I have the 'proper' tools these days but spent a couple of years doing it with a brass shirt collar stiffener and some masking tape on the lugs.
Then, warm soapy water and a toothbrush and it will be as good as new.
If you have knocked things out of place somehow (e.g. click spring has slipped into the wrong position) you won't get far without removing it.
But it may well be that it is just dirty and you only noticed now, when you saw the bezel out of position.
If it is a 6-digit, ceramic, there is a different construction, using balls and springs... But generally the same applies (be more careful not to lose them).
Assume it is not a plexi (e.g. 5513 or 1680) because they should have never clicked
Very easy to pop the bezel off safely. I change the inserts in mine all the time.
Plenty of YouTube videos, be confident and you won't do any damage at all.
You're basically just slotting something under one side of the bezel and levering it up.
Be careful the first time you do it so the click spring and washer don't fly off, never to be found again. Go gently and they won't.
I have the 'proper' tools these days but spent a couple of years doing it with a brass shirt collar stiffener and some masking tape on the lugs.
Then, warm soapy water and a toothbrush and it will be as good as new.
If you have knocked things out of place somehow (e.g. click spring has slipped into the wrong position) you won't get far without removing it.
But it may well be that it is just dirty and you only noticed now, when you saw the bezel out of position.
If it is a 6-digit, ceramic, there is a different construction, using balls and springs... But generally the same applies (be more careful not to lose them).
Assume it is not a plexi (e.g. 5513 or 1680) because they should have never clicked
dom9 said:
Which Submariner is it?
114060 from 2015As I don't tend to fiddle with the bezel, I'm going to try the warm water trick first (although I couldn't even turn the bezel in the shower last night...)
If that doesn't shift the gunk, I'll just wait until it eventually goes in for a service.
Nigel_O said:
114060 from 2015
As I don't tend to fiddle with the bezel, I'm going to try the warm water trick first (although I couldn't even turn the bezel in the shower last night...)
If that doesn't shift the gunk, I'll just wait until it eventually goes in for a service.
Ceramic, interesting... nothing much to get out of position and stop it turning. Fingers crossed a good soak helps!As I don't tend to fiddle with the bezel, I'm going to try the warm water trick first (although I couldn't even turn the bezel in the shower last night...)
If that doesn't shift the gunk, I'll just wait until it eventually goes in for a service.
I would apply some pressure (just with you fingers/thumbs) all round the bezel, in case it has been pushed 'up' and is contacting the lip on the crystal retaining ring and isn't fully seated. If it clicks back down, that should probably solve your issue.
Nigel_O said:
I wear my Sub most days, and take it off at night. I certainly don’t dive with it - the only time it gets wet is in the shower.
I also never rotate the bezel. However, I’m a bit OCD and I must have knocked the bezel at some point, so the ‘pip’ wasn’t at 12 o’clock.
However, when I tried to reset it, the bezel was very stiff and when it eventually moved, there was almost no clicking.
It’s well overdue a service (9 years old now), so is it just best to send it into my local AD (WoS in Birmingham) or is there an easy home fix?
FWIW, I don’t think it needs a service - when I wore it 24 hours a day, it used to lose 3 seconds a day, but now I take it off at night, it gains 10 seconds a month, which I find amazingly accurate.
Bloody hell!I also never rotate the bezel. However, I’m a bit OCD and I must have knocked the bezel at some point, so the ‘pip’ wasn’t at 12 o’clock.
However, when I tried to reset it, the bezel was very stiff and when it eventually moved, there was almost no clicking.
It’s well overdue a service (9 years old now), so is it just best to send it into my local AD (WoS in Birmingham) or is there an easy home fix?
FWIW, I don’t think it needs a service - when I wore it 24 hours a day, it used to lose 3 seconds a day, but now I take it off at night, it gains 10 seconds a month, which I find amazingly accurate.
John Harrison would be spinning in his grave!
I just had this issue on my Tisell Submersible (Submariner homage, quite a nice thing)
Hold the watch side on and get some liquid hand soap into the crack between the case and bezel. Try and turn it. It should free up nicely (hold the bezel in a cloth, it’ll be too slippery otherwise)
Work the bezel round a few times and then rinse it under hot water. That should do the job. The action on mine is perfect now.
Hold the watch side on and get some liquid hand soap into the crack between the case and bezel. Try and turn it. It should free up nicely (hold the bezel in a cloth, it’ll be too slippery otherwise)
Work the bezel round a few times and then rinse it under hot water. That should do the job. The action on mine is perfect now.
996Type said:
Make sure the crown is tight and wash gently in a bowl of warm water. Add a little washing up liquid and with a soft cloth turn the bezel.
I was told by a watchmaker to specifically avoid detergents and watches.... damaging seals etc. I don't wear any of mine in the shower for that reason - happy to swim with them though.NDA said:
996Type said:
Make sure the crown is tight and wash gently in a bowl of warm water. Add a little washing up liquid and with a soft cloth turn the bezel.
I was told by a watchmaker to specifically avoid detergents and watches.... damaging seals etc. I don't wear any of mine in the shower for that reason - happy to swim with them though.I normally swill it off in fresh water as soon as I can then use shower gel or fairy liquid to give it good degrease in the shower afterwards as I’d prefer that to having the salt hanging around.
I’ve not had a seal go as of yet on one but you can understand how exposure to detergents might make the crown seals brittle over time.
I’ve freed up the bezel a few times though with the technique above.
OP issue sound like it might be related to the ratchet spring behind the bezel?
996Type said:
I’ve not had a seal go as of yet on one but you can understand how exposure to detergents might make the crown seals brittle over time.
The guy who told me was a senior chap at Omega.... he was talking about the effect detergents have on surface tension and water molecules - all of which made getting detergent on a watch a bad idea. Watch seals normally have a silicon coating on them - detergents wouldn't help that much I suppose.I used to always shower and bath with a watch (never had a problem) but now I don't.
996Type said:
OP issue sound like it might be related to the ratchet spring behind the bezel?
Ceramic bezel, so balls and springs with a click stop, so not the same click spring setup as a 5-digit if that's what you mean by ratchet spring?Glad it is all sorted. Seems this one will remain a bit of a mystery.
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