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This post will primarily cover the bezel on the Noob 126710 Pepsi but I’m betting they are the same on the new 126710 Batman and probably on the new 116710 LN as well. Noob has a lot of gall charging what they do for these newest GMT’s, from $100 - $200 more than models from other factories that are arguably just as good. It seems like they are trying to make up for losses during their “reorganization” (aka raid) last June.
So you got the new Noob Pepsi with its lovely insert and your bezel is loose or it popped off or you want to install a new crystal and you can’t get it back on. Well you are not alone and there is a good reason. The bezel was made without a groove in the inner perimeter to lock the gasket in place. Noob also stopped supplying a bezel tension ring, which had been included on earlier models.
Here are some pics of the components
Here is a pic and a sketch of how and where the gasket goes
After the bezel is removed using a bezel removal tool or a case opener/knife, the stock gasket can easily become damaged or stretched out. To replace it, the bezel is set on top of the 3 pin click ring on the case and the gasket is wedged into the space between the bezel stairstep detent and the underside of the retaining ring lip.
Then, this is what can happen
If you just force it all back under the lip, it’s likely the bezel will not rotate. So you can cut a little out of the gasket
Even this can result in the bezel still not rotating, or the gasket puckering up and dislodging from its space.
So what’s the fix?
I recently tried many previously used materials - aftermarket gasket, fishline, dental floss, plumbers tape, coated wire, etc.
The only thing I found suitable was fishline. Finding the correct diameter was a challenging hit or miss proposition since too big meant no rotation and too small meant it would pop out. I bought 12 different sizes of fishline trying to find the perfect size. In the end, none of them fit so I used one slightly too big (.57mm) and sanded it down a little (.54mm). The sanding also removed the slick coating on it which I think helped make it less likely to stick against metal surfaces.
Unsanded .57mm fishline (too thick)
Sanded .54mm fishline (OK)
So then I tested and it and the fishline stayed in OK and it rotated OK albeit a little stiff.
To continue testing, I used my Noob case and bezel as a fidget spinner while watching a movie and after about 1000 clicks or more the fishline puckered up out of the detent while rotating CCW. It slid back into place rotating back CW. I took the following corrective actions.
Put small dabs of vaseline on the retaining ring scallops to make it rotate easier. I tried silicone grease but it didn't work well at all. Normally I don't like using vaseline near a watch but there are no crevices nearby for it to seep into. The improvement was great.
I also added a 5 digit ebay aftermarket bezel tension ring under the 3 pin click ring. The idea was to close the gap between the bezel stairstep detent and the underside of the retaining ring lip. These are available on ebay, good for a lot of uses. I've put them under aluminum inserts to raise them up flush. Also you can use them under a skinny aftermarket ceramic insert in a tape ring sandwich for the same purpose. Tape ring - tension ring - tape ring - skinny insert = flush fit.
I also made sure all lubricants were cleaned off the fishline, the detent and the retaining ring groove to help keep the fishline in place.
So far it hasn't puckered up again, but I'm not over-using it again. I have 99.9% confidence it won't pop off by itself, and it should be OK with occasional light use. It rotates easily enough. I'm going to leave it this way without fear as I never use my rep bezels, I mean literally I make a point of not using them because you just get them dirty or rub off your paint mod faster.
There can be no doubt that this bezel design totally sucks. I had a new unmolested gasket to start with and failed to get it back on and working like original. I think the retaining ring would also need to be replaced if you replaced this bezel with another better bezel, and then you run into a new crystal gasket maybe, etc. What a pain.
Video clip - password Rotate
https://vimeo.com/384674045
I didn't discover the following aspect of the fishline fix until a little later. But it would actually benefit and work for the original gasket as well.
Placing arcs of 3M double sided tape rings over the gasket (or fishline replacement) prevents the gasket from lifting up. It needs to be placed precisely. It cannot touch the retaining ring lip or it would interfere with rotation.
So you got the new Noob Pepsi with its lovely insert and your bezel is loose or it popped off or you want to install a new crystal and you can’t get it back on. Well you are not alone and there is a good reason. The bezel was made without a groove in the inner perimeter to lock the gasket in place. Noob also stopped supplying a bezel tension ring, which had been included on earlier models.
Here are some pics of the components
Here is a pic and a sketch of how and where the gasket goes
After the bezel is removed using a bezel removal tool or a case opener/knife, the stock gasket can easily become damaged or stretched out. To replace it, the bezel is set on top of the 3 pin click ring on the case and the gasket is wedged into the space between the bezel stairstep detent and the underside of the retaining ring lip.
Then, this is what can happen
If you just force it all back under the lip, it’s likely the bezel will not rotate. So you can cut a little out of the gasket
Even this can result in the bezel still not rotating, or the gasket puckering up and dislodging from its space.
So what’s the fix?
I recently tried many previously used materials - aftermarket gasket, fishline, dental floss, plumbers tape, coated wire, etc.
The only thing I found suitable was fishline. Finding the correct diameter was a challenging hit or miss proposition since too big meant no rotation and too small meant it would pop out. I bought 12 different sizes of fishline trying to find the perfect size. In the end, none of them fit so I used one slightly too big (.57mm) and sanded it down a little (.54mm). The sanding also removed the slick coating on it which I think helped make it less likely to stick against metal surfaces.
Unsanded .57mm fishline (too thick)
Sanded .54mm fishline (OK)
So then I tested and it and the fishline stayed in OK and it rotated OK albeit a little stiff.
To continue testing, I used my Noob case and bezel as a fidget spinner while watching a movie and after about 1000 clicks or more the fishline puckered up out of the detent while rotating CCW. It slid back into place rotating back CW. I took the following corrective actions.
Put small dabs of vaseline on the retaining ring scallops to make it rotate easier. I tried silicone grease but it didn't work well at all. Normally I don't like using vaseline near a watch but there are no crevices nearby for it to seep into. The improvement was great.
I also added a 5 digit ebay aftermarket bezel tension ring under the 3 pin click ring. The idea was to close the gap between the bezel stairstep detent and the underside of the retaining ring lip. These are available on ebay, good for a lot of uses. I've put them under aluminum inserts to raise them up flush. Also you can use them under a skinny aftermarket ceramic insert in a tape ring sandwich for the same purpose. Tape ring - tension ring - tape ring - skinny insert = flush fit.
I also made sure all lubricants were cleaned off the fishline, the detent and the retaining ring groove to help keep the fishline in place.
So far it hasn't puckered up again, but I'm not over-using it again. I have 99.9% confidence it won't pop off by itself, and it should be OK with occasional light use. It rotates easily enough. I'm going to leave it this way without fear as I never use my rep bezels, I mean literally I make a point of not using them because you just get them dirty or rub off your paint mod faster.
There can be no doubt that this bezel design totally sucks. I had a new unmolested gasket to start with and failed to get it back on and working like original. I think the retaining ring would also need to be replaced if you replaced this bezel with another better bezel, and then you run into a new crystal gasket maybe, etc. What a pain.
Video clip - password Rotate
https://vimeo.com/384674045
I didn't discover the following aspect of the fishline fix until a little later. But it would actually benefit and work for the original gasket as well.
Placing arcs of 3M double sided tape rings over the gasket (or fishline replacement) prevents the gasket from lifting up. It needs to be placed precisely. It cannot touch the retaining ring lip or it would interfere with rotation.
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