Aluminum bezel aging?

[pullthat92]

I'm planning to use a Raffles 1675 case, but the color of the bezel is too bright and I don't like it. I want to slightly tone down the bezel or make it a more natural color. What methods can I use?
(Can I bake it in the oven? I remember hearing about this method before..)

 

[dangerdan3]

I have sat them in a cup of bleach in the sun before. Be super careful though as some bezels took 30 minutes to change and some went completely blank after 3 minutes. I’d start with 2 minutes and then a thorough wash in water, then repeat until desired effect.

 

[1675lover]

Use bleach + water (to make it less potent)
I also used a q tip to rub it the bezel insert continuously with a few dabs of the bleach solution until it started to fade.

 

[DeLoMan]

The Raffles bezel assembly is not great, and the insert is too thin. You may want to look at upgrading it to something like so (I believe this is the same one I bought from Clark some years back) and use a better insert:

Bezel, Generic to fit RLX GMT

Repairing a Rolex, Patek Philippe, TAG Heuer, Vacheron, or other fine watch? Find watch parts, watch movements and other specialty jewelers and watchmakers supplies at Cas-Ker Co. Our inventory may be the worlds largest selection of horological products. Were your one-stop-shop for everything...

www.jewelerssupplies.com

 

[chrome72]

How are people getting that fuschia color on the 1675 bezel inserts? Is that through fading or are the inserts colored that way to begin with

 

[369mafia]

How are people getting that fuschia color on the 1675 bezel inserts? Is that through fading or are the inserts colored that way to begin with

I would also like to know. the best ive ever gotten was a dark fuschia

 

[369mafia]

In my experience there is no one right answer.
the raffles inserts are pretty durable and dont age all that well , or at least I couldn't
the 3 packs from wso I was able to get some nice tones with using chemicals.

Ive had the best luck with tiger concept inserts , they turn some interesting colours when baked.

This should be an ongoing topic and a case study of what chemicals vs bezel = results

 

[pullthat92]

In my experience there is no one right answer.
the raffles inserts are pretty durable and dont age all that well , or at least I couldn't
the 3 packs from wso I was able to get some nice tones with using chemicals.

Ive had the best luck with tiger concept inserts , they turn some interesting colours when baked.

This should be an ongoing topic and a case study of what chemicals vs bezel = results

Baking it? Do you mean literally baking it at high temperatures?

BEZEL INSERT PEPSI FADED FOR VINTAGE ROLEX GMT 1670 1675 16753 16758 BLUE/RED | eBay

Bezels for Rolex Gold & Steel. CZ Bezels for Rolex. Endpieces for Rolex. Plastic Crystal for Rolex. Watch Band for Rolex. GMT Inserts & Bezel. Bezel Insert for Invicta. It is made for a Rolex GMT 1670,16753,16758 with plastic crystal for and others.

www.ebay.com

And, would I need to purchase a new bezel ring insert and bezel if I want to use a WSO insert on a Raffles case?

 

[pullthat92]

The Raffles bezel assembly is not great, and the insert is too thin. You may want to look at upgrading it to something like so (I believe this is the same one I bought from Clark some years back) and use a better insert:

Bezel, Generic to fit RLX GMT

Repairing a Rolex, Patek Philippe, TAG Heuer, Vacheron, or other fine watch? Find watch parts, watch movements and other specialty jewelers and watchmakers supplies at Cas-Ker Co. Our inventory may be the worlds largest selection of horological products. Were your one-stop-shop for everything...

www.jewelerssupplies.com

Yeah, the quality of the Raffles bezel doesn't seem to be great... At this rate, replacing parts might end up costing more than a factory replica

 

[Dizzy]

There’s a number of tutorials and writeups with pictures in the tech section. We’ve been fading inserts for 20 years. bleach is the main thing. You don’t need any heat. It won’t do anything. Clean the insert really well and drop it into bleach. Keep a very close eye on it. Some bezels take an hour to fade and some take 2 min. take it out and rinse it before it gets to where you want it. It will always be more faded after you get it out and wash it off, so checking it often and being quick with the rinsing is key.

 

[altayd9]

Will bleach be enough to fade the blue to the lighter shade seen on some watches or do you have to start with an insert that already has a lighter blue compared to the darker normal one?

 

[Reaps]

Will bleach be enough to fade the blue to the lighter shade seen on some watches or do you have to start with an insert that already has a lighter blue compared to the darker normal one?

Depends on the insert. Some inserts are tanks and can handle a 10 minute soak in bleach. Some will be destroyed with a 10 second soak.

For example my JKF bezel for 1665 could handle a 5 minute soak.

Never use full bleach solution. To start dilute 1 part bleach 9 part water.

Important part is to DRY the insert after soaking for at least 30 minutes in the sun or using a hair dryer.

 

[WatchN3RD]

Some inserts have a clearcoat on top. Your best bet is to clean the insert with acetone or lacquer thinner before you put chemicals on it. That would help minimize unwanted random fading or splotches.
All safety aside, I think you're better off using lye or drain cleaner for fading. Heat will change the color tone, but if it gets a hair too hot, the strength of the aluminum is forever gone. It almost becomes a stiff cardboard equivalent.

 

[WatchN3RD]

I would also like to know. the best ive ever gotten was a dark fuschia

The inserts are absolutely colored that way. While it's possible I dream of watch parts in my sleep, I swear I saw a vintage pamphlet showing fuscia inserts available at your local service center.

It would be a first for me to dream of vintage advertising about watch parts, but I haven't been able to find that again!!... only find rumors of faulty anodizing between a short period in the late 60's? There's no way to make an aftermarket Pepsi turn fuscia without re-anodizing.