Daytona bezel removal tool/method advice

[Hasslebank]

Hi guys,

Please share your thoughts, in lack of a "special" removal tool how should I replace my 116519 bezel properly?
*Special:



Sadly even my wm doesn't have one so he is wont take the risk.

Your support and advice/pictorial/tutorial would be highly appreciated in order to share with my wm to consider moving on safely with this.

 

[Storm.]

@domiffm does this at home too
Maybe he can advise

From my side I can tell you do not try this alone if it's your first time, the ceramic bezels are very brittle and break easily

 

[Oascom]

This one should do the trick just be gentle and go slow. Check if it lifts the bezel equally on each side.

Also protective tape on the lugs is not the bad idea.


Good luck

 

[Hasslebank]

This one should do the trick just be gentle and go slow. Check if it lifts the bezel equally on each side.

Also protective tape on the lugs is not the bad idea.


Good luck

the problem is that i dont have any of these tools, hence my question on any safe alternative.
Thx!

 

[vodamerc]

the problem is that i dont have any of these tools, hence my question on any safe alternative.
Thx!

I wouldn’t attempt it without the tools. They are pretty cheap on eBay or AliExpress.

 

[p0pperini]

I've removed a few ceramic Daytona bezels, and always use the same method:

I start with a razor blade (the type with a metal strip down one side, so you can hold it). Slide this under the bezel and work it around the whole perimeter of the bezel, with enough pressure that slowly, after repeated circuits of the bezel, the razor starts to lift the bezel away from the case.

Once the razor has lifted the bezel enough, I then move to a Stanley knife blade and repeat the process. The Stanley blade is thick enough that, once it's worked right under the bezel, the bezel, gasket and crystal can be lifted off as a unit.

As mentioned above, it's very important to go slow and careful with these bezels. They're very brittle and don't bend, they crack. I know because I've cracked one - but that was while trying to fully seat a bezel that I'd received back from a watchsmith, not fully pressed down. I should have removed it, got it seated parallel, then pressed it on. Instead I tried to force it and... snap!

Which leads on to the second part of the operation - getting the bezel back on. You'll need a crystal press, and the correct size die to fit over the bezel but miss the crystal.

 

[2fast4lust]

This one should do the trick just be gentle and go slow. Check if it lifts the bezel equally on each side.

Also protective tape on the lugs is not the bad idea.


Good luck

Yup. Oascom said it.

I have the second tool you showed and it does not work that well with bezels that are fitted on a bracelet model because the bezels are flushed - instead of having excess bezel that protrude out of the lugs or endlinks.

 

[BiH855]

First tool works but the chinese versions sometimes have rough blades that may scratch your watch even with tape or protective foil on the lugs. So I would recommend to polish them a bit after receival just to be safe

 

[CLS]

I've removed a few ceramic Daytona bezels, and always use the same method:

I start with a razor blade (the type with a metal strip down one side, so you can hold it). Slide this under the bezel and work it around the whole perimeter of the bezel, with enough pressure that slowly, after repeated circuits of the bezel, the razor starts to lift the bezel away from the case.

Once the razor has lifted the bezel enough, I then move to a Stanley knife blade and repeat the process. The Stanley blade is thick enough that, once it's worked right under the bezel, the bezel, gasket and crystal can be lifted off as a unit.

As mentioned above, it's very important to go slow and careful with these bezels. They're very brittle and don't bend, they crack. I know because I've cracked one - but that was while trying to fully seat a bezel that I'd received back from a watchsmith, not fully pressed down. I should have removed it, got it seated parallel, then pressed it on. Instead I tried to force it and... snap!

Which leads on to the second part of the operation - getting the bezel back on. You'll need a crystal press, and the correct size die to fit over the bezel but miss the crystal.

This is a good way to do it. Even some pros do it this way because the bezel removal tools can easily scratch the case.

 

[ffnc1020]

I use the second type of tool. But to prevent cracking the bezel, I use a table vice to slowly apply pressure on the handle until the bezel pops out.

 

[domiffm]

I do it exactly like @p0pperini every time and it works like a charme!

 

[Hasslebank]

thx guys for all your advices, will try my "luck" through the Stanley method
Will keep you posted

 

[mmaggi]

Which leads on to the second part of the operation - getting the bezel back on. You'll need a crystal press, and the correct size die to fit over the bezel but miss the crystal.

I think many who are willing to risk taking off a ceramic bezel don't realize that without a crystal press, you're not going to get it back on. It's not the same as dealing with a SS bezel with an aluminum bezel insert.

 

[Hasslebank]

I think many who are willing to risk taking off a ceramic bezel don't realize that without a crystal press, you're not going to get it back on. It's not the same as dealing with a SS bezel with an aluminum bezel insert.

xtal press available, just lack of this tool..

 

[wubsub]

you can lift it using @p0pperini ’s method above, be careful to reseat properly without dust (use a dust blower, never your mouth - i learned this the hard way) and LEC correctly placed at 6 and you’re good to go for the xtal press

 

[ombre]

I have used this one with good luck. I like the slope of this one compared to the first one listed. This is on amazon too.

 

[pompompurin]

I have my own developed/ unorthodox way but it serves me very well for stubborn bezels.
I literally hammer a blade between the mid-case and the bezel. Then I repeat this process at different locations of the bezel.
Then i eventually use the blade to pry the bezel off.

If you hammer carefully (for steel bezel at least), the scratches should be very minimal.
But I am not sure if ceramic bezel could hold up well to this process without cracking.

The pic below is just a mockup for your understanding. In practice, I recommend removing the movement before hammering.

 

[2fast4lust]

I have my own developed/ unorthodox way but it serves me very well for stubborn bezels.
I literally hammer a blade between the mid-case and the bezel. Then I repeat this process at different locations of the bezel.
Then i eventually use the blade to pry the bezel off.

If you hammer carefully (for steel bezel at least), the scratches should be very minimal.
But I am not sure if ceramic bezel could hold up well to this process without cracking.

The pic below is just a mockup for your understanding. In practice, I recommend removing the movement before hammering.

You must be a very patient man in his works...

Doubt me not, my watch would not be in wearable condition if I used your method.....

Haha

 

[p0pperini]

@pompompurin the method you describe is almost exactly the same as I described in my earlier post. I forgot to mention the additional fact that I too use a small hammer (the slim hammer with a steel/nylon head that comes in any $10 watchsmith kit of tools from Amazon or eBay) to tap the razor and Stanley knife blade (which your pic shows) between the bezel and the case.

But the amount of force I use is very light, and doesn't subject the watch to any more concussion than it would get in everyday use - so I've never considered movement removal, and the watches have all gone on to work fine!