Panerai Arktos Bezel Repair

[geeeyejo]

Well, had my Arktos for less than one day and lost the rectangular marker between the "W" and "S" points on the bezel! Knew this was an issue, just didn't expect it to happen so fast! Anyway, that empty, hollow space was killing me and I decided to take action! I took a paper clip and proceeded to cut two tiny pieces with a cutting pliers. I then used "crazy glue" to affix them to the bezel. I took the wife's nail dremel and grinded the two pieces until they nearly merged with each other into one. Might have grazed the "W" and bezel, not too sure or if the markings are what caused the piece to come loose in the first place - a little big, and much more obvious in this 6.8MP photo, but not tto noticeable on the wrist - what do you Pam folks think?

 

[triple-d]

Good effort. I have two missing on my north pole. Can you make a w now?

 

[geeeyejo]

that might be a stretch... Only so much you can do with a paper clip! It was easy to grind the top of the two pieces to get level and appear to be one piece of metal - would be much harder to get 4 pieces to emulate the "W" if not impossible...

 

[TA8088]

Is there a fix that can be done before this happens? Have both an Artkos and North Pole and from what I've read from various posts I'm worried this is going to happen to them sooner or later.

 

[triple-d]

I have the NP, and 2 187's. I have had bezle numbers and markers fall off all them. I also have the 194, but haven't worn it because I know the same will happen. Dealers don't or can't mess with replacement bezels.
I have tried to pull them off by hand, couldn't. I thinking about trying a blow dryer to get them off, and then re-glue them.
Maybe someone has tried it?

 

[geeeyejo]

I would think that they would have to be pried off and then glued back on - kinda crazy "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it" kind of thing... I think any glue applied around the marker would show on the bezel unless the marker was removed first...
If only replacement metal chips were available it wouldn't be so bad...

 

[triple-d]

Ya........they could make a fortune on replacement pieces. I have glued them back on after they fell off. Luck is the only way to find the pieces. :lol: :lol:

 

[geeeyejo]

The letters maybe not so bad - but the little rectangles between them? the proverbial "Needle in the haystack"...

 

[triple-d]

The the markers.... you can forget!!!! :lol: :lol: The numbers look big on the bezel, but when they hit the floor, they become very, very small!!! :lol: :lol: