Pugwash Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 In preparing my Planet Ocean for some photos to show how close to the case the crown should go, I noticed that my crappy pearl looks bad because the metal surrounding the lume is recessed. I thought I could remove the insert and push the pearl through and fix it. This was not to be, hhowever as these photos will show. How to remove the bezel: slip a knife in this groove, but be careful of the ratchet springs whose positions will be apparent later on. If you work the blade all the way round gently, the bezel will just pop off. Be careful here as you really don't want to scar your case. These are the three parts of the bezel assembly. There's a fourth, but you don't need to worry about it and we'll see it in 2 photos time. This is the ratchet spring The bezel itself has a spring (the elusive fourth part) running inside, visible just below the pearl. Yes, the pearl is part of the bezel, not the insert. Bugger, I'll not be raising that then. The insert itself just came off without prompting which leads me to believe the glue used to keep it on is [censored]. This is the ratchet spring in position. Note the tag that sits in a hole. This is to ensure the 120 clicks are on axis. Ramps on the bottom of the bezel provide the other part of the ratchet. The spring is clearly visible here, running inside a groove on the inside of the bezel. Look at the amount of dry glue. Not the best adhesive I've seen. This glue, however, my faithful Resist-a-Toot, does the job. Toothpics (an essential part of any tool kit) were used to apply the glue to the bezel. Bezel insert, um inserted, pushed down with a cloth so as not to get prints everywhere. And Violin! I mean Viola ... er, voila! Back together, just as recessed as before. Damn. When putting the bezel back on the watch, make sure the open gap in the spring is below the last area to get pushed in. This allows you essentially to chase the spring round the inside of the bezel as you're pushing it down. I hope you enjoyed this. You may now return to discussing Wankery engines, or whatever it was before I so rudely interupted you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrickvilleboy Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 very good write up! thanks mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b16a2 Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I hope you enjoyed this. You may now return to discussing Wankery engines, or whatever it was before I so rudely interupted you. Haha the infamous thread hijack! What is the pearl made out of? Just thinking I might try filing my 4th gen 42mm one down, but don't want to incase it isn't a substance that doesn't take kindly to filing? Great post Pugwash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted February 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 What is the pearl made out of? Just thinking I might try filing my 4th gen 42mm one down, but don't want to incase it isn't a substance that doesn't take kindly to filing? I don't know what it's made of, but I seriously doubt it'd like being filed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreww Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Interesting post Pug. Why do you think it is so recessed? Everything seems to be in order, so you would think it would be sitting just fine. As awesome as this watch is, the seems to be a lot of quality control issues with it. Crooked logos, stripped crowns, bad pearls, I'm just hoping I get a good one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Great pictorial Pug. Why don't you fill in the pearl with lume. Actually, I am not sure if I am kidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavor flav Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 mr. wash.....great post and pictures here but i'm not sure why you think your pearl is "recessed" the PO pearl is not like rolex pearls. i am staring at my gen and it's exactly the same as my ultimate version and yours except the pearl is better centered in the insert on the gen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMK000 Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 In preparing my Planet Ocean for some photos to show how close to the case the crown should go, I noticed that my crappy pearl looks bad because the metal surrounding the lume is recessed. I thought I could remove the insert and push the pearl through and fix it. This was not to be, hhowever as these photos will show. Me .... responsible .... BTW , they use exactly the same system (rachet etc...) with the RX SD or SUB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitmic Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usil Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Great DIY. Be careful on earlier versions of the PO when removing the bezel as there are differences. Mine has a very small part in a small recess of the case that has a spring behind it that provides the clicks on the wrachet. Spring that across the room and it is gone forever. Usil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usil Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Can't send a PM so I will ask, how did you take the insert off? Heat up first or just pick off? I ask this in case I need to reglue mine when it arrives. Usil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slai Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 (edited) That's really really odd...I took my bezel insert off my orange PO and the pearl was indeed part of it. I had read that the glue used was poor on it so as preventive maintenance (go team loctite!), I heated up the bezel with a hairdryer, pried off the bezel insert with a sewing needle and the pearl was definitely part of it. Wish I had taken pics. Edit: when I emailed Josh about the black PO I received with the bad pearl, he said that it was part of the bezel which confused me at the time but now I'm beginning to understand. Another edit: LOL @ wankery engines comment. Edited February 11, 2007 by slai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted February 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Can't send a PM so I will ask, how did you take the insert off? Heat up first or just pick off? I ask this in case I need to reglue mine when it arrives. Didn't I mention it just popped off when I removed the bezel? Well, that's what happened. The bezel came off and there was a click and the insert was in my hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usil Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I just wanted to be certain what popped off meant which now looks like this could happen while just wearing it and bumping it against something. Usil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted February 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 I just wanted to be certain what popped off meant which now looks like this could happen while just wearing it and bumping it against something. Ah yes, I forgot of the US interpretation of popped. This caused a lot of problems in a famous court case where an English nanny was accused of killing or harming a baby and when she said she just popped him down, the lawyers used that phrase to imply to the jury that she punched the baby. I don't know if the slight warping of the bezel during its removal caused it to pop off, but it never seemed loose before I started fiddling with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usil Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Thanks for the info. I hesitate to start trying to get the insert off because I know how easy they are to warp or bend. I wanted to weigh this against the possibility of losing it all together. And from what you said, it looks like I should consider removing and re-gluing it. Usil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsons Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Great tutorial and of course, the usual excellent photos. Thanks, Pug! I'll add that to remove a stubborn insert, soak the bezel/insert assembly in soapy warm water for approx. an hour. This will dissolve the glue & the insert can be removed easily without risk of damage. I've done a few this way and the process is a breeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjeffers58 Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Thanks Pug, I was wanting to re-glue my bezel insert but wasn't sure about taking it apart. Great photo's as always Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dario33 Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Informative write-up. I hope to swap out my black bezel for an orange one someday and this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r11co Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Oooh - I should pay more attention to these posts. That completely buggers my plan to fix my slightly ropey pearl with a new insert..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CH64 Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 I can confirm that the bezel insert can just fall of, because it did so on my 45mm ultimate. I didn't even noticed it until I looked at my watch. Luckily I managed to find the insert and glue it back on, and it looks like new. I agree with pugwash that the glue used at the factory seems to be both of poor quality and poorly applied. I will take this up with my dealer the next time I talk to him. This is the only problem I've had with the watch, and I'm really happy with it despite this. It is a great looking watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r11co Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 This has got me thinking... We've just about established that the bezel insert design on the uPO is different from genuine and can't be swapped out. What I am wondering now is if a complete bezel and insert assembly could be substituted in? On the rep it seems the bezel has been 'built up' to support an insert made from a cut and pressed flat piece (as per Rolex) to avoid the expense of producing a cast insert as used in the genuine and on the closed factory SMPs that were so good they could accept genuine inserts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted February 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Ah yes, I forgot of the US interpretation of popped. This caused a lot of problems in a famous court case where an English nanny was accused of killing or harming a baby and when she said she just popped him down, the lawyers used that phrase to imply to the jury that she punched the baby. And I remembered the case in more detail for some reason, which led to my finding it on TehWiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Woodward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottie333 Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 And I remembered the case in more detail for some reason, which led to my finding it on TehWiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Woodward Pug. 10 Years!! Has it really been that long Roll on 40!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted February 22, 2007 Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 And I remembered the case in more detail for some reason, which led to my finding it on TehWiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Woodward Pugs... I think you just hijacked your own thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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