P4GTR Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 I know there has been some confusion about the bezel and pearl fix still working with the latest SMP's. Just wanted to share some recent findings. By-Tor's original all inclusive SMP modding guide can be found here: http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=4509&st=0 If mods want to merge, feel free. Recently there was a thread, where King stated the pearl is connected to the bezel underneath the insert, and protruded through the insert. I believe this may not be the truth since she carries the same thing as the other main collectors. This caused some confusion for me and some others. The SMP used for this thread is a recent one from Josh. The pearl itself was good, but was off center in the triangle. This really bothered me. Josh was great about the issue and immediately sent a replacement insert. Watch as received: The question was, how was I going to get the insert off? I tried popping the bezel off but it was extremely difficult. Early tutorials say the bezel pops off with ease, but any more force and something was going to bend or break on mine. Noobmariner bezel issues kept circulating through my mind. And what about the pearl? If it was attached to the bezel underneath, the hairdryer trick was not going to work either. Well That is not the case. The pearls are attached to the inserts themselves, breathe easy. With a moderate amount of blow drying, using my fingernail against the pearl, I was able to wiggle and slide the insert back and forth until it came off. No more worries about the PO like construction of SMP bezels, yes? This is what it looks like after you free the insert. The new insert arrived and was much better, but the pearl itself was inaccurate now. It was more like a Submariner pearl then a Seamaster. What needed to be done was to switch the good pearl, into the good insert. The pearls pop out easily just use some care as always. I used a toothpick for a little help, and voila. I use a tiny bit of gorilla glue on the pearl, and on the insert to keep it in place. Make sure you line your pearl up with the points in the scalloped bezel edge, not the indentations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Great write up. It will give confidence to many who wanted to have a go at this mod. Great stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well done. The pearl looks better on this new version. I wish I could find a decent one somewhere (for my SMP). If someone has a spare SMP chrono insert here's a buyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky driver Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well done. The pearl looks better on this new version. The new pearl looks fantastic...pity the pearl on the replacement insert was so poo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplehd Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 I know there has been some confusion about the bezel and pearl fix still working with the latest SMP's. Just wanted to share some recent findings. From what Angus told me, the pearl is attached on the bezel for the Chrono versions so the pearl would be dead on center at all times instead of coming out crooked on some inserts, such as yours. Looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplehd Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well done. The pearl looks better on this new version. I wish I could find a decent one somewhere (for my SMP). If someone has a spare SMP chrono insert here's a buyer. BT - Might have a spare coming to me. If so, I'll shoot ya over a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 BT - Might have a spare coming to me. If so, I'll shoot ya over a PM. Thanks man. Appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Why dont you see if you can't get a few from a collector, BT? The only problem is you never know what you will wind up with. Might be worth a shot though. As it stands, mine doesn't look bad at all anymore. Might be worth it, then you can move onto hating your He position and CG's even more. Gen inserts are way too expensive, especially if there is no guarantee it will fit. After I finished all this I ran up to the gas station and the guy in line next to me was wearing a gen SMP. I immediately thought "look how damn obvious the gen is. Agh!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 After I finished all this I ran up to the gas station and the guy in line next to me was wearing a gen SMP. I immediately thought "look how damn obvious the gen is. Agh!" Only obvious to you, because you're a hardcore RIS = REP IDIOT SAVANT. I tried sourcing the inserts from Silix but it took about 7 days to reply each email, and he quoted some insane prices. And as you said, there's never any guarantee what our Chinese friends actually send us. So I much rather buy one from a fellow member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky driver Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 the original Pearl on my trustySMP had a gold colored housing the pearl but as this was the first rep i bought it never bothered me. i then after two years i decided to get a new insert from Silix. although the one i had was pretty awful the one Silix sent wasn't much better. you would really need to see a photograph of what you are buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mars08 Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I have the same rep from Silix. The pearl and bezel insert is real nice right out of the box. Unfortunately I SCRATCHED my insert while trying to align it. It took an incredible amout of heat before I could lift it off the bezel. Can confirm that the pearl is attached to the insert. I'd like to get a new insert but am put off by the bad pearls and inaccurate font on the bezel inserts I've see. The font problem is most noticeable on the 2, 4, 5 and 0. The Silix watch does a very good job of it. Too bad Jay can't source the EXACT insert that came with the watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Great job and nice pictorial. I have seen a number of these with the pearl attached and part of the bezel assembly. Can't remember exactly which models, but I have seen it a few times. Thanks for the info. RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capice Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 nice job, well done...Interested to know how you finally got the insort off. Endresult looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted September 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Only obvious to you, because you're a hardcore RIS = REP IDIOT SAVANT. I tried sourcing the inserts from Silix but it took about 7 days to reply each email, and he quoted some insane prices. And as you said, there's never any guarantee what our Chinese friends actually send us. So I much rather buy one from a fellow member. Hopefully something comes along. It's amazing what it takes just to get some minor detail right. Luck and patience... nice job, well done...Interested to know how you finally got the insort off. Endresult looks great Hairdryer method. Get it hot with a hair dryer and wiggle it forcefully back and forth. the glue should eventually loosen up. Use your fingernail to put pressure on the pearl to spin the insert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted September 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Great job and nice pictorial. I have seen a number of these with the pearl attached and part of the bezel assembly. Can't remember exactly which models, but I have seen it a few times. Thanks for the info. RG Thanks R SMP's? Are you thinking of the PO's possibly? Thats what the concern was with these recent SMP's, that they changed the bezel construction to that of the PO. King apparently stated her SMP's were built like that. I think she may have been mistaken, I believe she gets the same stuff as Josh.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capice Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 tnx for the reply m8......again, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.