Fixing a broken unidirectional dive bezel - Watch and Learn #19

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Marc, I know there have already been a ton of supportive comments on your Watch and Learn series, but I feel compelled to add one more to this video: I recently acquired a Seiko 5 Sports SRPD51, which is beautiful except the bezel was slightly misaligned such that the 12:00 position was between clicks. I know this is not uncommon with more affordable Seikos, but I am apparently even more OCD than I thought as this was driving me nuts every time I looked at the watch. I thought I was just going to have to live with it, but I popped off the bezel and filed down the spring ends a bit and after a couple iterations of this... I now own a nicely aligned SRPD51! I couldn't have done it without your video. Thank you!

[@swabby429]

Just a note about Invicta divers. The bezel insert must come off first in order to access and remove the retainer spring. Once that has been pried out, it will be safe to pry off the bezel with the case back knife. Like Mark says, do your homework first before doing the repair to avoid damaging anything.

[@Jcrpdx]

Great video. Thank you. I was able to pop up the uni-directional bezel from a Timex watch, remove two tiny spring loaded stoppers. Now I can slide the bezel both ways and silently. This allows me to keep track of time spent in a meeting inconspicuously. The only downside is that it moves easily, but then I'm not scuba diving either. For a quick on the spot timer, it's convenient & discreet.

[@drcoolit]

you do outstanding videos -- highly professional, no fluff, very informative. Keep up the great work!

[@acftmxman]

Marc, thanks for this great video. I have always wanted to learn how to repair a rotating bezel. I have a lot of Seiko's in my collection so these last few videos have been invaluable to me. It is the little things like this that keep me a customer of yours. Please keep up the great work!!!

[@islandwatch]

Thank you!

[@rongriffiths6927]

Bloody marvellous instructions and love your humour, best of all I love your honesty about things not going right all the time, especially in these days of hearing everyone is so perfect and superior, you are a real role model. many thanks Ronnie

[@islandwatch]

Thanks! Tell it like it is.

[@nunomc2815]

This series of yours is incredible. I would love to see your personal watch collection. It must be very interesting and diverse 👍👌 Cheers

[@islandwatch]

Thanks you! I showed some of my blue dial watches in a recent video; check it out. Also, I did a video with The Urban Gentry where I showed part of my collection.

[@nunomc2815]

Saw those 2 vlogs :-) (on this channel and TGV's). Enjoyed them a lot ! We can feel your passion about wristwatches. I'm also an engineer (electrical), and I feel the same you feel, regarding intrincate mechanical engineer behind some timepieces. I bought from you a Vostok Europe N1 Rocket in 2005/2006, if I remember well. As I live in EU, I must pay custom taxes above 35 € I think, and that is kind of prohibitive, otherwise I would be glad to buy from you again. Admire your point of view about wearing our watches/cars/motorcycles, etc. Cheers and keep the good work ! (y)

[@madrockwatchesadventure4501]

This video was VERY helpful. I bought a used Seiko Diver 7002-7039 and it's bezel was jammed tight. This video was perfect.

[@scottd1342]

Dude, your videos about watches are some of the best on KZbin. Thanks for posting so much great content.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks so much!!!

[@SirBeauJangles]

Getting so many questions answered via these clips. Nice work Marc...

[@mjbl3974]

I'm really liking the watch and learn vids. Thanks. I don't know if I'll ever use any of it, but I love knowing how the stuff works.

[@BrooksAyola]

Thanks for this... Also, I found that since the bezel is slightly above the actual crystal's surface on my 173, you can just turn the watch face down on a flat surface and press down on the back to snap the bezel back on.I also put a little light weight oil on a rag and lightly wiped around the o-ring and it now turns so smoothly. Thanks again.

[@rjsenn4142]

Great video. Just fixed a sticky bezel on my Seiko sne-109. That bezel was a bear to get off and I was using the proper tools.

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

Nice! Been contemplating modding the bezel of my old Seiko SKX and heard that it's pretty simple, but it's nice to actually see how easy it is to pop off. Would probably look into that press as well.

[@islandwatch]

Great!

[@okihaveaname]

Saw this video, bought a lumed bezel from Island Watch, and put the bezel on myself. YT got you a customer. 👊

[@UrgentMD]

Just repaired a dysfunctional bezel thanks to you! Great video!

[@1961Minicooper]

Great video Marc. I want to ask you if you can make a video on how to properly clean your watch. Can you cover what you should/should not use to clean your watch? For example toothbrush, ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, polishing paste, dremel rotary tool, etc. Keep up the great work!

[@islandwatch]

Thank you, and great idea!

[@jakobf7187]

i have also found it effective to flip the watch over so the bezel is facing the table then just press down on it. I think it still applies even pressure and is good for those without a case press

[@denisticic5150]

Hi, I got seiko 007 and black seiko 5 witch You are using in your video,and I learn a lot from your video! I like your video series "watch and learn" Du not stop making them.

[@islandwatch]

I won't! Thanks.

[@kalebflowers3044]

WOW. this video helped so much. My Padi Turtle's bezel would not turn at all. turns out the boring was actually caught and keeping it from spinning.

[@BIGGELATO]

Holy crap, I learned a lot with you, buddy, I will definitely give you credit and contact you soon for extra advice if possible, thank you so much, Mark.

[@eradsilky16]

Thanks for the tutorial. Came across this video looking for info for my certina divers bezel. I feel confident to tackle this issue now that is if i can source the right bezel spring!

[@andregomes9563]

Fixed my bezel, thank you

[@jorgeolguingarcia]

Marc, thanks a lot for the video, it worked out really well to fix an SRP777 bezel that wasn't really aligned properly. I carefully filled a little bit of the pair of springs, and eureka!!!!! Best regards Marc.

[@williambelford9661]

Confucius says "man with one watch knows what time it is. Man with two watches is never sure."😁

[@jonathanhansen3709]

Always learn something new watching your videos.

[@islandwatch]

Great, that's why we do them!

[@rbmwiv]

Thanks for explaining the 120 clicks. I have a few Seikos. I call them the poor mans Rolex. But I have a Rolex and a 1952 omega Geneva absolutely beautiful all original watch with 3 bands and all the papers from when new also a mavado and some others about 60k is what they are insured for. I only wear 6-7 figure watches on special occasions. I wear my Seiko or Citizens for my daily wear. Both companies make excellent timepieces that looks amazing. I have been wearing the Pepsi Seiko lately. Just got a citizen’s eco drive proximity smart watch. It’s pretty cool. Never gonna need a battery or a charger and looks amazing. Plus it’s rated for 100 meters. I have never liked a smart watch because it looks like a old calculator watch that cost $10. This thing is a real watch that also alerts you and some other stuff. I may have to add one of your Long Island dive watches I’ve seen in your videos. It’s a really nice watch. The only time I wear 2 watches is if I’m checking one out against a known good one. I love watches and everything mechanical. I started helping my grandpa he taught me about watch smithing and I inherited all his watches and tools. I literally have a trailer full of vintage watches to go through. Great channel, I love the videos. Keep up the excellent work my friend.

[@migueljohnson432]

Thanks very much for this serie of really very informative videos. I learnt a lot from it. Best wishes from good old Germany.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@toddcooper9057]

Your video presentations are marvelous!

[@barrywatson9626]

Great tutorial! Cheers, Barry.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@midninteranger4315]

you make the absolute best informative videos. thank you...

[@WalterDavidRiffmon]

Thanks Marc. Haha, I always thought there was a bunch of spring loaded steel balls engaging the teeth. What a surprise to me when you took that bezel off and exposed such a simple design. I'm happy to now understand how the click,click,click works. I also now understand why the clicks vary in sound as it is clicked slowly. My son's 2002 manufactured SKX 007 sounds different (better?) than mine. I wonder if it was made a little more robust back then. He loves his beat up old 007!

[@islandwatch]

Probably.

[@sylvainpaquette6132]

Thanks for this video, my snzh had a stuck bezel problem. I've been able to remove it and pry a little bit he tab of the spring and reinstall it. It's not perfect since now it's not stiff enough but I will order the replacement part and fix it properly. That case press I got couple months ago to install a double dome crystal on my padi turtle is paying itself.

[@RobWhittlestone]

Great video, Marc! Thank you. All the best, Rob

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@vanessamercedes7675]

Sarby looks great on you marc! Great vid! At the very first glance the second it came onto the screen i thought it was a grand seiko! Makes me wanna wear mine again. Will pop it on tomorrow haha

[@islandwatch]

Vanessa Mercedes Thanks!

[@johnmilner7603]

I have a few Caravelle and Bulova dive watches that don’t click but slide and they can turn in both directions. For those who have these vintage watches, this is how they were made.

[@robertofuentes9759]

Thanks Marc. Keep up the informational videos. Changing a crystal would be great.

[@islandwatch]

Probably above the grade of things I would do "reliably".

[@robertofuentes9759]

Thanks for your honest assessment of your capabilities. Crystals seem to be what gets the most punishment on my time pieces.

[@modularcarpet]

Great, thanks for the video! I managed to catch my watch on door frame and it ripped off the bezel. I was looking (in vain) on the floor for two tiny springs, rather than a circular disc of metal. Went back and found it straight away and popped it all back together. Job done!

[@Chinookman]

Great video. I'm wearing a brand new SRP777 as I await my Rolex Explorer II to return from extensive repairs: axle, mainspring, crystal replacement, full service. I only wish the Seiko chapter ring, bezel, 12 O'clock were more perfectly aligned but of course that's a known design defect in my watch and others. Thank you for the education! If correction of those types of flaws are possible, it would be cool to see a video about it. Just a thought.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you, will consider it!

[@AT-AT-AT-AT]

the best tutorials, as usual. thanks so much.

[@timemachineeddie1146]

Great Video Mark. Thanks as always for sharing. You two watch guy you.

[@islandwatch]

Haha, thank you.

[@hunter1953]

Great video and now i know how it works

[@Aspra]

When I read the title I thought it was going to be about my watch I sent in for repair. Haha.

[@islandwatch]

Hope it gets fixed!

[@robbiegill864]

This video was a life saver!

[@paulbui9368]

Greay video mark! That second Seiko is the fifty fathoms though, not the sea urchin

[@islandwatch]

I get my urchin and fifty fathoms confused all the time; SNZF15 and SNZH55, thanks for pointing it out!

[@javiermurcia5053]

Nice video. This is a very simple mechanism and gets the job done, I thought there were a lot of more complicated things going on under my bezel. Is there any trick to reduce the play of a bezel? There's just a little bit of it, but I wish i could reduce it as much as possible.

[@islandwatch]

The play is mostly in the design. If you do have the Seiko like this, you can gently lift the leaf springs up a bit and that will cause a "harder" detent and hold the bezel stronger.

[@SinnerAndSaint]

Very interesting! Easier than it looks like. Wonder if Rolex also uses such a simpel mechanism on his famous Submariner today... imho one of the best and most smooth bezels in the industry.

[@islandwatch]

Similar method with a spring, but different implementation. Plus, the tolerances are much finer on a Rolex bezel, and that helps the "smoothness" you are referring to.

[@joegentry874]

Worked to fix my Tag Heuer F1, thanks!

[@docmalice]

Nice vid Mark! Will you do a watch and learn about magnetism and its effects on automatics and mechanical movements? What to avoid and how to find out and how to demagnetize etc? Love this series btw

[@islandwatch]

Thanks. I'm actually formulating this one, just have some hurdles to overcome and I'm going to do it.

[@keni8363]

great & informative video ⌚⌚

[@FurrowedSon]

Love this series of videos Mark - great job!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks.

[@josefschwarzer5605]

Thank you for this! Made fixing my turtle a breeze.

[@jski8418]

Great videos. Lovin my SARB035 I grabbed from your shop.

[@islandwatch]

Great watch, enjoy it!

[@1947froggy]

Hi, I have a Rolex Sub 16800 date/stainless. Recently the bezel popped off (at my gym, I probably hit it with a weight or while putting away a weight). It was lost for a day and I FOUND IT! Lucky find. I have had the bezel off/on a couple/three times. It's 30 yr old watch. I want to daily wear it as before, but I am afraid it'll pop off again & I won't be lucky. It's probably hundreds to replace if not more. Suggestions? I don't recall that it had the o-ring like your Seiko, but not at all sure. Can you help? Subbed. :)

[@CommandoMaster]

Is this the same on a Rolex Sub? I felt one Rolex bezel that was really stiff to turn. Could be the same thing.

[@sarfarazshaikh771]

again a fabulous video, keep it up mark

[@islandwatch]

Thank you!

[@TheUltimateCrash1990]

I learned a lot, great video.

[@twstrchasr]

Great video Marc !! I do have a question. Is there a way to make a bezel less easy to turn ? Firm it up, so to speak ? A too easy to turn bezel is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine on diving watches !!

[@islandwatch]

Yes; you can lift the leaf springs up a bit.

[@CalebTBrown]

Thanks for the video! Love that you wear two watches btw. Anyways, I was wondering what makes play in a bezel (the bezel moving slightly without clicking). Is it the steps wearing out?

[@LennyGildersleeve]

Hey Marc. Great video. I just inherited a nice SKX175 with a very hard turning bezel. Popped it off, cleaned it and put it back on. Now, it rotates perfectly...both ways. Wondering what went wrong? Any ideas?

[@piedmonitor]

Great video! Can you do one on replacing the actual bezel insert?

[@islandwatch]

Considering it, thanks!

[@Biblicalgiants]

Does the glass scratch easy on the Seiko Dive watches? I heard Seiko doesn't use sapphire glass except on their Grand Seiko line. Great demonstration! Thanks.

[@jojojaykay]

plejaren giants Just got a seiko a few weeks ago with sapphire from the coutura line- don’t know if there’s sapphire outside of this like but something to consider.

[@UnNamedTrucker]

Thanks for the video. I need to get one of those Sea Urchins.

[@islandwatch]

It is a Fifty-Fathoms, I made an error.

[@UnNamedTrucker]

Long Island Watch looks great no matter the name!

[@calumryan6328]

@@islandwatch I was wondering if you caught that, i've got a sea urchin and my old boss had the 50 fathoms in blue. You're right it is really cool.

[@barmcake1000]

Brilliant video very informative can you get new springs in uk..?

[@JustPlainCommonSense]

Great stuff Marc!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks!

[@stevenmclean8781]

Heya mate I've just discovered your videos and love them....I know this is old but I have a question....I have an Oceanaut Aqua Mariner that the spring is broken....I can't find one on the net but after watching this video it looks the same as the Seiko one in this video.....do you no if the Seiko spring will fit the Oceanaut....pretty sure the case sizes are the same Cheers Steve

[@a_single_white_female]

Is a pressure test need after removing and putting a bezel back on? I imagine it wouldn't be since no components that give the watch water resistance were removed.

[@PrestigeNumismatics]

a single white female Correct. No need to pressure test unless you ate removing the back case.

[@jamestom2510]

Thanx Mark....awesome videos.

[@islandwatch]

I appreciate you checking it out.

[@jamestom2510]

Long Island Watch it's a late night, go to bed, stop replying to posts..... Lol.

[@islandwatch]

This is the only time you people stop calling and emailing so I can get some work done :)

[@ringobonavena7507]

Gran video ., En el orient Mako 1 será igual el muelle de el bezel? Saludos

[@MrTimstaaa]

Hi Mark. Once again thank's for the great video on how to do this. I've seen a dozen other video's on you tube but their video work and explanation of how to do it is not clear. I would also like to ask if you do watch repairs?

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for watching. I do not personally, but we have a watchmaker on contract. I might look like I know what I'm doing, but that's just good acting :)

[@MrTimstaaa]

Long Island Watch. Ha Ha. That's ok. I was aware of that. I was in japan the other week and purchased a SKX 007. I thought it would be a great opportunity to buy a Japanese model while there. I didn't realise at the time in the shop but when you turn the minute hand exactly to 12 the hour hand is not exactly on the 6 (for example). It sits slightly past the hour number. Is this an easy fix ? I did get the business card of the store where i purchased it from but the whole things written in Japanese.

[@fishermanryan]

Great vid Marc, thanks

[@maksemsic6521]

Another great video keep up the good work Mark :D

[@islandwatch]

thank you!

[@pedroarielmenendezdelcueto4595]

What would happen if you remove the spring and try to turn the bezel? If I understood right the spring won't allow the bezel to go clockwise but I can't see any other function, so if you remove it you can make your bezel turn in both way?

[@stephenward3468]

Hi Mark i have the Seiko Flighty and the bezel became stiff and was getting hard to turn.Eventually a plastic o ring started to stick out which i pulled out.I did remove the bezel to get all of the plastic o ring out.So i need to get a new plastic o ring as the bezel spins and is loose.Where can i get a new one from.Thank you

[@tropx8995]

Great Video Marc. Question: why couldn't you just flatten down that leaf spring that was sticking up too far rather than replacing the whole spring?

[@islandwatch]

I could, but it was raised so much, the metal has gone from the elastic to the plastic zone there, so it will never go back to the same exact shape. For the price (few bucks), just replace the part to factory specs.

[@chriscavero6480]

Hey Mark, I bought a coin edge bezel for SKX... from Amazon to update my Orient Ray 2 blue dial. The new bezel sits well but does not stay on, do I need to by a different gasket or different bezel. I bought it from amazon because I had reward points otherwise I would have bought it from yobokies. Thanks for you help.

[@WASRT001]

I have almost that exact watch. Mine is approx 1989 5H26-7A10 and I need a new bezel and spring. You said parts available at Seikousa.... I've been to the website and there is no link to ordering parts. HELP! -- Steve

[@mentalplane]

I tried to fix my bezel and tried shaving down the tips so that the bezel will turn the bezel. I shaved too much and now I need to replace it. Can you help pay for the cost of a new bezel? I ruined mine because of your advice.

[@kyleweber1994]

Thought I knew how bezels worked but I had a good laugh at myself when I noticed my Christopher Ward Trident has very distinct clicks coming from opposite sides of the case!

[@islandwatch]

Perfect! Now you know. . .

[@jackdgreer36]

Can one get parts like new bezel and crystal for and old Seico dive watch? Can one replace them.the hands look a bit rusty

[@randyporter3491]

Great video Mark, thanks for sharing ! I have a question. Do you know if a Glycine Airman bezel is a "press-on" type and if it removes the same way ? I have one that needs to be refinished, but am reluctant to try, without asking first. Thanks !

[@timrobinson3241]

Great video as usual Marc. Thank you. Wish I’d seen it before I tried this on my SKX007 as I’ve scraped a lug slightly. :-( Even after careful cleaning my bezel remains too stiff (it requires so much force that you roughen a thumb nail every time). Anything you’d recommend to lube it? Oil-based lube would not be good for the o-ring I guess, so I tried powdered graphite (the stuff to loosen lock mechanisms) with only a slight improvement. Maybe I need to ease those springs down a little? I have the opposite problem with a 30-year-old Heuer: the bezel is too loose, one half sitting a little higher and looser, so I fear lifting the spring might tighten it but with the bezel not flush enough to the case. Not sure there’s a fix for that?

[@islandwatch]

Go to a jewelry or watch repair site, like otto frei, and get some gasket lube. Try that first.The TAG you should bring in for service.

[@southernohio3161]

Marc, how do you size a bezel insert? I'm assuming the angle or vertical measure is important? I've got a couple watches where the bezel inserts must be soft or cheap or something because they are beat and scratched to heck. My Bulova Marine Star is a fairly cheap watch but I love it. How do I know what insert to order? The other watch is a Nautica with a similar situation. Is it a good idea to order random bezel inserts online?

[@dumitru-darii]

Does changing of the bezel spring affect water resistance? If you put the bezel back on incorrectly, can the water leak into the watch?

[@think2023]

How much did the undersized plastic bit bend the caseback?

[@lowersaxon]

my bezel of a Skx 013 mod (ceramic bezel insert, eBay) is very sticky , hard to / impossible to turn when the watch is on wrist. I took it off, lubricated it but not to the better. It doesn‘t click, the ‚ „click“ is hardly to hear. Should I try a new spring?

[@afrodite9801]

diamond bezel popped off my aqua master...there is one one hole and half a spring, is that weird? I cannot get it back on no matter what I do.

[@sonnybrahmi3136]

Hi Sir , Thank you very much that was very informative

[@donp2166]

Excellent thank you. Wow the Vostoks are very different from this.

[@Wildmountainsafaris]

I have a Precista PRS18 and I lost the bezel spring - the watch is 39mm - are these generic? so if i got one for a 39mm dive watch it should function in my Precista?

[@OHbooTz]

I have a vintage tudor 75090 bi-directional bezel, is it possible to add a click bezel to this?

[@aharanha]

Awesome video, thanks.

[@islandwatch]

Good stuff!

[@davidm.7149]

Hi, can you tell if you sell the pip Lum for a Seiko ssc107. I sent my watch to Seiko repair, but they said that everything had to be replaced and wanted to charge me the same price of a new watch.

[@leoluck68]

Hi Mark, another great learning video. Are all Seiko's pop-off Bezels? Also, I didn't quite understand how you would adjust an otherwise fully functioning bezel to align perfectly at 12:00 ( a lot of people are very particular). Thanks! Leo

[@Loudpedal10]

leoluck68 each time you remove a very small amount from the detent tabs it causes the engagement to happen earlier.

[@islandwatch]

By removing a bit of the spring, you are changing where it banks against the bezel, as Loudpedal10 is saying. But if you take off too much, you change the design. So it's really only good to do slight refinement.

[@choonhyekung6201]

Hi mark , I am going to buy a Seiko snzf 17 sea urchin but I want to change into green colour like the Rolex hulk. Please advise.

[@shibinshaji9520]

Just received a skx 007 with loose bezels compared to skx 013. Should I return it?

[@alexfreetime9597]

Thanks for the vid as always, I have one question tho, I have a Citizen promaster and the bezel seems a little bit lifted from the case, it doesn't feel as solid as it should, what could it be?

[@marcevans6913]

Nice video. I have a S.A.W. Swiss army watch that has a bezel that too easy to turn. How would I make it stiffer?

[@batfan1997]

The unidirectional bezel on my Orient Kamasu is rotating bidrectional. What might be the issue here and how do I fix it?

[@light1531]

Lubricate with what kind of oils onto the O ring inside the bezel?