Rolex Bezel Insert Concerns: Original, Authentic, or Franken?

[@mattnaigus]

I have that watch. The red turned to light pink. Fun to have a new bezel but the patina makes it more fun.

[@magicrising]

God, this makes me miss my 16710 coke. I sold it during hard times in 2012. I have a ceramic 116610 now, but I don't feel the same way about it. I also just bought a blue Marinemaster SLA023 which is stunning.

[@ABCdotcom]

Flog the ceramic sub and come back to pre ceramic gmt!

[@Harry_16710]

Great collection, Mark! I agree the majority of 16710s from '96 have serif fonts, but I'd say that Coke bezel insert isn't that much newer; the service inserts now have much thinner fonts. Maybe you can hunt for a Pepsi bezel insert with serifs.☺️ Regardless, you can't beat the 16710!👍🏼

[@ABCdotcom]

I love mine in all black, that way it acts as a sub impostor!

[@stevenrimmer4817]

Great video Austin. I have an A serial ( purchased last year) 16710 with Coke insert from 1999. Swiss only dial, fat font with Serif and absolutely love it. Prefer this over my ceramic sub. I think Mark’s insert is original but from early 2000 due to the missing Serifs

[@fraserpark8377]

Tough one. Definitely is an older insert based on the bleed of the Red into the black on the 18. Newer bezels had the Red run very slightly further into the 8. Font is also thick and sans serif as you mentioned which isn’t typically seen. I’m no expert though I would also say it isn’t the full crimson colour of the later inserts. Looks brighter red to me

[@andyt6819]

Loving the hair

[@Saints-Forever]

My guess is the same Austin. This cannot be a safe queen as there is no paper. Pre-ceramic GMT is a really hard to tell which bezel it was born with even with paper as some don't indicate and only the RSC can verify.

[@PhotoDaveJax]

Excellent. Exactly what I was concerned about.

[@CoeBooks]

I have a 16710 I purchased in 2004 with a black insert. I would like to change to a Pepsi insert just for variety. Where can I get a Rolex original Pepsi insert? I don’t want a service insert. Only an original.

[@watchsymposium]

Ebay is where I'd be looking. BUT for an F serial like you have the service insert and the original are the same (sans-serif thin font). Its the pre-millennium 16710s with their fat font serif inserts that aren't the same as the service inserts. So, just go through RSC - it'll be cheaper and you won't have to worry about getting something aftermarket.

[@CoeBooks]

Thanks. I enjoy your videos!

[@CoeBooks]

@@watchsymposium I was under the impression that the RSC checked SNs and would not sell inserts that did not match the original that came in the watch. Also read that ADs would not help you unless you had them service watch and they kept your original insert. I assumed they wanted to stop letting owners have option of converting the look but instead force them to buy the look.

[@watchsymposium]

@@CoeBooks You raise a good point, because it depends on the country. In Japan, you can get the insert back at 40% the cost of the new insert, and you can get the other inserts. But other countries are more strict, like Vietnam where you can't get your old insert back. So, it all depends on the country you're in, and the rules there.

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

Speaking of Franken watches, my ideal Rolex would be a 116600 Sea-Dweller, with a 16600 Comex dial and case back, 16600 second and hour hand, and a 3186 movement. That way I'd have a ceramic Comex, with green Super Luminova on the dial, hour, and second hand, and blue Chromalite on the minute hand and bezel pip, and a movement where you can set the hour hand separate from the other hands. That's a $150,000 watch you wouldn't be able to sell to anyone (^_-).

[@rhs102857]

Ridges around Bezel itself are sharper than original Rolex ... I saw it immediately because I own an after market bezel ! Check the back of insert is red or blue ... blue is a service insert ... beyond that the newness makes it likely not the original insert

[@mikelindbergh642]

This is tricky. The Sub was easier to say 'original insert'. The GMTII...I would say original service insert.

[@oyster_3694]

In the 60's and 70's the 8 on a service dial was round! "Snow man" the original would be a bit oval! Is this the case for a 90's GMT?

[@watchsymposium]

Very interesting - I didn't know that. I have seen those older insert with the oval in the top part of the 8's. Good info! I've never seen any five digit inserts with the oval in the eight, original or service.

[@scottc6946]

Ahhh, ignorance is bliss ... but knowledge is power

[@levintrueno7413]

Is that bezel at 10:53 fake? The bottom of the “22” looks straight.

[@watchsymposium]

Good eyes. Yes, the bases do seem straight. I'd be really surprised if it was fake. Maybe it's the angle of the photograph, or perhaps it's an anomaly.

[@watchrolex]

Should be serif font on insert

[@gregsaga682]

Austin, you are probably right. No certificate either so even if it is a beautiful piece and great to own it is not as collectible as a full set with or without an original insert imho.

[@TimWrite]

Very interesting, these vintage watches are a minefield, better consult Austin before buying any of these watches!

[@horacephistbump]

Phist