How To Remove This Bezel

[VWatchie]

14 hours ago, MechanicMike said:

have you tried using a little heat say from a lighter or jewelers lamp to remove separate the cyclops from it's adhesive?

No, I have not, so really great tip! Thanks, I'll try that!

10 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

The way I discovered to use the 4 blade tool safely is to use a small hammer to tap on the movable jaw of the tool. I first engage the blades of the tool into the gap between the bezel and the case and tighten it lightly. Then I use the small hammer to tap on the movable jaw. The small amount of backlash in the screw threads will allow the jaws to move forward. If there is any "give", you will feel the knurled screw loosen and will be able to tighten it a little more. Continue this tapping and tightening until the bezel pops off or the blades stop advancing anymore.

If the blades stop advancing, it probable means that it has reached the lip of the watch case. In that case, you can wedge a thicker blade into the gap under the bezel and pry it off.

I hope this helps.

Well, that sounds like a really great tip! Thanks a ton! Anyway, just to make sure...

And while we're at it. Should I go for this bezel remover from CousinsUK £100 (I live in Europe) or would a Chinese bezel remover £23 work as just as well?

[HectorLooi]

50 minutes ago, VWatchie said:

No, I have not, so really great tip! Thanks, I'll try that!

Well, that sounds like a really great tip! Thanks a ton! Anyway, just to make sure...

And while we're at it. Should I go for this bezel remover from CousinsUK £100 (I live in Europe) or would a Chinese bezel remover £23 work as just as well?

Yes, that is correct spot to tap.

I'm not sure about the quality of the Chinese tools. I've come across some tools with very poor quality steel blades. The steel is either too brittle or too soft.

The 4 blade tool that I have is a gift from my mentor. He said it's made in Korea. So far the blades are still in good condition. Only the aluminium block has suffered some dents from the hammer.

[VWatchie]

6 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

Yes, that is correct spot to tap.

Thanks!

6 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

I'm not sure about the quality of the Chinese tools. I've come across some tools with very poor quality steel blades. The steel is either too brittle or too soft.

OK, just placed an order on CousinsUK.com for this bezel remover, hoping the steel blades are of decent quality (better than the Chinese offerings) and spare blades are available. Yes, the thing is of course made in China, but hopefully of better quality Chinese.

Anyway, looking forward to hammering away! 

Edited June 21, 2022 by VWatchie

[grsnovi]

6 hours ago, VWatchie said:

hopefully of better quality Chinese.

It's really too bad that some manufacturers in China feel that they have to use inferior materials - they have such an advantage in labor costs and apparently a (virtual) lack of labor laws. They ought to be able to make a good version of anything and still be competitive.

[VWatchie]

10 hours ago, grsnovi said:

It's really too bad that some manufacturers in China feel that they have to use inferior materials - they have such an advantage in labor costs and apparently a (virtual) lack of labor laws. They ought to be able to make a good version of anything and still be competitive.

Well said, and something I haven't considered before. As of now, Chinese tools are about 10 to 25 per cent of the cost of Swiss tools. Imagine they'd decide to make quality tools just as good as the Swiss tools and charge around 50 per cent instead!? It sounds like a very, very profitable idea! I guess they just don't understand the importance of quality in our business.

[grsnovi]

3 hours ago, VWatchie said:

Imagine they'd decide to make quality tools just as good

When I was a kid Japan was viewed as an inferior manufacturer. I doubt the USA automobile industry thinks of them in that way these days. China will do the same.

[Saldog]

14 hours ago, grsnovi said:

It's really too bad that some manufacturers in China feel that they have to use inferior materials - they have such an advantage in labor costs and apparently a (virtual) lack of labor laws. They ought to be able to make a good version of anything and still be competitive.

The problem is feedback. Chinese suppliers are flooding the market with their products and they only know that sales are being made so that is their only feedback. They don't do marketing studies or "voice of the customer" type exercises to see what people really want. Since they are moving product, they keep doing more of the same.

Companies like Cousins give them the feedback and maybe the items Cousins is selling are a cut above the standard crap because of the specificity of Cousins' orders with the manufacturers. There are other companies that order in quantity from these same sources and they specify the quality standards and inspect and reject products that don't meet the specification.

At my company, we have done lots of manufacturing in China of our proprietary designs. We do heavy equipment. If we don't write detailed specifications and put boots on the ground in the factory to watch them on a daily basis, we get crap. But if we are diligent in our surveillance, we get equipment that is every bit as good as anywhere else for 40-60% less. But since our shipments are very large, we don't bother with this model unless it is $1M and up for the order size. The surveillance and shipping costs are so high that there is an inflection point you need to reach to make it worth doing.

I'm sure there could be a brand emerge that could go toe to toe with Horotec and Bergeon in quality while undercutting them 25-50% if they arranged for large enough volume manufacturing of components. But I don't know if the market will support that venture.

There are other sources in Asia that are beginning to show themselves. Thailand and Vietnam to name a couple. Can't forget about India either. China these days cannot meet lead times since they are locked down so much and it is difficult to surveil them in such times.

[MechanicMike]

On 6/21/2022 at 2:26 AM, clockboy said:

butter knife

ha! I don't feel so bad now because I do have the very same thing sitting on my bench and use it when my case blades don't work. 

[tomh207]

On 6/22/2022 at 4:36 PM, grsnovi said:

When I was a kid Japan was viewed as an inferior manufacturer. I doubt the USA automobile industry thinks of them in that way these days. China will do the same.

I am old enough to remember the phrase “lies like a cheap Japanese watch” bit different now

 

Tom

[Paul80]

I have the Chinese version and it works fine, I would recommend placing a plastic bag between the watch and the claws to reduce the risk of marking the case or bezel