The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,
In the process of changing the bezel and am having difficulty removing it. Normally a knife worked around the edge does the trick. I can see with a loupe that the is some sort of brass coloured ring between the bezel and case, is this some form of tension spring.

Any help would be grately appreciated.

Thanks

Paul.

If its a Bullshead Pupitre then yes, your observation sounds correct. The bezel on that model is probably locked to the watch case with a Decagon shaped wire clip (or similar). It’s a simple two groove arrangement (one on the bezel and one on the case) that face each other. If that is the situation you have in front of you, there is probably a brass coloured wire between them, which runs in the grooves of each simultaneously locking them together but allowing axial rotational movement. The wire is actually a form of spring steel, but wears with a patina of nickle colour (looks like brass).

Don’t try the following until a more knowledgeable member answers though, as I could be wrong. I think I am right though.

When you say you are in the process of changing the bezel, do you mean that you have a second bezel to replace it with? If so, are there any tell tale signs of how it looks on the underside that would indicate a clip groove? If it were any other fastening arrangement, then it would be very noticeable, such as bezel screws, etc, or a sub straight disk of stainless, etc that the bezel graduations would clip into. I that case you might only need to remove the graduation scale. Assuming its one peice though, then the following may help.

I have had to be a bit brutal in the past with Sicura watches with a similar clip arrangement. They are pretty common on Japanese watches too, but nothing prepares you for derailing them to allow disassembly, no matter how many times you do it. They can be a little crude to disassemble, but I use a spring back knife with pretty reasonable results, pushed in flat and parallel to the mating surfaces under the bezel and case. Pushing down sometimes allows the bezel to literally spring off, but also a wiggle left and right on the knife can help. Try to get the knife deep between both so as to avoid damaging the case or the underside of the bezel. Its not for the faint hearted though and I have noticed that rotating the bezel as you push down is almost impossible. Thats the direct reverse of assembly in that case, but it never works and is better treated as a prizing action.

Anyone else have any better ideas?

Best of luck to you and let us know how you get on. I like the Pupitre watch. Very cool.

Jim

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

Jim,

Many thanks. The answer is yes I have a replacement (better colour) bezel to put on and it is a bullhead (link to photo below). The unfortunate thing is that my replacement bezel already came on a doner case. The action you describe is one I have used a number of times, slotting a knife between the underside of the bezel and case and wiggling the knife which usually works.

Hot off the press. I have managed to get the proposed bezel off the case (see 3 photos below). As you can see, there is a partial retaining spring, grooves to the underside of the bezel and an associated lip on the crystal. Fingers cossed that I can safely do that to the original and then safely squeeze the new one on!!!

Will let you know.

Many thanks

Paul.

EXISTING BEZEL

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17 ... 0fb0a6.jpg

PROPOSED BEZEL

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17 ... 125907.jpg

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17 ... fb873b.jpg

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17 ... cd5bea.jpg

better, Paul, much better !

Hi guy's,

Job done, well almost, we'll actually done with more needing done!!!

Got the old bezel off requiring great effort, not sure if it was marginally a smaller diameter ? Anyway it came off but so did three chunks of crystal. It was on so tight that when the bezel was pushed upwards, the crystal lip sheared in three places as can be seen from the first photo.

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17 ... 3c9447.jpg

Anyway at least I have the crystal from the host case which is in good condition. I didn't think it would have to make a trip to the watchmaker for a while, but his help is needed.

Except for the damaged crystal, hope you agree that my slightly damaged Pupitre looks great!

Thanks for all your help.

Cheers Paul.

http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/yy17 ... 1a2edf.jpg

Hi Paul,

Yes, your Pupitre looks beautiful and given the crystal damage aside, I think its one of the best I have ever seen.

Shame about the crystal coming off, but you will find replacing the crystal much easier than the bezel. I was going to suggest that slipping is an issue and I avoid the push peice and crown area when disassembling. Looks like you might have had the same idea, as the damage is at the 6 o clock area.

I must admit, I have not seem a bezel clip quite like that, and I assume the notches are to create a ratcheting of the bezel as its turned. Very, very hard in the design of the bezel to do exactly as you have done, ie:- clip the ring onto the watch. So well done. Most wire type clips are designed to pass through a tolerance gap and expand into the groove it is designed for. In this case, I am left wondering how the bezel is to come off easily in the first place. Very unusual design and the shape is part of the retention arrnagement, but also makes it very hard toassemble/disassemble.

Jim

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".