The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello, I am new to this site and have a question I hope someone can answer. I just replaced my bezel on my evolution, but the bezel will not stay on the watch. It easily pops off. I have tried unscrewing all the screws, installing the bezel, and re-tightening with no luck. The bezel sits flush on the body of the watch and ratchets smoothly, but you have to hold the bezel down or it immediately rises up under the pressure of the ratcheting devise. Even with all the screws tight, you can easily slip the bezel on and off the watch. Please help

You say the bezel sits flush to the case, but it sounds to me that you haven't held it down hard enough when you tightened the screws. There is a springy piece of metal under the bezel that provides the ratcheting action that always tries to push the bezel up. You need to push the bezel down against it to compress the spring action a little while you tighten the screws or else the screws will not seat properly in the groove under in chimney, which is what holds the bezel on.

If it's not that, then it could be down to the bezel itself. You've also not said whether the replacement bezel is genuine Breitling or an aftermarket version. If it's aftermarket, it may just be poorly designed and not allow the screws to engage with the groove properly. Additionally if it's aftermarket, the bezel may be fractionally too large, again causing issues with the screws reaching the groove in the chimney. Are you using aftermarket screws, or the OEM screws? Aftermarket ones may not be long enough. Could be a number of things depending on what bezel you are using.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Driver8 has said it all.

Thanks for the reply. These are oem screws and I replaced my bezel with another breitling bezel I received from the Swiss watch store in the UK. (Which, by the way sent a USED bezel instead of new). I have been pushing firmly on the bezel until it is flush with body of the watch (compressing the spring clip all the way) while I tighten the screws. The bezel does not "catch" on the chimney at all. I have been trying to figure out how the screws hold the bezel on in the first place, because none of the screws actually protrude to the inside of the bezel when tightened all the way down. (this is also the case with my original bezel, which I cant install because it is bent) This is very weird. I am beginning to think it is a bezel problem, but it fits snug and has almost no play. I tried putting my old bezel back on and it wont stay on either. (although it is slightly bent, so it is hard to tell) The original bezel worked fine before I took it off to polish it (that was when my polishing wheel grabbed it, shooting it across the garage and bending it...) so I dont think its a watch problem. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!

Ah ha, I've just had another thought what it could be!

Have you taken the piece of wire out of the groove on the inside of the original bezel and transferred it into your new bezel? It's the screws acting on the wire that holds the bezel on.

You can prise the wire out of the old bezel with a very small screwdriver, but just mind your eyes in case it pings out!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks Driver8, thats the problem! Now the problem is that my old bezel does not have this wire either (it must have come out when my bezel went flying...) But at least now I know how to fix this issue.
Thank you!

Great! We got there in the end!

Your next problem might be getting hold of a replacement as your AD may not be able to order the part. Breitling might insist on it going back to them for fixing, even though it's just a two minute job.

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Driver8

Site Moderator