I can't work out if the thin, polished bezel on the Yacht Club is a "faux" bezel (just part of the case that has been machined and polished to look like a bezel), or if it's actually a removable separate part.
I've always thought the former, but now when looking very closely with a lens I'm almost convincing myself that I can see a junction.
Hi neeb,
That’s an excellent question, one I’ve been asking myself for a long time. The bezel is polished on top and at the sides, whilst the middle section of the case is brushed. The brushed finish extends right up to the bezel, which isn’t actually possible if the bezel isn’t removable.
Whilst thinking about the question, it occurred to me that I have a cutaway model of the Yacht Club, and voilà: the bezel is press-fitted, as can be seen in the following pictures.
I guess you have to remove the plexi crystal to be able to remove the bezel.
br
Cromagnonman
Wow, that does indeed provide the definitive answer!
In the past I could have sworn that the bezel was just a polished detail on the case, but clearly not. The junction is extremely fine - practically invisible even with magnification.
The question now is whether the bezel needs to be removed before removing the crystal, visa versa, or if it doesn't matter. It sort of looks like it might not matter, although removing the bezel without removing the crystal first could be difficult without damaging it, given the lack of a notch. On the other hand, if the bezel was removed first you might be able to get a better grip with a crystal removal tool and there would be less risk or scratching the bezel. Maybe back in the day it would be usual to replace the bezel and the crystal at the same time?
That's a question I have too (although I've never had to remove the crystal and don't anticipate having to).
I think it would be quite difficult to remove the bezel with the crystal still installed without damaging it and/or the surface of the lugs. Assuming that the bezel isn't preventing the crystal from being removed, if I was doing this I'd be tempted to try using the lifter on the crystal with the bezel still in place, but with tape protecting the bezel and also being careful not to have the teeth of the lifter pressing on the bezel. It would presumably be easy to lift the bezel from the inner edge once the crystal was removed.
Hi Stephenie,
i think without a special tool and without damaging the polished bezel, i would first remove the crystal.
The thread raised my wish to wear a Yacht Club today.
br Cromagnonman
