Be damned to Rolex hell

Posts

4,914

Likes

71,633

Barking mad

·Apr 27, 2023·Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder

I absolutely love the way that the Submariner/Sea Dweller bezel inserts fade to a lovely grey or blue. Not prepared to spend thousands on an original faded (maybe Chemically?) Insert I have done the unconscionable and fitted an aftermarket insert. I still have the original and will not try to pass off as genuine, so therefore I consider no harm no foul😀
Before:

I couldn't decide on colour so purchased two.

And went for this.

 

Posts

16,307

Likes

44,936

JwRosenthal

·Apr 27, 2023

As someone who has an aftermarket crystal on my 14060 (because Rolex didn’t make an acrylic for it), I support this effort. It’s your watch, you do what you want!

 

Posts

207

Likes

167

asloper6001

·May 2, 2023

I'm a sucker for grey and these do look awesome!

 

Posts

30,837

Likes

36,276

dsio

·May 2, 2023·Ash @ ΩF

This is one of the original faded inserts on my 1980 1680, probably my favourite part of the watch.

 

Posts

13,144

Likes

52,204

Larry S

·May 3, 2023·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

Love my blue/grey fade….absolution is granted.

 

Posts

1,284

Likes

3,073

marco

·May 3, 2023

Here's a genuine "grey", the original owner was a farmer in Western Australia and the sun did this even fade to grey.

 

Posts

21,637

Likes

49,018

Dan S

·May 3, 2023

To be fair, this whole watch is pretty faded.

 

Posts

861

Likes

9,648

JPE.88305

·May 3, 2023

just some casual double red photos by OFers, nbd.

Agree-- like the grey

Edited: May 3, 2023

 

Posts

78

Likes

87

Morlock

·May 3, 2023

Looks great, I'm with you, the gray insert suits the subs perfectly.

 

Posts

2,479

Likes

6,724

sxl2004

·May 3, 2023

I love faded inserts. I have no clue if these are organically or artificial faded.

Edited: May 3, 2023

 

Posts

16,307

Likes

44,936

JwRosenthal

·May 3, 2023

sxl2004

I love faded inserts. I have no clue if these are organically or artificial faded.

Mine has faded naturally- before my very eyes!!

When I bought this, it was less than 20 years old, the lume was a pale off-white and the bezel was vibrant red and bright blue. The blue hasn’t changed much but that red has really faded down and I don’t know how! I never exposed it to chlorine or sunlight for extended periods of time (I’m fair skinned so try to minimize sun exposure) but did use Off with Deet for several years- enough that it would haze the crystal (requiring a polish) if applied liberally enough. Don’t want to think about what that shit did to my skin 😲

 

Posts

1,168

Likes

580

spacemission

·May 6, 2023

dsio

This is one of the original faded inserts on my 1980 1680, probably my favourite part of the watch.

I like your submariner date.

 

Posts

2,425

Likes

4,176

Pastorbottle

·May 6, 2023

I quite prefer the faded steel blue to the original colour black

 

Posts

1,284

Likes

3,073

marco

·May 27, 2023

Barking mad

I absolutely love the way that the Submariner/Sea Dweller bezel inserts fade to a lovely grey or blue. Not prepared to spend thousands on an original faded (maybe Chemically?) Insert I have done the unconscionable and fitted an aftermarket insert. I still have the original and will not try to pass off as genuine, so therefore I consider no harm no foul😀
Before:

I couldn't decide on colour so purchased two.

And went for this.

Did you fade it or was it done by the seller ?

 

Posts

21,637

Likes

49,018

Dan S

·May 27, 2023

Another naturally faded insert.

 

Posts

4,914

Likes

71,633

Barking mad

·May 28, 2023·Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder

marco

Did you fade it or was it done by the seller ?

It is new aftermarket. They do a number of levels of fade and shades and even black if you want.

 

Posts

1,284

Likes

3,073

marco

·May 28, 2023

I have faded after market ones not very successfully, you can do it with very diluted bleach.
I just messed them up. The first pic is before my fade the second is my rubbish work, faded to soft purple !

Barking mad

It is new aftermarket. They do a number of levels of fade and shades and even black if you want.

 

Posts

1,003

Likes

1,367

southtexas

·May 28, 2023

I bought that bluish insert for $300 in 2014.

 

Posts

338

Likes

265

Nactex

·Sep 4, 2023

Beautiful collection.

 

Posts

15,048

Likes

24,025

cicindela

·Sep 6, 2023·Steve @ ΩF

🙁 Sad, my sub only goes back to 1991. Coulda bought a deep sea instead back then, and it was $400. Less.
(The sub was 1900.)