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Bezel press tool help needed…

M'Bob
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So I picked up a cheapo bezel press tool on Amazon, and I have two questions on its use: first, for pressing on a Speedmaster bezel, what size die have you found is the best? And, second, what is the best size die for underside of the watch when doing the pressing? Many thanks for any insights.
 
Dan S
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The important thing is to make sure that the inside of the die is large enough to give the crystal full clearance while the rim makes good contact with the flat part of the bezel. Just test some of the dies you have. I have seen threads where someone makes the mistake of choosing a die that makes contact with the crystal, and therefore doesn't have enough clearance to push the bezel completely into place. Similarly, choosing the piece for the underside isn't rocket science, it just needs to support the watch stably. I generally just test out various dies and find the ones that I'm comfortable with.
 
Davidt
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Yeah it’s not just about OD of the die, but also ID, clearance/depth.

As Dan says, you need to ensure you are getting sufficient contact with the bezel without fouling the crystal at the edge or the middle when depressed.
 
M'Bob
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Give me your opinion on this, if you would: regarding seating the bezel with the above-noted tool, many posts recommend placing a sheet of plastic over the crystal and bezel before pressing, to prevent damage to the insert.

It appears that the bezel has a little lip that sits slightly above the insert. I’m guessing ( and here’s where I’d appreciate your insights), that the plastic disc that is actually pressing down is probably contacting more of the lip than the insert. So…are all these reports of damaged bezel inserts due, in your estimation, to a lack of the plastic sheet, or the wrong choice of plastic disc diameter? Thanks.
 
Dan S
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You see reports of people damaging the bezel during installation? That's new to me. The die is already plastic, so I don't see what another piece of plastic will do.
 
JimInOz
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Dan S Dan S
The important thing is to make sure that the inside of the die is large enough to give the crystal full clearance while the rim makes good contact with the flat part of the bezel. Just test some of the dies you have. I have seen threads where someone makes the mistake of choosing a die that makes contact with the crystal, and therefore doesn't have enough clearance to push the bezel completely into place. Similarly, choosing the piece for the underside isn't rocket science, it just needs to support the watch stably. I generally just test out various dies and find the ones that I'm comfortable with.
Exactly.
I had to take a die of the right diameter and cut out the inner taper on the lathe so that the crystal wasn't touched by the die.
I posted it here but can't find it now.
 
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