Blue SM60 166.0062 rebuild

ChrisN · Nov 24, 2018

W wallaby-dan
So my restoration WAS nearly complete. I sourced a new crystal on eBay along with an NOS big crown and a donor 565 caliber movement which needed only a new balance and 2nd wheel. I also found the appropriate case back on eBay and the hands from Ofrei. Fine, until I went to pick it up today.

So, you supplied all these parts to your watchmaker? You bought most of a watch here, just the case and dial from the original? It's very odd that he let you supply all these parts and as for the movement only needing a new balance... you know that's the most expensive part? $300+

W wallaby-dan
He put the Bakelite bezel insert in the ultrasonic cleaner and it has come out transparent. The blue colouring has all come off and the Bakelite is now cracked and broken.

I have read that these bezel inserts are hard to find. How hard to find will determine the kind of discussion I need to have with the watchmaker.

Does anyone know where I could find a replacement bezel insert (blue) ? Did my watchmaker just ruin my restoration? I am freaking out a bit over this

If I could just find a replacement bezel insert, I am sure he would offer to pay for it. He’s a good watchmaker but I don’t think this is my fault. Mistakes happen

If he put the bezel in an ultrasonic cleaner with just water and the insert fell apart, then the insert was faulty. It would have fallen apart at some point anyway.

If he put it in an ultrasonic watch parts cleaning machine with specialist cleaning fluids (the machine and fluids we use to clean stripped movements) then anything could have happened - it is very unlikely he did this.

Unfortunately, you will probably spend a long time looking for a bezel insert but, good luck.

Do you have a picture of your watch and the bezel insert pieces? Especially the bezel pieces.

Cheers, Chris

wallaby-dan · Dec 20, 2020

Re-hashing this post just in case someone has comes across a spare bezel insert that they didn’t know they had. Although I think I have better luck winning the 649.

I kind of put this project to the side and then every few months, drag out the almost complete restoration, brood and lament a bit, make a few more posts on here, get not much luck and put the watch away again.

Lather, rinse and repeat every year or so. eBay alerts are a waste of time and my patience with this project is wearing a bit thin. If anyone has a navy blue SM60 bezel insert they want to sell, please DM me.

thanks,

masteroftime · Dec 21, 2020

W wallaby-dan
Lather, rinse and repeat every year or so. eBay alerts are a waste of time and my patience with this project is wearing a bit thin. If anyone has a navy blue SM60 bezel insert they want to sell, please DM me.

thanks,

This may be a stupid idea since I presume you're pursuing originality in your restoration, but I figure I'd throw it out there incase it makes your watch wearable till you eventually source an original bezel. I've been thinking about buying one of these for a while and I was concerned about potentially having issues with the bezel getting damaged and it being impossible to replace it...so I started thinking about alternatives.

If the bakelite separates from the metal ring, it may be interesting to look into getting a replacement custom made. A few years ago, I used to have access to a laser engraver and I used to cut and engrave alot of different types of acrylic. I figure it could be possible to engrave a new colored acrylic insert and rub in paint to fill in the numbers and markers. Seems like a relatively easy thing to explore if you can get access to a laser engraver locally.

I don't see a reason why something presentable wouldn't be attainable, but I've also never dealt with bakelite bezels.

wallaby-dan · Dec 21, 2020

Thanks, I tried a few local 3D printing companies, the main problem is that they can’t work with clear materials, only opaques.

Some referred me to laser engraving and acrylic services who would have specialized machinery but it is a $1k minimum order or I would have to provide the 3D in AutoCAD format and I don’t have the software.

if I have to go through the trouble of making it, I will make 5 and sell the other 4 to try to get some money back

fskywalker · Dec 25, 2025

Very cool restoration project Chris, thanks for sharing! I recently acquired this one, which was serviced by Al a while ago. Am trying to find the hesalite crystal with the loupe (understand the part number is 063PZ5155L) wonder if it is still available from Omega.

Francisco

Blue SM60 166.0062 rebuild

ChrisN

wallaby-dan

masteroftime

wallaby-dan

fskywalker

Similar threads

Fire damage ebay find. American ref Ross GF case rebuild thread. FRANKENSTEIN BUILD

Blue Spider Dial 166.070 On Ebay - Not Running Well - Thoughts?

Crystal help ref 166.002

Big Blue Dilemma Ref 166.073

Geneve 166.0168 Blue Dial

SM 600 Ploprof 166.077 project