The floss method is a novel trick and it was working! Floss came out a bit dirty but not as much as expected. After a few minutes I was able to rotate the bezel for the first time since I've owned it. It moved 5 minutes counter clockwise and even made some nice sounding clicks with no grinding. But it was still very hard to turn so I decided to try a thinner floss. Mistake. It tore off on both ends leaving a tiny piece lodged under the bezel. I tried for over 90 minutes to dislodge it with the thicker floss but no luck. Using pliers to pull on the small protruding bit that I could grasp only ripped that portion off so that I could no longer grip any. If I'd stayed with the stronger floss it may have worked, but now I'm pretty much back where I was. I haven't given up though and will be back at it tomorrow since my fingers are raw.
I'm hesitant to try a razor blade. I did consider my ultrasonic cleaner but had the same thought that it might damage the nice bezel insert and perhaps also the crystal and seal. I'd sent a Submarino to my watch maker for a service and I suspect he did an ultrasonic cleaning as the near perfect bakelite bezel insert came back with one of the number damaged. So frustrating and he gave no explanation.
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