This just smells like a really lazy cash grab to me.
I disagree, nobody’s getting rich off a custom bezel insert - we’re not talking indistinguishable DON’s here. Looks like a enthusiasts project which he’s probably out of pocket for and trying to break even. I wouldn’t buy one, can’t really see the practical application or even like the overall aesthetic but it’s unfair to piss on the guy for putting his money up.
I'm not pissing on the guy because he's an avid enthusiast; I'm criticizing him for being so short-sighted it's hard not to chalk it up to being lazy.
If he knew he was going to sell this bezel, why didn't he include some tells so collectors could easily distinguish a genuine piece from his reproduction?
You may disagree, but for something like this, I find it really lazy that one does not account for this issue when selling one's own parts. Unscrupulous individuals are simply going to take advantage of this. It's not a matter of if.
And I maintain that selling an insert for $200, and asking an additional $50 for installation is absurd. This Alaska-style insert is especially simple, even more so than a dive insert, so it should cost much less to make than that or/and a tachymeter. I also doubt this person is trying to recoup costs because the inserts are all for "pre-order" rather than for sale. He's trying to raise enough money to start his production run, I bet.
How much does Omega charge for an OEM bezel? I suspect $200 isn't outrageous considering this is likely a limited run.
I like the look. It's no more useless than the tachy bezel. I'll keep my tachy but if he sells some, then I guess the market will dictate whether the price is right.
What is the source of your dial? Looking great!
Thought I’d give this thread a dredge for a couple of reasons. Firstly, when scouring eBay I came back across these inserts and noted they were considerably cheaper than before ~ $90, and secondly having got lost down the Alaska project rabbit hole, the practical aesthetic grew on me and my tastes changed. Still unsure what project this will be used for as I want to combine it with a radial dial.
So a ‘thank you’ to Mike for making these and sending it across the pond in a timely fashion.
Adam Lewis in Perth also makes various bezels. Looks like about US$100 delivered.
Bezel Inserts | Lewis Watch Co
......................... the font is way too heavy.
There's a reason for that.
“LewisWatchCo” said:The LWC bezel inserts are reproduced using original vintage inserts as templates. This ensures the correct fonts, sizes and alignments for each style.
At today's prices, a choice of bezels should be offered by default within the Omega box !
