Rolex Oyster bezel change?

[nurburgring1]

I have a Rolex Oyster thats about 30 years old, the whole thing is stainless steel. I have been thinking about changing the bezel for a Gold one. Would this be an easy thing to do and also when I compare the steel bezel to a Gold one, the Gold one looks slimmer ( height ). Are there differences depending on age?

[Dominic H]

Which model do you have?
Take off the bracelet at 12 o'clock to reveal a 5 figure model number. Most Oyster watches were/are available in steel/steel & gold or all gold, it should be straight forward for a watchmaker with the correct bezel lifter to replace with the appropriate bezel. Let me know which watch you have, as I have a few spare bezels....

Dominic

[nurburgring1]

Many thanks Dominic, I already have a spare Gold bezel I got some time ago, it seems to be thinner than the one on the watch, I have taken the strap off and found the number to be 16030. Are the various thicknesses of bezel?

[Dominic H]

nurburgring1 said:

Many thanks Dominic, I already have a spare Gold bezel I got some time ago, it seems to be thinner than the one on the watch, I have taken the strap off and found the number to be 16030. Are the various thicknesses of bezel?

[zips up anorak] Yes, the bezel you have is probably from a previous generation 1601 model, which had a slimmer case/bezel. Do you have a micrometer/digital calipers to measure the bezel depth?[unzips anorak].

[nurburgring1]

The bezel is 1.96mm thick.

Have I got the wrong one?

Edited by nurburgring1 on Monday 21st January 21:12

[nurburgring1]

Dominic, Did you find out if I have the wrong bezel?

[Dominic H]

Give me a call in the morning and I'll double check for you....

Dominic

[nurburgring1]

Dominic H said:

Give me a call in the morning and I'll double check for you....

Dominic

Sorry missed you today, I will try again on Monday.

[Dominic H]

Bob, the correct bezel should be 2.5mm thick..... .