GMT Bezel Inserts, Aftermarket Inserts and Bleached Inserts

[springer]

GMT-MASTER BEZEL INSERTS FOR THE 1675/16750 AND 16760/16710/16700 MODELS

There are two variations of bezel inserts for the discontinued GMT and GMT II models:

1) Acrylic model inserts (GMT 1675 & GMT 16750)
2) Sapphire model inserts (GMT 16700, GMT II 16760 and GMT II 16710)

The inner and outer diameters are different for both types of inserts. Normally, when measuring an insert, they will not measure exactly to these dimensions due to age, stretch or other factors but the measurement should be close to those given below.

1) Acrylic: 1675/16750
Inner Diameter: 30.2mm...... Outer Diameter: 37.75mm

2) Sapphire: GMT II 16760/16710 GMT 16700:
Inner Diameter: 30.7mm...... Outer Diameter: 37.63mm

If you know the subtle differences between the acrylic and sapphire inserts when viewed from the back, it becomes very apparent whether a GMT insert fits an acrylic or sapphire model.

The sapphire inserts will fit on the 1675/16750 acrylic crystal models – especially if the insert is flattened out a little with the help of a wooden dowel or other item. The bezel will spin freely when installed - even though the inner diameter is slightly less with the sapphire insert than an acrylic insert.

I have placed several photos here depicting the differences between the acrylic inserts (1675/16750) and the sapphire crystal inserts (16760/16710/16700). When viewed from the back, the acrylic inserts have a very thin ring on the outer edge. The sapphire inserts have a thicker outer ring when compared to the acrylic inserts along with a middle ring. When viewed, the sapphire insert appears to have three distinct rings on the back while the acrylic insert appears to have two distinct rings.

In the photos below, I have included a GMT 16750 that has a sapphire insert fit to the bezel and installed on the watch. It fits tight and the bezel turns freely.

AFTERMARKET BEZEL INSERTS

The most common variety of aftermarket GMT bezel inserts have a distinct identifier in one of the numerals. In examining the 2s, if you look closely at the upper top loop of the 2, you will observe that this loop hooks excessively past the base of the 2 which gives the numeral a very distinctive hook which is not like the 2s found on genuine inserts. This type of insert is referred to as the "hooked 2." There are several photos of the "hooked 2" below comparing this aftermarket insert to genuine inserts. One must also be aware that the back side of these aftermarket inserts appear very similar to genuine inserts.

The "hooked 2" inserts can be found for all varieties and colors of the GMT models. From the two-tone brown inserts, gold, black, blue, red/blue, red/black etc., there is a "hooked 2" insert being made.

I have also been made aware of some other variations of aftermarket GMT inserts being sold on ebay. These inserts are often sold by European ebayers and appear very similar to genuine inserts. Personally, I have a problem distinguishing these inserts from genuine GMT inserts but they seem to have some distinguishing traits. I refer to this aftermarket insert as the "flat nose 4." I have included another post in this thread identifying this insert.

BLEACHED BEZEL INSERTS

Artificially or chemically "bleached" inserts are a rather new phenomenon which seems to have gained prominence the past three to four years. They can usually be identified by splotchy colors or uneven fading on the insert. Additionally, from my experience, the back side of the insert is usually overly-faded too, or has splotchy coloring which is indicative of a chemically altered insert.

I have also seen inserts that were chemically altered while the insert remained in the bezel. This type of bleaching is fairly easy to identify when the back side of the insert is examined. Normally, when you examine the back side of a suspected "bleached" insert, and you observe a distinct, darker color around the outer perimeter of the insert, it was probably "bleached" while the insert remained in the bezel. Normally, from the hundreds of inserts that I have seen the past couple of decades, most inserts on the back side retain the vibrancy of their original color, regardless of whether the top side of the insert has a naturally, aged color.

Additionally, I have seen inserts from the 1960s that have a nice, faded patina on top but when you examine the back side, it appears to have an uneven or splotchy colors which might lead one to believe that it was artificially faded. This appearance is quite normal on some of these decades-old inserts and no need for alarm. (I have included a couple photos in this post depicting a super fat font GMT insert with these attributes. (I have made another post in this thread depicting the back side of some genuine, red back inserts that have fading or splotchy marks that appear to have been artificially aged but they are not. )

(TO BYPASS THE SCROLLING BARS FOR THE PHOTOS, CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO VIEW IT FULL SIZE. CLICK IT AGAIN TO REDUCE THE SIZE.)

[drefrank]

Thanks for posting this awesome reference material!

[Keldw]

This is great, thanks for posting!

[springer]

Thanks Frank and Keldw. Hopefully the thread will save some potential buyers any aggravation identifying the GMT inserts!

[springer]

ANOTHER VARIATION OF AN AFTERMARKET GMT 1675 / 16750 BEZEL INSERT - THE "FLAT NOSE 4"

Here is an update to my original post with photos regarding another aftermarket GMT 1675 / 16750 bezel insert that is absent the "hooked twos" found on the most common aftermarket inserts and identified in my first post in this thread.

The fonts on this aftermarket insert are smaller than genuine Rolex inserts and the metal used to manufacture the insert feels thinner than genuine inserts. The back of the insert appears very similar to genuine GMT 1675 / 16750 bezel inserts.

The distinguishing feature found on this aftermarket insert, which will help readily identify one, is the flat or "bull nose" area on the 4s. To further identify this area, I have attached photos below with the "bull nose" highlighted with red arrows. The 4s on this aftermarket insert are distinctively different when compared to genuine Rolex bezel inserts. I've included some photos below for comparisons of this "flat nose 4" aftermarket insert with genuine GMT 1675 / 16750 inserts.

These aftermarket inserts are very deceptive at first glance, but keep in mind that the fonts are smaller than genuine inserts and the 4s have a distinctively different shape which should help you in identifying one of these inserts.

(TO BYPASS THE SCROLLING BARS AND VIEW THE PHOTO FULL SIZE, CLICK ON EACH PHOTO ONCE. CLICK IT AGAIN TO REDUCE THE SIZE.)

[springer]

Below are some photos of genuine Rolex red back inserts from GMT 1675 models. I have seen inserts from the 1960s and 1970s that have a nice, faded patina on top but when you examine the back side, it appears to have an uneven or splotchy colors which might lead one to believe that it was artificially faded. This appearance is quite normal on some of these decades-old inserts and no need to be alarmed.

(TO BYPASS THE SCROLLING BARS AND VIEW THE PHOTO FULL SIZE, CLICK ON EACH PHOTO ONCE. CLICK IT AGAIN TO REDUCE THE SIZE.)

[springer]

Here is another fake insert that I recently came across. It is made from thinner aluminum than genuine inserts and is much more pliable
than the genuine inserts - it bends very easy.

The back of this insert has the appearance of a sapphire insert with the three angular bevels like those found on genuine Rolex
sapphire inserts. It also appears that attempts were made to artificially bleach the insert as depicted in the photos here.

The "hooked 2s" seen on many of the fake inserts are missing from this fake example.

It is easily identified by the "4s" where it is pointed where the vertical and horizontal lines meet to form the 4 on the left. On genuine Rolex inserts, there is a flat spot just before the intersection of where these two lines meet. Below you will find photos comparing the 4s from this fake insert and with a genuine Rolex insert.

TO BYPASS THE SCROLLING BARS, CLICK ON EACH PHOTO ONCE. TO REDUCE THE SIZE, CLICK IT A SECOND TIME.