Key Takeaways
If your ceramic bezel is cracked, stop hoping for a miracle fix because it does not exist.
- If it is a cheap crack: You can live with it because it only adds character or battle scars to the watch.
- If you want it perfect: You must replace the insert, but make sure you visit a professional watchmaker.
- For luxury watches: Go to the official service center or ChronoStreet. Don’t use fake parts, or the resale value of your watch will drop significantly.
- For affordable watches: You can try to swap the insert yourself. But make sure you are careful with the tiny springs hidden underneath.
Why can’t You Simply Fix the Ceramic Bezel?
Many people ask if they can polish the crack out or fill it with something. To understand why this does not work, you have to look at what the material is. Ceramic bezels are made by heating powder at very high temperatures, which makes the material dense. However, the structural integrity is gone when it cracks.
Polishing is Impossible
If you have a steel bezel, you can polish out scratches. If you have an aluminum bezel, it fades, but it does not shatter. On the other hand, the crack goes deep into the ceramic. You can’t bluff it out because the material is harder than most metals. So, if you try to polish it, you will just make the crack look obvious or damage the markers or numbers on the bezel.
Glue is Ugly and Risky
Some people try to use Super Glue or clear epoxy resin to fill the crack. Remember, there is a visual problem because the crack will still be visible, and the light reflects differently off the glue than the ceramic. It will look like a scar. In addition, a cracked bezel is not just a cosmetic issue. In fact, it is a protective part of the watch face. If the crack is deep, dirt and water can get underneath.
The Moisture Problem
A cracked bezel is not just a cosmetic issue. It is a protective part of the watch face. So, if the crack is deep, dirt and water can get underneath, which may rust the click spring, a small metal ring that makes the bezel click.
Also Read: Water Damage in Watches: How Bad it Can Get
Replacement is the Real Fix
You must look at replacement because repair is not possible. However, this is not always simple, and you have two main paths:
Replaying Just the Insert
The bezel is actually two parts: the metal ring and the insert. The metal ring is the jagged metal part you grip with your fingers, and the insert is the colored ceramic ring with the numbers on it. Usually, only the insert is broken. On some watches, like many Seiko divers or microbrands, you can pop the old insert out and stick a new one in. Remember, they are usually held in place by double-sided 3M adhesive tape or a friction fit.
Replacing the Whole Assembly
You can’t simply buy the insert for luxury watches like Rolex, Omega, and Tudor. These brands don’t sell the ceramic ring. In fact, they sell the whole bezel assembly, and this is because the ceramic is pressed into the metal ring with machines that apply huge pressure. A human hand can’t do it easily without breaking the new part.
Where to Go For Help?
This depends on what watch you have and how much money you want to spend. If you have a luxury watch, going to the official service center is the best choice. The service center will replace the entire bezel assembly. However, it is very expensive, and the company might force you to pay for a full service if it thinks the shock that cracked the bezel also hurt the movement. An independent watchmaker, such as ChronoStreet in Dubai, is another option. Our watch services are more affordable than the official center. Plus, we offer faster turnaround time.
Important Details to Check
Look closely at your watch before making a decision. The first question to ask yourself is: “Is the Lume Pip missing? There is a glowing dot at the 12 o’clock mark in many diver watches, which is usually a separate piece. Sometimes, the ceramic is fine, but the pip falls out. In that case, you usually need a new insert because the hole for the pip is usually damaged.
Likewise, ask yourself: “Is the glass scratched?” Ceramic is harder than glass unless you have sapphire. When the bezel broke, sharp ceramic dust might have scratched the crystal. So, check this under a bright light. If the glass has scratches, you must replace it at the same time to save on labor costs.
