Hi
I'm trying to determine if I have the correct bezel for my Hamilton model #6 pocket watch. The rear bezel case number is 709792. The body numbers are 9792 and the pictures show the front bezel roman numbers. What do you think the numbers are?

All three parts of the case look identical in color tone and wear.


See larger and clearer pictures here:
http://s862.photobucket.com/us...%20Model%206%20Bezel

Regards
Rick

ps. I'm having a difficult time loading pictures. Will try to get them attached latter

Helping Rick post his pictures

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Hard to tell from the pictures.

Generally just the last four numbers of the serial number would be hand scratched onto the bezel, "9792", which would be;

"IX VII IX II"


Front bezels are fairly thin and easily damaged by dropping and getting "out of round". Once out of round, they are hard to get exactly right. Might try on a flat glass surface, laying the bezel down as it would be screwed onto the mid section and "tapping" around with a finger to see if it fits flush all the way around the bezel. If it isn't lying flush, with careful hand work, it can be made to lie flush once again and hopefully fit once again.

regards,
bb

Albeit slightly "gamey" scratching, the numbers look like an attempt at being correct for that case.

Richard, are you able to take close-up pictures that show the numerals more clearly?

What type of camera do you use?

EDIT Yes, what Joe said below, use the macro mode and turn off the flash.

Richard, The macro mode on your camera, indicated by a flower symbol, is used for close up shots.

I don't know if smart phones have a macro mode.

I've added larger and clearer pictures. Please click here:

http://s862.photobucket.com/us...%20Model%206%20Bezel

Looking at Richard's most detailed (and rotated 180 deg.) picture through my "Jaded Eye" (from looking at waaaay too many of these scratched Roman Num. Bezels!) I must admit I can "interpret" the Roman Numerals to be correct and "declare" this is the "right" crystal bezel for this case.

David
That's what I was hoping to hear. I was kinda seeing the same thing but was hoping it wasn't just wishful thinking. The chicken scratch certainly isn't very clear. It must have been done on a Friday at ten of five.

This near mint model 6 case is absolutely gorgeous. It houses a beautiful first run 992 Elinvar with narrow stripe damaskeening and has a 522 blind man's numerical Montgomery double sunk porcelain dial.

Buster. I took your advise and removed the crystal. The bezel appears to be very flat. Strangely enough, the bezel now screws down to about 90% with out the crystal where as before it was at about 80% with the crystal installed. Over the weekend I'll remove the movement and work on getting it to hopefully screw down the rest of the way.

Thanks to all that offered suggestions and helped with pictures. I feel a lot better knowing I have matching numbers.

Regards
Rick

David,
Thank you for posting that nice blown up picture. I can definitely see the number VII and II. Looks like the V just didn't get closed up, but both of the X'S just don't look right to me. Did they use a different mark for the X?


Thank you Buster for suggesting I remove the crystal and check for flatness. Once I did that I could see the bezel had a fair amount of glue on it.

Thank you Joe Straub for your suggestion. I've finally gotten the bezel to screw down fully. Joe recommended that I take a needle and chase the threads. They looked clean to me with a 4x loupe but once I started to run the needle along the threads on the bezel I could feel some resistance. As I kept working that area I could feel little pieces give way. I believe that when the crystal got replaced some glue got onto the threads. Being a clear substance could have been why I didn't see it or it could be just my old eyes. Anyway, after cleaning the threads and working the bezel back and forth it now screws down smoothly for about 95% and the last 5% offers up some resistance but does seat tight. I'm confident that with a little more effort I will get it to screw on smoothly all the way.

Phil, Thanks for posting the pictures for me. I was struggling big time.

I'm loving my watch now. This surely is a great website.
Rick

Drawing a diagonal across those grooves in that bezel is impractical. Some people did actually do it, but others did what you see on yours. Maybe if they were paying me 5 cents an hour, I might have been a little "loose" on my Roman Numerals too!

David
Point well made.
Rick