Having a 7763C with a worn out bezel and an NOS bezel - i thought it would be logical to swap the two out.

I read a few old posts detailing the difficulties that arise in trying to change the bezel for 1st execution compressor cases

apparently they were not really designed to be swapped out

why the problem? the groove on the inside of the bezel where the retention wire rests is not deep enough to hold the retention ring in place when pushed on to the case.

the wire simply comes out and moves up the inside of the body of the bezel.

of course you do not know this when you are pressing down on it, it kind of looks like its attached but when you pull the bezel just comes out and you scratch your head. Apparently there have been many a bezels destroyed by people trying to force them on.

Solution: Do NOT put the retention wire in the bezel groove before trying to put the bezel on.

First lay one end of the retention wire in the receiving groove on the case (which is also not very deep)

Second - take one side of the bezel and angle it into the portion of the retention wire that is in the cases groove so that the retention wire at that one spot is in both the receiving grooves of the case and bezel.

Next - Angle the bezel down so that it in position over the case, the retention wire will be hanging out from in between the case ands bezel except for the one spot where you've properly fitted it into both grooves.

Last - take either a watch makers flat head screwdriver (very thin) or a spring bar tool and starting from the spot where it is properly in both grooves, slowly make your way around the bezel pushing the retention wire into place, in between the bezel and the case, eventually you will get all the way around the bezel, and the retention wire will never have had any upward pressure on it to pop it out of the inner groove.

turn the bezel and everything should lock into place.

I hope someone else finds this useful - i was totally baffled by it for a while.

Best Lanny

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