Aquaracer Bezel removal.

Hi Gang!

Has anyone tried to remove a bezel from an Aquaracer and ran into difficulty? We picked one up an authentic Aquaracer quartz chronograph with a solid bezel (not an insert) at a yard sale and tried to remove the bezel so I can resurface it via brushing as someone had the thing polished on a machine and while it looks great it's supposed to have brished effect between the shiny risers. I've done this before to some damaged Aquaracer and model 2000 watches with no problem but this one is stubborn. Even my watchmaker with his expensive bezel removal tool couldn't get it off. I'm thinking the retaining wire grooves are filled with dirt and preventing the wire from contracting for the bezel to pop off? The bezel does indeed rotate and click smoothly.
So, my plan is to strip the thing to it's bare case with bezel and soak it in hot soapy water, flushing repeatedly and rotating the bezel until any dirt might wash away, then lubing the thing with wd40 and giving the bezel another try at removal. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance and Happy holidays this weekend!

Sorry I neglected to post a photo or two of the watch for reference and general curiosity/comments. As one can see the bezel is polished rather than brushed.