I much prefer a SS bezel. Would take Hoops 6AL4V variant every time!
I have 23 Convoy’s, have purchased SS bezels when they didn’t come with one.
1 Thank
Y’know, the TIR optic may have a little (or A LOT) to do with that, vs. a reflector of any flavor. 
Someone shared a pic above, but steel (or brass or ti) bezels can sure add a good amount of function in terms of protection from damage…lens may break in a drop but the head will usually survive pretty severe impact without damage to the threads or becoming ovalized. If more of our lights used quality “hard” aluminum alloys than they do (despite what they may state in the marketing graphics…) it might be less risk even as thin as they are, but it’s easy to ruin a light head/bezel from an accidental drop. That’s a pain if it’s an expensive light or from a vendor that isn’t so easy/willing to get replacement parts from, or maybe an out of production favorite light. The shorty screw-in bezel rings provide less protection in this regard than standard type bezels, but still some (and less effect on the beam, too).
I seriously doubt that, i think identical dimensions are the key, I have a feeling SS bezels op is using are a bit taller than AL. thus affect the beam.
Take a look sometime at the beam angle coming out of your KR4 and any typical reflector light. Use some smoke or fog if it helps accentuate it. I think you’ll see that most TIR, especially the multi-emitter models, will allow bezels a bit taller than what they’re outfitted with and still not get in the way of the beam(s). Usually not the case with reflectors, but yes, there taller (solid or crenulated) will show more. It really depends on several factors, though. Looking at mine, I’ll bet the KR4 could take a bezel half again as tall as it is stock and not affect it…as a cheap and dirty test of that, I just put the alu bezel back on mine and set the stainless one on top of that, and with double the bezel height that way plus the inner rim on the extra, the beam is just ever so slightly reduced at the periphery, no added artifacts or color abberations. Again…with a reflector, that would have completely different results and most of that has more to do with angles and refraction than the height of the exit, to a point. (this is the stock medium reflector in mine, btw…can’t recall now what the angles are on that one…might have more effect with the wide).
Appreciate all the responses, this really took off again.
I was showing my wife the M21G and she, as a non flashlight person, agreed that it looked terribly distracting and very bright surrounding the spill. She’s one that’ll happily use an old Ultrafire zoomie and doesn’t care having sos and strobe in rotation. Mum and Dad also mentioned it. Those 3 don’t understand that SS is more robust, but honestly, I’ve never had a customer return with a damaged flashlight bezel, only a replacement glass once or twice over the 8 years I’ve been in business. I’d far rather a clean beam to reflect a well designed product. I’m not selling these for AliExpress prices here.
For example the L21B is priced at $93 usd. This includes a local warranty and the world’s most thorough QC check, I even go as far as cleaning the LED surface with isopropyl alcohol. Never had a Convoy flashlight warranty claim after my QC check.
I guess the question is, if you purchased a Nitecore for $100+ and it had the same bright ring, would that bug you considering the price?
1 Thank
Beam shape over looks every time. Concentric circles in beams actually give me a physical reaction. Maybe it’s my eyes or something. It’s like those guys who can hear pwm. Also, I don’t particularly think SS bezels look that good, tbh.
1 Thank
Agreed.
I also think SS bezels look “tacky” in most cases.
1 Thank
If it were a black finish (nitride) would you like stainless better? I would.
1 Thank
I think it really depends on the flashlight. E.g. for me the Emisar lights look much better with the SS bezels.
I would, too.
I do like stainless steel bezels, but a black finish would be even better. 
There are a few that make them for their lights. I mentioned it to Simon one time (maybe because of this thread) and he was of the opinion that it wasn’t a good idea because the finish would flake off…which told me that we weren’t talking about the same thing, or maybe his/their finishing vendors can’t do this finish. It’s pretty durable with reasonable care but it can tarnish/discolor a little if ignored or in poor conditions. I think the silver looks classy on some lights but it’d be great to have black on most (especially on colored hosts). Anyway…doubt it would have much effect on beams/rings, just looks.
1 Thank
My JetBeam IIIM Ultra has a black bezel, and it’s beam profile is not ringy, so I think that the color of the bezel does make a difference, though I could be wrong. 
Hear me out. Rhodium plated 18kt white gold with a row of black diamonds around the top bezel.
Kind like this this
Except without that little hoop, and the gold will extend further, but it’ll be rhodium plated white gold, which looks like normal white gold but whiter and more shiny…although I’m not opposed to the regular yellow gold either
1 Thank