My first (vintage) Rolex

[Jan Willem]

Well I'm sort of new here. I have been lurking here for almost a year now but never introduced myself.
I'm collecting watches for about 5 years now and I'm mainly interested in vintage watches especially from the sixties and seventies.
I now have quit some vintage watches such as Omega, Heuer and Breitling in my collection but still wanted a vintage Rolex.

In the beginning of this year I stumbled on a vintage Rolex Explorer I 1016
complete with all boxes and papers from 1985









Last week I posted my rolex on a Dutch watch forum that I visit frequently and there where some critical notes about this piece.

If you look at the last picture you can clearly see that the end pieces don't fit nicely in the case, you can see the gaps at the lugs.
At first I thought the problem where the end pieces maybe they have been bended?
But then came the suggestion that the problem had to do with the case that has been polished to much so the end link don't fit right anymore.

I can confirm that this is the case, because I went to a Authorized Rolex dealer who confirmed it.
There now going to try and fit the end pieces as good as possible, but they told me it would never be the same as a unpolished model.
Anyhow there going to do there best

The lugs have been polished at the last service overhaul by Rolex France.
Probably the have polished the lugs to much or it has been polished by a unexperienced watchmaker?

My biggest concern is that my Explorer isn't authentic anymore because of the polished lugs, and as Somebody sad that this model has now been ruined.
I began to feel quit bad about the whole situation

I hope somebody is willing to share his knowledge about Rolex.


Regards,

Jan

[newharry]

The 1016 is a great, great watch - especially to start into vintage!

The watch case might have been polished but I can't image that there is so much material missing to have such an effect on the endlinks - maybe the wrong endlinks?

[miboroco]

Wunderschön

[arndt]

Hi Jan, very nice 1016!

No matter what end pieces you gonna try, they won't fit proper.
It took me hours and several pliers to bend my 580's somehow appropriate.

Enjoy this beauty!

[svendocino]

Original von newharry
The watch case might have been polished but I can't image that there is so much material missing to have such an effect on the endlinks - maybe the wrong endlinks?

I agree with Harry on this point. What's more, not all authorized Rolex dealers posess an in-depth knowledge of vintage models. So I would definitely try to find somebody who knows this ex I really well and can maybe help you with different end links.

I can understand your bad feelings about the situation, but I think this watch is far from 'ruined'. To tell you the truth, it's a beauty!

Edit: Here we are, Arndt seems to be familiar with the watch!

[Bullit]

Great stuff !

Erik

[retsyo]

Explorer 4ever!

[ducsudi]

Maybe you try endlinks 558.

Sometimes they fit better than the 580.

Check Hadogues posts. I think he had the same problem.

BTW: Absolute beautiful 1016...

[ehemaliges mitglied]

Thats true.

As far as i know, there are definitly NO perfect fitting Endlinks on earth available.

And, i tried both 580 and 558.

I found the 558-solution better, even not perfect.



If you feel unhappy with the Oyster bracelet, try this

[Jan Willem]

Thanks for all the tips and compliments guys.
I shall try them out.
By the way Hadoque what for strap did you put on your Explorer I ?
Looks pretty cool.

[wildpower2]

very nice !!!!!11

[WUM]

congrats, verry nice watch


Gruss

Wum

[NicoH]

Jan, don´t let anything spoil your fun with that watch.

Your Explorer is beautiful. Yes, the lugs may be polished a bit too much but that´s what you often get when you go vintage.

Look at it as a project and see if you can find better endlinks. I wouldn´t hesitate using force myself to mekr them fit

Please wear it in the best of health.
Nico

[papadidi]

congrats, verry nice watch.

Gruß Didi

[jholbrook]

Welcome to the R-L-X English Forum!

Explorer I models aren't my area of expertise, but I've had some experience with vintage models. As others have suggested, it's more likely that the problem is with the end pieces more than the lugs/case.

[Georgio1962]

Very nice Explorer I !!!
The end-links of 1016-Explorer often don´t fit better - look at my watch, which has definitively never been polished. Congratulations!

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[bullibeer]

Beautiful!!!!!!

Great patina!!!!

Enjoy the forum and vintage Rolex!!!!!!!

[jk737]

congrats! your 1016 is beautiful start into the world of vintage

[kaiserfranz]

very nice start to vintage watches. Congrats

[Peerman]

Looks very nice!
Congrats!