ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Tools · 9 April 2010, 06:13 AM

Somebody asked a short while ago, "Are the Mercedes hands curved?". The answer, of course, is yes...they are - sort of, at least on the modern references....

........Now, why they are is a different dialogue altogether..

It is likely that the hands have the tri-circle (which only resembles the Mercedes star) structure to better hold the lume.. But, I do like the other fanciful stories:... "Named after Mercedes Gleitz, Hans girlfriend"; or, "Hans so adored the Mercedes he decided to immortalize it"...

Well, never-the-less, they are not only tri-segmented, they are also slightly curved or "crowned" (domed) across the top.. Perhaps this curve is also to help hold the lume ?.. It would geometrically form a high center pressing down against the outside arc..sort of an "arch" configuration which in engineering is known to be very strong and one reason the Roman Aqueducts are still standing... It also provides more surface area and angles for light refraction..

It is something to note... It may also be noted that many fake hands are flat-stamped like the older Rolex hands.. something noticeable under strong light at the right angle..

Idle Swede · 9 April 2010, 06:15 AM

Woohoo, some pictures Larry.

Tools · 9 April 2010, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

Woohoo, some pictures Larry.

You'll notice that it's on the right beat too...............

bayerische · 9 April 2010, 06:26 AM

VERY nice pics!!!

The curved hands are superb!

marie · 9 April 2010, 06:26 AM

Great pictures, and good information to have as well!
Thanks.

t e x · 9 April 2010, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

Woohoo, some pictures Larry.

+1

Outstanding

Lion · 9 April 2010, 06:31 AM

X2.....thanx for the info!!!

STEELINOX · 9 April 2010, 06:35 AM

Outstanding tidbit of info that I had no knowledge of !

Curved for strength and for lume...
I take it that the lume (@underside) is applied "overflow" to the "windowed" surfaces of the hand, so as to create a seat or tab contact to the part. Any pictures of the undersides??

Thanks,
Randy

Jocke · 9 April 2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEELINOX

Outstanding tidbit of info that I had no knowledge of !

Curved for strength and for lume...
I take it that the lume (@underside) is applied "overflow" to the "windowed" surfaces of the hand, so as to create a seat or tab contact to the part. Any pictures of the undersides??

Thanks,
Randy

Here we go my friend.

Idle Swede · 9 April 2010, 06:53 AM

The MB hand looks flat to me?

Tools · 9 April 2010, 06:54 AM

Freaken' show off................

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jocke

Here we go my friend.

Jocke · 9 April 2010, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

The MB hand looks flat to me?

What did you know about MB?

Jocke · 9 April 2010, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tools

Freaken' show off................

I just try to be helpful.

I will try to pull of a few hands in the weekend and made a few pics.

godsey · 9 April 2010, 07:17 AM

i Thought they were curved so they would be non reflective..

kyle L · 9 April 2010, 07:36 AM

Someone say mercedes hands?

Brunotheboxer · 9 April 2010, 07:41 AM

Great pics guys. Well done.

ayres · 9 April 2010, 07:43 AM

nice pics! but with the angled bird's eye view, the curve does not show itself very easily. can anyone take more of a profiled pic of the hour hand?

also, i'd be careful assigning reason to its curve. the mercedes does not need to be curved in order for better reinforcement. it's mass is so little. might it simply be an artifact?

brandxbrand · 9 April 2010, 08:39 AM

Wish I'd never opened this thread. I keep looking for the time and all I see is a curved hour hand!

Tools · 9 April 2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayres

nice pics! but with the angled bird's eye view, the curve does not show itself very easily. can anyone take more of a profiled pic of the hour hand?

also, i'd be careful assigning reason to its curve. the mercedes does not need to be curved in order for better reinforcement. it's mass is so little. might it simply be an artifact?

I don't think that anybody actually assigned any particular attribute...only speculated..:(and we are always careful...this is a high class Forum)cheers:

It could also be that they deform slightly when they are punched out....

vtsnowplow · 9 April 2010, 08:45 AM

wow some photos!!

OYSTERMANN · 9 April 2010, 08:46 AM

Great info, Larry.

I remember when I first picked up my brand new Sub in December, wondering whether the 'Mercedes' hand looked right, being curved.

Excellent close-up shots, showing how mine looks, exactly.

Thanks

Tools · 9 April 2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OYSTERMANN

Great info, Larry.

I remember when I first picked up my brand new Sub in December, wondering whether the 'Mercedes' hand looked right, being curved.

Excellent close-up shots, showing how mine looks, exactly.

Thanks

............We aim to please...

The idea is to educate - and even speculate where necessary...... Nobody should look at their hand in the sun and panic..........

OYSTERMANN · 9 April 2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tools

............We aim to please...

The idea is to educate - and even speculate where necessary...... Nobody should look at their hand in the sun and panic..........

Appreciate that Larry - thanks again

STEELINOX · 9 April 2010, 10:09 AM

Outstanding Larry and Jocke !

Thanks,
Randy

STP · 9 April 2010, 10:17 AM

Great close ups & info guys!

Mockingbird · 9 April 2010, 10:26 AM

Huh, I didn't know that! Thanks for the info!

Latrodectus · 9 April 2010, 11:02 AM

Fantastic pictures!

JJ Irani · 9 April 2010, 11:12 AM

I didn't know this, Larry..........thanks for the info.

Would the Mercedes hand on my Platty be curved too?

mcubed · 9 April 2010, 11:16 AM

From what I heard, (and it makes sense to me) is that the hands are curved so that different sections of the hands reflect light slightly differently, so that there is not an angle where the hands become hard to read. Flat hands can uniformly reflect back a color (i.e. turn black) and become hard to read. Not so with a slight curvature.

rmcarlton · 9 April 2010, 11:20 AM

Great info! Thanks, guys.

9 April 2010, 06:13 AM	#1
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,139	The Strange Case Of Curved Mercedes Hands... Somebody asked a short while ago, "Are the Mercedes hands curved?". The answer, of course, is yes...they are - sort of, at least on the modern references.... ........Now, why they are is a different dialogue altogether.. It is likely that the hands have the tri-circle (which only resembles the Mercedes star) structure to better hold the lume.. But, I do like the other fanciful stories:... "Named after Mercedes Gleitz, Hans girlfriend"; or, "Hans so adored the Mercedes he decided to immortalize it"... Well, never-the-less, they are not only tri-segmented, they are also slightly curved or "crowned" (domed) across the top.. Perhaps this curve is also to help hold the lume ?.. It would geometrically form a high center pressing down against the outside arc..sort of an "arch" configuration which in engineering is known to be very strong and one reason the Roman Aqueducts are still standing... It also provides more surface area and angles for light refraction.. It is something to note... It may also be noted that many fake hands are flat-stamped like the older Rolex hands.. something noticeable under strong light at the right angle.. __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member Last edited by Tools; 10 April 2010 at 05:49 AM..

9 April 2010, 06:26 AM	#4
bayerische "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Real Name: Andreas Location: Margaritaville Watch: Smurf Posts: 19,879	VERY nice pics!!! The curved hands are superb! __________________ Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

9 April 2010, 06:26 AM	#5
marie "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Antonio Watch: UN Starry Night Posts: 2,150	Great pictures, and good information to have as well! Thanks. __________________

9 April 2010, 06:31 AM	#7
Lion "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Leo Location: Midwest Watch: GMT-II 16710 PEPSI Posts: 21,461	X2.....thanx for the info!!! __________________ SS GMT-II 16710 PEPSI(Z-serial#) THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND BOYS IS THE PRICE OF THE TOYS!!! MontBlanc Meisterstuck Doue Silver Barley MontBlanc Meisterstuck Solitaire Doue Signum Proud Card Carrying Member of the Curmudgeons.....Yikes!!!

9 April 2010, 06:35 AM	#8
STEELINOX 2024 ROLEX DATE-JUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Sink-O! Location: a praire in AZ Watch: ROLEX-less atm... Posts: 14,007	Outstanding tidbit of info that I had no knowledge of ! Curved for strength and for lume... I take it that the lume (@underside) is applied "overflow" to the "windowed" surfaces of the hand, so as to create a seat or tab contact to the part. Any pictures of the undersides?? Thanks, Randy __________________ *Positive Waves Baby* Lug Hole Loyalist / Chamfer Line Inspector INFORTHE WIN 274

9 April 2010, 06:15 AM	#2
Idle Swede Suspended Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Leo Location: Boca Raton Posts: 13,820	Woohoo, some pictures Larry.

9 April 2010, 06:53 AM	#10
Idle Swede Suspended Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Leo Location: Boca Raton Posts: 13,820	The MB hand looks flat to me?

9 April 2010, 07:17 AM	#14
godsey "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: greg godsey Location: eastern tn. Watch: W seadweller M sub Posts: 39	i Thought they were curved so they would be non reflective..

9 April 2010, 07:36 AM	#15
kyle L "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Watch: Rolex Explorer I Posts: 10,278	Someone say mercedes hands?

9 April 2010, 07:41 AM	#16
Brunotheboxer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Real Name: Bruno Location: Boston/Cape Cod Watch: 16610,PAM. 111, G Posts: 7,608	Great pics guys. Well done.

9 April 2010, 07:43 AM	#17
ayres "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: honolulu Watch: whatever runs Posts: 551	nice pics! but with the angled bird's eye view, the curve does not show itself very easily. can anyone take more of a profiled pic of the hour hand? also, i'd be careful assigning reason to its curve. the mercedes does not need to be curved in order for better reinforcement. it's mass is so little. might it simply be an artifact?

9 April 2010, 08:39 AM	#18
brandxbrand "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: Concord, Ma Watch: your back Posts: 422	Wish I'd never opened this thread. I keep looking for the time and all I see is a curved hour hand!

9 April 2010, 08:45 AM	#20
vtsnowplow "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: US Posts: 343	wow some photos!!

9 April 2010, 08:46 AM	#21
OYSTERMANN "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Real Name: Neil Location: West Midlands UK Watch: DJ,DD,GMTIIc,Sub Posts: 7,063	Great info, Larry. I remember when I first picked up my brand new Sub in December, wondering whether the 'Mercedes' hand looked right, being curved. Excellent close-up shots, showing how mine looks, exactly. Thanks __________________ Neil 116231 SS/RG DATEJUST 2007 118238 YG DAY-DATE 2007 116713 LN SS/YG GMT IIc 2008 116613 LB SS/YG SUBMARINER 2009 216570 SS EXPLORER II 2013 116520 SS DAYTONA 2014

9 April 2010, 10:09 AM	#24
STEELINOX 2024 ROLEX DATE-JUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Sink-O! Location: a praire in AZ Watch: ROLEX-less atm... Posts: 14,007	Outstanding Larry and Jocke ! Thanks, Randy __________________ *Positive Waves Baby* Lug Hole Loyalist / Chamfer Line Inspector INFORTHE WIN 274

9 April 2010, 10:17 AM	#25
STP Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 108	Great close ups & info guys!

9 April 2010, 10:26 AM	#26
Mockingbird "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: -- Posts: 2,097	Huh, I didn't know that! Thanks for the info!

9 April 2010, 11:02 AM	#27
Latrodectus 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Fred Location: KY, USA Watch: GMT-Master II Posts: 9,999	Fantastic pictures! __________________ Member # 16057 4-Hands Club Tosser Club Member TRF Skypers Group

9 April 2010, 11:12 AM	#28
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,320	I didn't know this, Larry..........thanks for the info. Would the Mercedes hand on my Platty be curved too? __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

9 April 2010, 11:16 AM	#29
mcubed "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: US Posts: 468	From what I heard, (and it makes sense to me) is that the hands are curved so that different sections of the hands reflect light slightly differently, so that there is not an angle where the hands become hard to read. Flat hands can uniformly reflect back a color (i.e. turn black) and become hard to read. Not so with a slight curvature. __________________ The safest place for Your Rolex is on Your wrist 2002 Rolex Submariner 14060 1963 Omega Automatic LL6304 1953 Wittnauer Revue 2009 Swiss Army Divemaster 500

9 April 2010, 11:20 AM	#30
rmcarlton "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Monty Location: Georgia Watch: Sub LV Posts: 787	Great info! Thanks, guys. __________________ DJ, LV, GV, PAM 25

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)