Over a year later, the 126710 GMT is still... heavy. Any advice?

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by the dark knight

A couple of things that aren't frequently mentioned. Messing around with straps (like a Nato) can be a decent fairly lower cost idea. YMMV, but changing a strap has never really helped for me IF the issue I've perceived is the watch being heavy. It helps if the bracelet itself is what's uncomfortable obviously. But I noticed if I have an issue with a watch feeling heavy, if I put it on a lighter bracelet the weight just gets distributed more towards the case and it ended up feeling even more top heavy and uncomfortable. Just something you may want to keep in mind. Balance is a huge factor in comfort, ie how the bracelet helps distribute the weight of the watch so it's not top heavy.

Another thing I'll add about comfort is that you need to keep your lifestyle in mind. This is another huge YMMV thing. I previously owned a 16610 that I'll use as an example. Those 5 digit Subs are renowned for comfort. But I did notice it could get a tad uncomfortable during a typical 10-12 hour day at the desk. Mainly because in that position I'm doing a lot of typing and my wrist is positioned in a way where the watch case is constantly facing up and the full weight is bearing down on my wrist. That and the slightly protruding caseback of the 16610 made it so that while it wasn't unbearable, I would look forward to taking it off after a long day at the office. This would be much less of a factor wearing it all day on the weekends, where I'm doing more standing, more walking, and thus my wrist is in all kinds of positions where the case doesn't bear down on my wrist constantly.

I think this is an underrated aspect of watch comfort that one should keep in mind. Maybe you have a desk job where like my Sub example above the watch is in a position where your wrist is bearing the entire weight of the case all day long in a fixed position? If that's the case the only solution may be to either take the watch off while working at the desk or wearing a lighter office watch.

Thank you for the thought-out response. I do sit at a desk for most of the day, so yes, the problem could be that. I wore a 16610 briefly for about a week- and iirc it weighed something like 135-140 grams. Didn't feel it much. Perhaps the issue really is just being in the same position for prolonged periods of time.

[Jack T]

Originally Posted by S’portEye

Put it on a NATO.

I think that would only make it top heavy.

[~Haze~]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

7.1." Only needed to remove one link from the bracelet when I bought it.

Here's how it appears on the wrist (pardon the smudge & glare on the crystal):





Good point. Like someone else here said- the problem might be me. Perhaps it's a health thing, I dunno. Maybe there's tension due to some other stuff (I work a desk job, etc etc).



Fair enough.

I have had watches that physically hurt to wear. For whatever reason, they just hit the wrong nerve in my wrist in the wrong way and I end up not being able to wear that watch/bracelet.

But one suggestion is to swap it out to a rubber bracelet. Maybe a Rubber B or Horus or Everest. Those rubber straps are made to fit and they are very comfortable. I put one on my sea dweller for a while and loved it. Fresh look and fresh feel. It’s better than putting an old jubilee on it IMO.


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[spikep]

Speechless

[Longhorn]

+1 on the idea of getting a high quality rubber strap for this to keep it snug and form fitting to your wrist, connected to the model's clasp. Should feel balanced and not top heavy, and drop some of the weight on wrist.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

My wrist slopes away from me causing my watch to dramatically fall towards 12. With a Rolex I generally have five links on the 6 side and seven links on the 12 side to limit this. If I split the links evenly 6 and 6 the way it falls drives me crazy. While making this change doesn’t directly affect the weight it has the potential to change your perception of the weight. So since you can’t change the actual weight of the watch and bracelet try reconfiguring the bracelet to change the way it falls and therefore your perception of it.

[HiBoost]

The modern ceramic sports models are simply meant to be seen/felt whereas the 5 digit and earlier watches were sized/weighted appropriately for something that you'd legitimately wear every day, everywhere, and which would ideally disappear into your arm. I agree that you should get a pre-ceramic. The 16710 looks superior as well. I know you said you wanted great lume, but honestly Rolex is the wrong brand if you want good lume. My swatches and cheap Seikos all blow away my new Sub for intensity and duration of lume.

But I guess where you lost me was the discussion of bicep workouts. Surely you aren't having a hard time lifting your hand off the table. What are we really talking about here? It seems like you have a watch with a lot of wrist presence and you don't really care for that feeling. Which is totally fine. I love switching back to a Swatch after wearing a "heavy" watch for a few days. Feels almost refreshing. But then after wearing the plastic toy for a bit, putting the solid Rolex/Omega/etc back on feels equally good. Just two different deals completely.

[turkeysub93]

Is this the burner account for the guy that started the 34 dial thread?

[Director EDTF]

Rubber strap or Nato.

[JSolution]

Simple answer the sell the watch and buy another one you like. A year is a long time to try it’s clearly not the watch for you. I’d advise going to a big grey dealer and trying on what they have in.

[GreatScott]

Do arm curls, and get the oyster for better balance in weight.

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[TswaneNguni]

Never,ever,even think about a DSSD ....

[mountainjogger]

OP. This may sound like a silly question but it is not. Do you wear your watch on your non dominant hand? If so, try it on your dominant hand.

It may feel lighter and hence more comfortable.

[TheVTCGuy]

Maybe put it on a Diet?

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Never,ever,even think about a DSSD ....

Wouldn't dream of it.

If I had a bigger wrist I'd sooner consider the SD43. That red line is sublime.

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Maybe put it on a Diet?

I begged it to use "Omega 3 oils" instead of whatever synthetic ones Rolex gives it.

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Simple answer the sell the watch and buy another one you like. A year is a long time to try it’s clearly not the watch for you. I’d advise going to a big grey dealer and trying on what they have in.

This ^ is the only answer I'm afraid.

(Not disputing how it feels to you OP, but this is new one to me as I've honestly never heard of anyone finding a 40mm Rolex too heavy)

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

OP. This may sound like a silly question but it is not. Do you wear your watch on your non dominant hand? If so, try it on your dominant hand.

It may feel lighter and hence more comfortable.

Not at all a silly question. I'm right-handed, and wear my watch on my left hand.

[stmoore]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

You need a 16710.
dP

Exactly. Or a 16700, etc.
they do weigh more and I still notice a difference- love em all though.

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

My wrist slopes away from me causing my watch to dramatically fall towards 12. With a Rolex I generally have five links on the 6 side and seven links on the 12 side to limit this. If I split the links evenly 6 and 6 the way it falls drives me crazy. While making this change doesn’t directly affect the weight it has the potential to change your perception of the weight. So since you can’t change the actual weight of the watch and bracelet try reconfiguring the bracelet to change the way it falls and therefore your perception of it.

This is another really interesting take- the possibility that the watch is off-balanced and is pulling the wrist down from one side. I will try putting one link on the other side to see if it helps. Thank you

[steeevvvooo]

Balancing the weight of a watch, and getting the correct fit, can take some trial and error to get right. My sd4k has 4 links in the 6 o'clock side and 6 on the 12 o'clock side. It sounds like it shouldn't work, and off the wrist is looks like the clasp is off centre, but on the wrist it sits perfectly, a fraction to the inside of my wrist.

[GMT Aviator]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

You need a 16710.
dP

This or put it on a strap. Most of the weight is in the bracelet.

[envuks]

Are you wearing it loose? If so, snug it up. I find loose watches feel heavier on the wrist


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[Malum]

Buy a titanium watch and put it on a nato or just use your phone .

[Gab27]

How loose/tight do you wear the watch and how many hours each day do you wear it? Are you wearing this thing every day?

[Xerxes77]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

I set out to acquire a 126710BLRO GMT because it fit most of the criteria I wanted in a GMT-Master, namely the strong lume relative to its predecessors.

I felt its heft the first time I put it in- but many people told me "eh, you'll get used to it."

Over a year later, I have not. It's heavy.

Does anyone have advice? There aren't many muscles around the wrist- and I question whether the forearm muscles will help much. A friend of mine suggested that further working out one's biceps might surprisingly help, as it's those muscles that help lift the entirety of the arm. Another friend suggested swapping the solid Jubilee link bracelet with an older bracelet that fits, perhaps an Oyster bracelet with hollow links (i.e., whatever bracelet was on the 16610, which might actually fit). I'd rather not part with the watch if I don't have to.

Thank you in advance!

Very strange..... I found it the most confortable watch from all my collection

[fskywalker]

Well perhaps you should look into other GMT watches in titanium: Seiko, Omega, etc. have options


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[Cheng]

I think you should try another model, this isn't for you.

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by steeevvvooo

Balancing the weight of a watch, and getting the correct fit, can take some trial and error to get right. My sd4k has 4 links in the 6 o'clock side and 6 on the 12 o'clock side. It sounds like it shouldn't work, and off the wrist is looks like the clasp is off centre, but on the wrist it sits perfectly, a fraction to the inside of my wrist.

This answer helped a lot, and I think you may have provided the solution. It doesn't appear so from the photos, but the watch does actually lean away from me- I'm thinking that having an equal amount of links on either side of the watch is the culprit. As it leans away, the imbalance makes the arm sore.

[mkruger311]

Make sure you have it sized correctly. I've seen many people with an extra link or lack of down on the 6 o'clock side, causing the clasp to not be centered on your wrist. The 6 digit GMT on jubilee is pretty comfortable but still not as comfortable as a 5 digit on oyster even.

I prefer a 5 digit for all day wear.

Try out a 16710. It's a much smoother wearing watch, especially an older model with non SEL.

Good luck!

[daOnlyBG]

Originally Posted by mkruger311

Make sure you have it sized correctly. I've seen many people with an extra link or lack of down on the 6 o'clock side, causing the clasp to not be centered on your wrist. The 6 digit GMT on jubilee is pretty comfortable but still not as comfortable as a 5 digit on oyster even.

I prefer a 5 digit for all day wear.

Try out a 16710. It's a much smoother wearing watch, especially an older model with non SEL.

Good luck!

Thank you sir- will do.