Re Shaping a 116610 Sunmariner

[accce]

I know there are people out there (me included) that think the new sub is boxy looking compared to the older 16610. Has anyone attempted to thin out the lugs and the case to look more like the older 16610 case?

I had a 116610 for a week and returned it for a Daytona because I could not get use to the look but I did like the ceramic bezel.

You would end up with the best of both worlds. The new movement and ceramic bezel with the classic good looks the original sub.

[Tools]

I have not seen your particular example, but there are some companies such as Project X, who take perfectly good watches and reshape them..

Their most popular is taking off the lug guards on Subs to resemble early Military style models without crown guards..

With a steady hand or high quality fixtures, grinding away metal to reshape stuff is not rocket science...

[Bangel]

Don't know about the 116610, but I do recall someone posted pics on here of a GMT IIc in which they had the lugs narrowed down.

[Rolexitis]

How much of a hit did you take when you went back and traded for the Daytona?

[accce]

Originally Posted by Rolexitis

How much of a hit did you take when you went back and traded for the Daytona?

No hit the watch had a defect. The 6 o clock marker was crooked.

[Bangel]

I found the thread with the thinned out GMT IIc lugs:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...light=GMT+lugs

[Rolexitis]

Originally Posted by accce

No hit the watch had a defect. The 6 o clock marker was crooked.

Oh

[cop414]

I think that the thinning of the lugs would make the new case shape much more acceptable to the "old school" folks... like me.

[CWIN]

i have a 2005 Sub and a new GMTIIc. I don't mind the new shape at all personally.

[Rashid.bk]

It's good your happy. For me I love the super cases of the new watches.
I wouldn't bother having someone file down my watch, madness...I would just get an older model as their is more piece of mind. I'm extremely ocd and the last thing I need is for an imperfection or a compromised case due to the type of filing. Too many variables, but none in getting an older model.

[gr33n]

Well.. it can be done, if done with A LOT OF care.

But in the end.. you will have a modified watch. Be careful not to regret it. Why not buying directly a 16610(LV)? It is already the same watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by cop414

I think that the thinning of the lugs would make the new case shape much more acceptable to the "old school" folks... like me.

Get rid of the over expensive sliver of ceramic its not a real improvement over the aluminum .Now some talk about fading yes some do but its mainly the blue and Red colour inserts.Others talk about the aluminum getting scratched well like everything hit it hard enough you will scratch it.But many of mine were used as a working tools and very seldom got badly scratched.But I did replaced one at a cost or £27 after quite a hard life try doing that with the ceramic.Now the bracelet and clasp on the 116610 while some have failed, but overall bracelet and clasp could prove to be a improvement.So if the 116610 had the old style case and insert,plus the new type bracelet clasp then that would be a nice 116610 IMHO.

[PunkJr]

There is no real term improvements in the movements, even a 1520 from fifty years ago is comparable. As for the ceramic, well it's just a bezel insert. If you want the classic shape, then just buy the proper Sub to start with.

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by Bangel

I found the thread with the thinned out GMT IIc lugs:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...light=GMT+lugs

Interesting thread, I just look a look at that and they may be smaller but they also ground out the shape. It looks like they took the shortest possible way to the narrowed lugs (ie: flat) and the result is that curvy shape of the lugs has also gone. Not a very good job IMO.

To the OP: There is no way I would modify a watch like this. In one foul move you diminish any resale value, weaken the lugs, and destroy a perfectly good watch all for a small cosmetic change. You made the right choice by going for something else instead.

[gregmoeck]

you will not notice the larger lugs anymore If you adjust the bracelet on the new subs correctly, for some reason they come out of the factory unbalanced.

[ppbskis]

Originally Posted by accce

No hit the watch had a defect. The 6 o clock marker was crooked.

How does that get past QC? That is almost unbelievable.