Is the consensus that the fluted bezel is always more desirable than engine turned?

[SubMarine]

For some reason, I've always felt the engine turned is missing something. Is the fluted always more desirable?

[Brew]

Depends. When I'm feeling musical, fluted; when industrial, engine turned. See?

[brockburst]

I don't think so. If we are talking engine tuned we are talking vintage era's....so I think it depends on many factors including overall condition as well as application.

When I purchased a buckley datejust, I wanted to wear it on a nato or green leather for sort of an updated timex kinda vibe. A fluted bezel didn't look right....through my search, I largely found that smooth vs engine vs fluted - there really wasn't much, if any price difference between the three when comparing apples to apples condition.

So from a price perspective I can't say one is much better than the other. From a preference perspective....well....everyone has an opinion of what they like, that debate won't be solved here.

[Dan S]

Personal taste.

[Kingface66]

Douglas, I'm guessing this post is in some ways (OK, a lot of ways!) related to your other post. It sounds like you like everything about your watch except for the bezel. So, sell it and get a 1601. I recently got a beautiful one at a very decent price, and I saw many out there.

[kwcsports]

Get what you like. I personally like Fluted, but that's me. I buy and wear what I like.

[daveo5]

Purely subjective on your part


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[SubMarine]

The problem is it’s next to impossible finding truly unpolished Datejust cases. My 1603 is mint and 100% unpolished.

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Douglas, I'm guessing this post is in some ways (OK, a lot of ways!) related to your other post. It sounds like you like everything about your watch except for the bezel. So, sell it and get a 1601. I recently got a beautiful one at a very decent price, and I saw many out there.

[Paul]

The fluted always seems to be a slightly delicate look to me. Add the fact that Rolex chose white gold for the fluted bezel seems to echo 'delicate' too. JMHO.

A 1603 with an engine-turned bezel and the new-and-improved hacking movement works for me.

[MILGAUSS88]

I think it is the opposite.

[Rollied]

I feel like the fluted is dressier than the engine turned, so I think for a everyday, causal wear, engine turned is more fitting? But it’s down to personal preference so I think there’ll always be no consensus here

[BigMac53]

I personally prefer the fluted; to me something just looks off about the engine turned; I think I just don’t like the gaps between the details in the bezel and I prefer the “symmetrical”/ continuous look of the fluted bezel. Not to mention the shimmer that sharp fluted bezel gives off when the light it hits it.

To each their own, but it’s a fluted bezel for me.


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[brockburst]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

The problem is it’s next to impossible finding truly unpolished Datejust cases. My 1603 is mint and 100% unpolished.

Just change the bezel then?

[SubMarine]

I’m a purist. See my other thread.

Originally Posted by brockburst

Just change the bezel then?

[Johnnie K]

Being retired, I am not much involved in wearing dressy clothes. Mostly shorts and golf polo shirts (yeah, I am an avid golfer), so I'm an engine turned guy, I also feel the engine turned really looks good with whatever you're wearing.

[Racer X]

Totally subjective. I used to think engine-turned bezels were ugly. Now, I love them. Personally, I think the engine-turned bezel looks a little more casual, a little more "tool watch," which is a good thing in my book.

[mobster600]

well IMO its ugly.

Smooth bezels look amazing

fluted bezels look more amazing....simple answer, fluted and smooth look better.....dont kill the messenger talk to Rolex about their sales of the turn-engine

[miamiclay]

All personal taste of course, but I think both the smooth/domed and engine-turned bezels are better looking. It seems indisputable that they do not ‘show’ any polishing nearly as badly as fluted ones, whose crisp arrises are so quickly and easily blurred.

Because they are less common, perhaps they also have extra appeal to WISs. If I had your watch, I wouldn’t even consider replacing that cool, vintage engine-turned bezel with a common fluted one. OTOH, I imagine the fluted bezel is much more “recognizably Rolex” to most people.

[Dan S]

The fluted bezel is the most distinctive feature of the classic "old-man Rolex".

[STEELINOX]

I never would poo poo an engine turned bezel.

[SubMarine]

Right, and they’re also discontinued, which adds to their appeal...

Originally Posted by Racer X

Totally subjective. I used to think engine-turned bezels were ugly. Now, I love them. Personally, I think the engine-turned bezel looks a little more casual, a little more "tool watch," which is a good thing in my book.

[rootbeer7]

I believe fluted is gold and engine-turned steel?

[Racer X]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

Right, and they’re also discontinued, which adds to their appeal...

Good point. You can go down to your local Rolex dealer at the mall and buy a new watch with a fluted bezel. Not so with ET. That does increase it's appeal to me as the new Rolex watches really don't do much for me.

[SubMarine]

I wonder if they’re ever going to bring Engine Turned back?

Originally Posted by Racer X

Good point. You can go down to your local Rolex dealer at the mall and buy a new watch with a fluted bezel. Not so with ET. That does increase it's appeal to me as the new Rolex watches really don't do much for me.

[jdmi32]

At this point in time, I think it’s actually a pretty close contest.

[SubMarine]

I’m surprised about the number of engine turned votes on this thread.

Originally Posted by jdmi32

At this point in time, I think it’s actually a pretty close contest.

[mineral]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

I believe fluted is gold and engine-turned steel?

That’s correct.


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[Racer X]

We just need to turn more to the dark side :)

[motoikkyu]

I could be wrong, and if I am, please straighten me out, but isn't there also a coin-edged bezel available on some early 16XX series? It's a little more subtle than the fluted, but similar. I know this bezel exists, just not sure if it was ever on the 16XXs. The coin-edge bezel is my favorite, has a soft vintage look.

[alwayshere]

well many of the fluted bezels are WG vs. stainless steel in the engine turn, if i'm not mistaken.