Correct Endlinks? Rolex 1603

[nps]

Hey all,

Just bought this Datejust 1603. Are these AM Endlinks? Watch has a JB champion bracelet and is from 1967.

Thanks!

Nathan

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[swish77]

Yes, they are aftermarket. Presumably they go with that bracelet.

[nps]

Originally Posted by swish77

Yes, they are aftermarket. Presumably they go with that bracelet.

The bracelet is a JB champion Rolex bracelet though.

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[nps]

I believe the bracelet to be genuine, but am not sure about the endlinks

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[swish77]

Originally Posted by nps

The bracelet is a JB champion Rolex bracelet though.

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Oh, sorry, I thought you meant it was a JB bracelet made for a different (non-Rolex) watch.

Well, maybe I'm wrong, but I've never seen end links like that on a Rolex, although I know JB made bracelets for Rolex in the U.S. in the '60s, so who knows.

Can you post a photo of the inside of the clasp with the stampings?

[nps]

Here it is!

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[offrdmania]

Those end links look correct. The US made end links were usually not marked

[nps]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Those end links look correct. The US made end links were usually not marked

Appreciate the input! Do you have any photos/ sources that I could do a bit more reading up on it.

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[Dan S]

Originally Posted by nps

Appreciate the input! Do you have any photos/ sources that I could do a bit more reading up on it.

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I've seen other threads on the topic, so you might want to try the search function. Here's a start:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=108274

[nps]

Originally Posted by Dan S

I've seen other threads on the topic, so you might want to try the search function. Here's a start:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=108274

Thanks for the link! Yes I've read this thread, but it doesn't seem to have many photos. Was wondering if anyone else had seen a photo of my exact Endlinks, or owns one with the same Endlinks that could provide a photo. Not many pictures of JB Endlinks specifically on the forums or Google unfortunately.

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[Richard Carver]

The JB Champion oval link is my favorite Rolex bracelet. I've been around long enough to understand a silky, suitably broken jubilee is the ultimate in comfort and not something to ship off and remake with aftermarket parts of unknown origins.

Your bracelet looks correct.

[springer]

Originally Posted by swish77

Oh, sorry, I thought you meant it was a JB bracelet made for a different (non-Rolex) watch.

Well, maybe I'm wrong, but I've never seen end links like that on a Rolex, although I know JB made bracelets for Rolex in the U.S. in the '60s, so who knows.

Can you post a photo of the inside of the clasp with the stampings?

Aaron, those are USA oval-link Jubilee end links and are 100% correct and genuine for that Jubilee..

[springer]

I've owned many vintage Rolex with the USA made oval-link Jubilee and those end links. Nothing wrong with them at all. The clasp pictured is a USA clasp from the 1960s oval-link Jubilees. The clasp changed somewhat during the 1970s.

[springer]

Here is a thread I put together on the Jubilee bracelets - with both variations of the USA Jubilee clasps, the Swiss 6251 Jubilee and the D-link Jubilee. The photos in the first post in this thread of the USA oval-link Jubilee are from a later 1970s model which has a different clasp than the earlier 1960s version. I've now added some photos to this thread of the earlier USA JB Jubilee clasp.

https://www.gmtforum.com/viewtopic.p...87ae12e80f751d

[nps]

Thank you Richard for the picture! Lovely piece, and your help is much appreciated.

Nathan

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[nps]

Originally Posted by springer

Here is a thread I put together on the Jubilee bracelets - with both variations of the USA Jubilee clasps, the Swiss 6251 Jubilee and the D-link Jubilee. The photos in the first post in this thread of the USA oval-link Jubilee are from a later 1970s model which has a different clasp than the earlier 1960s version. I've now added some photos to this thread of the earlier USA JB Jubilee clasp.

https://www.gmtforum.com/viewtopic.p...87ae12e80f751d

Great resource! Thank you for your help!

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[Yachtbuoy]

More to the point, what the heck happened to the brushing of the caseback?

[nps]

This piece has concentric circles rather than a straight line brush finish. Little hard to see in the photo. Was it Wondering about that too...

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[zapokee]

Originally Posted by nps

This piece has concentric circles rather than a straight line brush finish. Little hard to see in the photo. Was it Wondering about that too...

That sunburst effect from the circular caseback brushing is awesome. Re-brushing is also easy if you want the straight type, which is probably what it was at some point (my 1600 caseback has straight-line brushing).

I'd recommend putting away the magnifying glass and enjoying your fine watch.

[nps]

Originally Posted by zapokee

That sunburst effect from the circular caseback brushing is awesome. Re-brushing is also easy if you want the straight type, which is probably what it was at some point (my 1600 caseback has straight-line brushing).

I'd recommend putting away the magnifying glass and enjoying your fine watch.

Much appreciated. Is it impossible that it started as a concentrically finished caseback? Not worried about it to much, but it would bring me enjoyment to learn if there was an alternative finishing.

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[Dan S]

Somebody may have used a lathe to remove a custom engraving.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by springer

Aaron, those are USA oval-link Jubilee end links and are 100% correct and genuine for that Jubilee..

Yeah, I misunderstood the original post. I thought it was a JB bracelet made for a different brand (which JB also did) so I assumed the end links were incorrect for a Rolex.

Originally Posted by springer

Here is a thread I put together on the Jubilee bracelets - with both variations of the USA Jubilee clasps, the Swiss 6251 Jubilee and the D-link Jubilee. The photos in the first post in this thread of the USA oval-link Jubilee are from a later 1970s model which has a different clasp than the earlier 1960s version. I've now added some photos to this thread of the earlier USA JB Jubilee clasp.

https://www.gmtforum.com/viewtopic.p...87ae12e80f751d

This is great! Maybe it can be added to the reference section of TRF as a sticky. Thanks for sharing.

[nps]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Somebody may have used a lathe to remove a custom engraving.

You think? Doesn't feel like that much metal was removed. According to the seller it was his father's watch, I can ask if an engraving was removed.

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[Dan S]

Originally Posted by nps

You think? Doesn't feel like that much metal was removed. According to the seller it was his father's watch, I can ask if an engraving was removed.

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Some engravings are quite shallow, and I have had a couple of them removed exactly this way. There's no way to tell how much material was removed after the fact. I just mention it because it's the most logical reason to have circular machine marks on the caseback, either to remove a shallow engraving or shallow scratches.

[nps]

Sure sure. Yeah seems like the circular finish would've been done a while ago and I bought from the OG owners son. More likely probably to remove scratches? Same either way.

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