Older Rolex Lug Production Consistency

[aalyu]

Is it true that for vintage or older Rolexes the factory production of the lugs were not consistent? Some lugs were thinner and some lugs were thicker coming out of the factory. Due to the different skills of the artisan of watchmaker in the factory.

[Luap1976]

Its true yes not sure the reasons though

[padi56]

Originally Posted by aalyu

Is it true that for vintage or older Rolexes the factory production of the lugs were not consistent? Some lugs were thinner and some lugs were thicker coming out of the factory. Due to the different skills of the artisan of watchmaker in the factory.

All the lugs on all the Rolex sports line have been like that vintage and modern over the past 50 years normally on the winding crown side.And it's nothing to do with the skills at the Rolex factory they were all made that way.

[aalyu]

Originally Posted by padi56

All the lugs on all the Rolex sports line have been like that vintage and modern over the past 50 years normally on the winding crown side.And it's nothing to do with the skills at the Rolex factory they were all made that way.

Yes this is to sort of balance the overall weight of the watch correct? I understand lugs on the side with the crown is slightly thinner.

What I meant was that some watches despite being the exact same model, had different consistency in lug thickness, some thicker while some were thinner.

Can this be confirmed?

[landroverking]

Originally Posted by padi56

All the lugs on all the Rolex sports line have been like that vintage and modern over the past 50 years normally on the winding crown side.And it's nothing to do with the skills at the Rolex factory they were all made that way.

This would be true as they left Rolex.
Now after years of polishing that could account for what the OP calls inconsistencies. Just IMHO.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by aalyu

Yes this is to sort of balance the overall weight of the watch correct? I understand lugs on the side with the crown is slightly thinner.

What I meant was that some watches despite being the exact same model, had different consistency in lug thickness, some thicker while some were thinner.

Can this be confirmed?

Well seeing that most all of the Rolex factory is highly automated and robotised in production, its doubtful there would be any case consistency manufacturer on all the oyster range.But after they have left the Rolex factory into the big wide world,with some owners wanting to polish for the slightest ding.Now thats when consistency in lug size happens the most, and not on new cases being produced in Rolex Switzerland.

[Spursklein]

I think this is only noticeable on the Daytona, what has disappeared are the chamfered edges, as seen on pre ceramic models

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well seeing that most all of the Rolex factory is highly automated and robotised in production, its doubtful there would be any case consistency manufacturer on all the oyster range.But after they have left the Rolex factory into the big wide world,with some owners wanting to polish for the slightest ding.Now thats when consistency in lug size happens the most, and not on new cases being produced in Rolex Switzerland.

Minimal variation from automation but variation never the less. I'm certain Rolex must do some work in Variation Statistics, a subject near and dear to my heart. Most of the work I do in metrology is in the realm of 10 of angstroms (nm).

[Luap1976]

Originally Posted by padi56

All the lugs on all the Rolex sports line have been like that vintage and modern over the past 50 years normally on the winding crown side.And it's nothing to do with the skills at the Rolex factory they were all made that way.

I knew the daytona had thinner lugs on crown side along with nearly all vintage peices,but i didnt think or know the sub c or the gmt2c etc etc had thinner lugs on the crown side if they do its not really noticeable must be minimal
Thanks for the info

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Luap1976

I knew the daytona had thinner lugs on crown side along with nearly all vintage peices,but i didnt think or know the sub c or the gmt2c etc etc had thinner lugs on the crown side if they do its not really noticeable must be minimal
Thanks for the info

I can definitely see it on the SS/WG SkyD as well.

[Luap1976]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

I can definitely see it on the SS/WG SkyD as well.

Cheers buddy,im going to look at my friends hulk tonight when he gets here

[oneilchris555]

I believe so.

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well seeing that most all of the Rolex factory is highly automated and robotised in production, its doubtful there would be any case consistency manufacturer on all the oyster range.But after they have left the Rolex factory into the big wide world,with some owners wanting to polish for the slightest ding.Now thats when consistency in lug size happens the most, and not on new cases being produced in Rolex Switzerland.

Assume you mean inconsistency, or variation?

[aalyu]

Hi Guys,

Wanting to clarify the topic as it has already been separated into two:

Assuming we have a Rolex Submariner 16610
Model A - Year 1996 T Serial
Model B - Year 1992 N Serial

Both just came out of the factory

The question is two things: a) Lug consistency across models b) lug symmetry - left and right

a.) Lug Consistency across models - Model A lug thickness vs. Model B lug thickness
Can Model A have thicker / thinner lugs than Model B? Assuming both just came out of the factory (As I have seen threads on this kind of inconsistency of Rolex Production of Older Models)

b.) Lug symmetry left and right - a Rolex's lugs from left and right is not exactly symmetrical
(This I have seen threads as well, I guess this is confirmed?

Thanks!!

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by aalyu

Yes this is to sort of balance the overall weight of the watch correct? I understand lugs on the side with the crown is slightly thinner.

What I meant was that some watches despite being the exact same model, had different consistency in lug thickness, some thicker while some were thinner.

Can this be confirmed?

Yes, I can confirm this is true.

When I encountered it, I often found the bottom left hand lug to be ever so slightly wider than the other three lugs which did appear to be equal in width at the tip.

I have bought a watch like it and had a replacement Mid-case like it on another watch after it was badly damaged. Rolex changed the Mid-case at my insistence to one of acceptable quality/appearance.

There's no reasonable explanation for it other than Rolex quality control was out to lunch or the Mid-cases were made on a Friday afternoon.