Pins

[scooba]

When you fit NATOs,to your 1665 and 1680s do you fit heavier pins

[lee fowler]

I use the standard 20mm Rolex pins.

[scooba]

thx

[Bob the brush]

What diameter are standard Rolex pins, are they " heavier" than pins you would get from a run of the mill high street jewler or from eBay?

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Bob Kendall

What diameter are standard Rolex pins, are they " heavier" than pins you would get from a run of the mill high street jewler or from eBay?

2mm

[jban5]

Make sure the spring bars you use are the proper fit to the holes. Smaller diameter bars look ok but if the watch should use 2mm and you use 1.5mm they will be sloppy in your lugs and will cause wallowing out from movement.

I find that Marathon bars are solid and much less expensive than Rolex. They are cheap enough to buy more than you need and allow you to change them out when you want.

Drilled through lugs allow for spring bars that are shoulder-less and fit between with the outer bar completely filling the space with no or only the most minuscule lateral movement.

[Bob the brush]

Thanks. Most informative.

[toxicavenger]

Shoulderless spring bars work the best on drilled lugs since they act more like a solid bar since they actually go into the lugs. Because of this I carry them in my store.

[Bob the brush]

My 1016 has gone off for service today, (not Rolex), and have asked them to change pins for 2mm shoulderless variety if not fitted. I'm sure they will do this as a matter of course. I have also instructed for them not to polish the watch as I feel that Rolex (who have always serviced the watch) have over polished as a consequence the lugs do not appear as chunky as photos of similar 1016's seen on this site. When returned, I will post photos and ask the experts here for their opinion.

[toxicavenger]

This is the style I carry for Rolex's. I recommended shoulderless for all drilled lugged watches.

[Bob the brush]

Thanks. I went on the marathon web site they were unavailable via Amazon here in the UK. I have managed to find some 2mm shoulderless pins were described as" Rolex quality" and ordered 6 at a very reasonable price.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Bob Kendall

Thanks. I went on the marathon web site they were unavailable via Amazon here in the UK. I have managed to find some 2mm shoulderless pins were described as" Rolex quality" and ordered 6 at a very reasonable price.

Just a word of advice. Some of the ones on ebay and Amazon aren't as good as they can be. SO when you get them check the operation of them a few times to see if the spring is reacting correctly and feels strong.

[Bob the brush]

Thanks. Will do.

[Bob the brush]

They have arrived, and the springs seem strong and push in evenly. Thanks for your advice.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Bob Kendall

They have arrived, and the springs seem strong and push in evenly. Thanks for your advice.

Good deal.