Rolex 1675 ( 1972) 55 End links very bad

[stevegeorge249]

Hi All,

I have a late 1972 1675 and fancied a change from the 7836/380 OYSTER so got myself a 6251H jubilee with 55 end links. The clasp code is 4/72 so was very happy until I fitted it and this happened, see photo.

I have read lots of posts on here but now very confused what is the best to do.

I'm using the normal fat spring bars from the oyster that just about work.

As you can see the 55's look too shallow to me and too short in depth or am I missing something. I have even been looking at shoulderless curved spring bars. I'm wondering have these 55's been molested alone the way or this is how they are?

I also read that 550 end links are good but will they sort this problem or is something else going on.

As always very grateful for all comments and advice given to this novice.20220513_181829.jpg

[Dan S]

Frankly, that's not awful if you avoid macro photos, but you can probably improve it a bit with some work. Have you tried adjusting the opening of the end-links. Sometimes you need to do some trial-and-error to optimize the fit. But even then, you shouldn't expect something as perfect as you would get with a modern watch.

[stevegeorge249]

Thanks Dan,

I here what you say, its just the 380 end links with the 7836 fit almost perfect to my eye and was expecting similar.

Do you know if 550 end links could be any better?

Help much appreciated
Steve

[stevegeorge249]

Is it me or the 380's look bigger all round than the 55's

I know 280's are really correct for a 7836 but these fit so well.

I guess the question is, how do 550's compare or do I start fiddling?

All comments and help appreciated

[stevegeorge249]

same watch with 380s

[swish77]

That would drive me nuts. I suspect your Jubilee end links have been flattened somewhat over time. Try bending them open more so you don't have such a big gap between the bottom of the bezel and the top of the end links.

I obsess over the fit of these old end links and often have to bend them to get the fit acceptable. I always try to get the curve of the end link lined up with the curve of the lugs. It can be done.

[stevegeorge249]

Thanks Aaron,

I thought of bending them but if you look at my photos the 55's just look way smaller than the 380's that are perfect to my vision.

Do you have any to compare like I did? please.

I really wanted someone who has 550's to compare to 55's and 380's

I bet someone starting with S has them all them to compare!

Thanks for all help

[lee fowler]

The correct end links for your GMT are 50’s but you should be able to get those 55 ones to fit a little better.

[TuRo]

I would put some masking tape on a set of thin nose pliers and place the end link round the pliers gently pushing the end link up as pliers widen a tad- then turn end link round and do again. This will gain you about 0.5 - 1mm in height at the the end and about .3mm to .6mm in the centre - it also has the benefit of making the end link tighter as the hole and spring bar will come in about 0.25mm closer to case. The result will look better as the end link will fill the gap much better. Do it very carefully and slowly tiny bit at a time.
Yes 380s are longer and deeper than 50s, but you can improve them (by doing above), or find a set of 55s but even these don't fill the gap as well 380s I have found. I just live with a tiny bit of lug end showing on a 6251/62510h on a 1675 as I think the look and comfort is great

[mattedialdoc]

Originally Posted by pauldavidthorpe

I would put some masking tape on a set of thin nose pliers and place the end link round the pliers gently pushing the end link up as pliers widen a tad- then turn end link round and do again. This will gain you about 0.5 - 1mm in height at the the end and about .3mm to .6mm in the centre - it also has the benefit of making the end link tighter as the hole and spring bar will come in about 0.25mm closer to case. The result will look better as the end link will fill the gap much better. Do it very carefully and slowly tiny bit at a time.
Yes 380s are longer and deeper than 50s, but you can improve them (by doing above), or find a set of 55s but even these don't fill the gap as well 380s I have found. I just live with a tiny bit of lug end showing on a 6251/62510h on a 1675 as I think the look and comfort is great

Good instruction. I would also take the 380s and the end links you are adjusting and try to visually replicate the gap size. You can lay them side by side on a table and adjust accordingly. You will get close. This will not look perfect. But it wa a never meant to be like a SEL fitment.


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[springer]

As Lee mentioned, 50 end links re te correct ones for the 6251 SWISS Jubilee. The next best option would be 550 end links from the 62510 Jubilee.

[stevegeorge249]

550 end links on order.

I found watches for sales with 62510H and 550 and all look a great fit. Fingers crossed they work as well with 6251h.

Thanks Guys, I'll post when fitted

[timnik]

I use swiss 550 end links with an oval link USA Jubilee from 1973 on my 1969 GMT.

The original end links were a really bad fit and had begun wearing the serial number away on the lugs.

Fit really nice and look great

[stevegeorge249]

Just waiting for my 550s to arrive but found this watch with 50s, glad I didn't spend out a load of cash for them!@

[lee fowler]

This mine on 50's.

[stevegeorge249]

Thanks Lee

Much better, that's what I thought 55s should look like but I guess they
were made for a 36mm watch really.

[springer]

Originally Posted by stevegeorge249

Just waiting for my 550s to arrive but found this watch with 50s, glad I didn't spend out a load of cash for them!@

The end links in your photo have issues - they obviously do not fit very well. I have had 50 end links on two 6251 Jubilees on two different GMT 1675s and had no fitment issues.

[Paka]

That is 100% normal in vintage 1675/16750 with jubilee. When the watch is on your wrist the end link should fit well. Put when you take it off, it kind of "drops" like in that picture. So the end link moves in up-down-position. A bit hard to explane. But don't worry! With oyster you don't have that. I have to vintage 16750 with jubilee and oyster and there is a difference. Still prefere jubilee! :) Great watch you have there!

[stevegeorge249]

Thanks guys for the info, much appreciated.

I'm getting the impression 50s are the way to go if you can find some that won't break the bank.

Still awaiting my 550s as a compromise but just found these 50s and wondered if anyone has seen such a thing.
Basically, 50s stamped on the back as normal but also on the front of one link, see picture. Seemed bizarre to me.

As always all help, advice, experiences appreciated.

[Paka]

I have in my 1981 transitional 16750 jubilee 62510 with 502T endlinks. They should be correct end links for that bracelet. And there is movement up and down like I said. With oyster, there's not.

[lee fowler]

Originally Posted by stevegeorge249

Thanks guys for the info, much appreciated.

I'm getting the impression 50s are the way to go if you can find some that won't break the bank.

Still awaiting my 550s as a compromise but just found these 50s and wondered if anyone has seen such a thing.
Basically, 50s stamped on the back as normal but also on the front of one link, see picture. Seemed bizarre to me.

As always all help, advice, experiences appreciated.

Don't like the look of those!

[stevegeorge249]

Perhaps its bragging rights that you had 50s and needed to let the entire world know

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by stevegeorge249

Perhaps its bragging rights that you had 50s and needed to let the entire world know

@ihave50s would be a great username!

Or maybe @superfatinsert.

Why didn't I come up with these brilliant ideas before joining?

[stevegeorge249]

Dan your the man!

That is a cool idea ��

[TimeLord2]

Originally Posted by Dan S

@ihave50s would be a great username!

Or maybe @superfatinsert.

Why didn't I come up with these brilliant ideas before joining?

People might get the wrong idea with that last one…

[stevegeorge249]

superfatinsert lol

[stevegeorge249]

Hi All,

Just though I would post my efforts, see what you think.

taking orders now for anyone who wants a jubilee fitting

not quite perfect but something I could live with now.

[Paka]

Originally Posted by stevegeorge249

Hi All,

Just though I would post my efforts, see what you think.

Looks good! So what was your solution?

[Ascari_2]

Fantastic fit!

[stevegeorge249]

The answer was that.....
55s 550s and even 50s all seem way too small for the 1675 40mm case to me, when trying to fit a 6251h jubilee.
Perhaps they were all designed for a 36mm case.
I was comparing all of them to the 380s on my 7836 oyster.
The 380s are 20mm wide but much bigger and deeper, filling the space nicely.
The 380s fit snug to the case and tight at the top and bottom,
not moving at all, aligning beautifully to the case profile.
So the search was on to find jubilee end links that were large like 380s....

Along the way I found you needed to remove the bezel to fit really tight end links and learn how to bend spring bars too.

Got myself some spare fat 2mm x 20mm spring bars to experiment bending with.
I did this just with my fingers and some old pipe to bend over.
Although, it did make my fingers hurt a little and several goes to progressively make the spring bars more and more curved. Approx 2mm off straight.

Having bought original 55s and 550s I went cheapskate and started looking at after market end links.
I found David Anthony on Ebay and for and amazing price of £3.95 they sell great quality BIG jubilee links that fit like a charm with the help of curved spring bars. I compared them to 380s and very close indeed.

As John Springer suggested I had to very slightly open up the end of the 6251h last links to take the 2mm curved spring bars.
I did this with a 2mm screw driver and gradually worked into the ends until 2mm spring bar fitted snugly.

Additional, when I got close I very slightly bent in/up the bottom of the end links. This made them super tight on the case a made the profile to the 1675 even better.

Viola!!