Submariner 16610 Second hand length

[bman381]

Got my watch back from Rolex service. The second hand sure looks smaller that it originally did. Doesn’t look right. What do you guys think? Looks couple millimeters short. Thanks

[springer]

I've seen those sweep seconds hands many times. On Subs, GMTs both and probably some other models.

[214270Explorer]

If there is just the tiniest gap from the hand-end to the indice marker, then the hand is correct.

Can't tell from the angle of your photo, but from what I can see it looks good.

Rolex service is not going to install a "wrong" hand. Just not gonna happen.

[bman381]

Ok thanks! It does come right up to the inside marker it just looks shorter than my other watches. Could just be my eye. Thanks for looking!

[bman381]

Here’s beside my other sub. The lumensot looks smaller and up higher and a longer end after. Guess I’ll have my watch guy look at it. Almost looks like a Tudor hand. Lol.

[bman381]

Just weird to see the shorter hand and lume dot little larger.

[springer]

It's an optical illusion. On these "shorter looking" hands, the tritium has been moved further out toward the outer end of the hand instead of being just off-centered like what we're use to on most hands.

Below are photos of a 16610 and 5513 Submariners, both with the seconds hands where the tritium is centered more toward the middle of each hand.

[bman381]

Thanks Springer for clarifying!

[Dan S]

You really need to take photos straight-on to avoid parallax errors. It's impossible to compare these images taken at all different angles.

[bman381]

Here you go straight on. Doesn’t look right still, looks short.

[Dan S]

Looks perfect to me. Right to the edge of the markers. Go to Bob's Watches and pull up a bunch of photos and you'll see.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Looks perfect to me. Right to the edge of the markers. Go to Bob's Watches and pull up a bunch of photos and you'll see.

My comments were directed at the seconds hand where the tritium is placed closer to the end of the hand than nearer the center point between the end of the hand and the center post.. I thought that was what the OP was referring to in his original post.

[bman381]

Thanks guys for your input I appreciate it!

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by springer

My comments were directed at the seconds hand where the tritium is placed closer to the end of the hand than nearer the center point between the end of the hand and the center post.. I thought that was what the OP was referring to in his original post.

I did understand the point you were making, JP. Maybe I misunderstood the OP's question, but I assumed he was talking about the actual length of the sweep hand, and the position of the tip relative to the outer track. That's why I mentioned comparing straight-on photos.

[bman381]

Yeah I’ve looked at hundreds of tritium hands and have not seen one as short as mine (lol) from lume to tip. Except the very old 6538 Submariner. Definitely looks way different after getting back from service.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by bman381

Yeah I’ve looked at hundreds of tritium hands and have not seen one as short as mine (lol) from lume to tip. Except the very old 6538 Submariner. Definitely looks way different after getting back from service.

OK, so you're NOT saying that the hand is short, you're saying that the lume circle is farther out on the hand. The way you are expressing it is confusing. When one talks about the length of a hand, it is the length from the pinion hole to the tip. Somehow JP actually figured out what you were talking about. If he says those hands are common, then I would definitely believe him. You understand that Rolex installed service parts that are not going to be identical to the originals. But they obviously install correct and authentic service parts.

[bman381]

Yes sorry about the confusion. Thanks for the help! I feel better now that’s it’s authentic.

[bman381]

One last pic. My seadweller on the right. Small lume plot and plot up higher and longer tip to minute inside. On the left lager lume plot and farther down and shorter tip to minute indice. Just strange.

[j0hnny]

Now I’m confused, I see the difference in the second hand but that’s not a Sea Dweller on the right, it’s a Sub.


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[Dirt]

Hand lengths are not set by an industry standard and can vary wildly depending on brand and reference.
Having said that, it's almost inconceivable that a RSC would ever deliberately install the wrong hand or even a substitute on a watch.
Especially your particular reference in this day and age as the item in question is still relatively current.

[lsupcar]

On my rolex watches, I have noticed that the lume dot of the second hand extends to just the tip of the biggest hour marker, but does not overlap. Nor does it overlap the "mercedes" dot of the hour hand. And the tip of the second hand extends to just the edge of the minute track.

[j0hnny]

The tip of my Sea Dweller second hand extends just over the minute track




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[j0hnny]

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[padi56]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Hand lengths are not set by an industry standard and can vary wildly depending on brand and reference.
Having said that, it's almost inconceivable that a RSC would ever deliberately install the wrong hand or even a substitute on a watch.
Especially your particular reference in this day and age as the item in question is still relatively current.

Plus the fact Rolex themselves do not make the hands, a firm called Aiguilles makes all the watch hands for all models.

[bman381]

Yeah sorry both those pics are subs. Just wondering why on those certain tritium models they made the length shorter from lume to minute indice. Crazy and gives it that fake feeling. Tim enjoying the Watch.

[Emunzy]

Been staring at an E-Serial submariner myself and comparing the lume dot on the seconds hands against other seconds hands.

After reading Hodinkee's article about the 14270, it does appear that there are some early E-Serial 14270's that had seconds hand with the lume dot pushed out.

I have an E-Serial Submariner with the lume dot further out, might be an early 1990(E-Serial) "quirk". Left a comment on the article hoping for more insight either here or there.

[edle]

I recently bought a 1992 16610 and the lume dot in the second hand was further out.
Also my early 14270 has the same issue but it was sold already.

[fskywalker]

S serial below with original hands for comparison




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[oak3x]

Just received my 16610 back from RSC in March. 2008 M Serial Number

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Looks perfect to me. Right to the edge of the markers. Go to Bob's Watches and pull up a bunch of photos and you'll see.

Have to agree looks fine but even Rolex don't make the hands for any model a firm called Aiguilles makes all the watch hands .