How To Measure a Rolex?

[Chriswulff]

How can it be that Rolex are selling this particular Rolex 116660 as a
44mm watch when there are no place on the watch ur actually can
measure 44mm?

Regards
Chris

[brandrea]

Rolex likes to round up or down depending on the reference

[vh2k]

They pick a nice sounding number then measure diagonally across the case (including some of the lugs) to justify the specification.

[supernova]

You need to measure diagonal in order to get the case size.

Your first pic is measuring the bezel size and second pic is measuring with crown, which are both incorrect ways to measure case size.

[Tools]

No reason to find the absolute smallest measurement, then declare that that is the definitive number. Most measurements are likely based on raw input, before final sizing.

Using your own measurements, they average out to a nominal watch size of 47.48.

I hereby proclaim that the Deep Sea is really a 47mm watch.

Your measurements confirm this!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Chriswulff

How can it be that Rolex are selling this particular Rolex 116660 as a
44mm watch when there are no place on the watch ur actually can
measure 44mm?

Regards
Chris

Warning do not buy Rolex watches unless you have a digital calliper measuring device just encase its 1mm under quoted size god give me strength. But guess in the real world in yester-years when the countless millions of Rolex watches sold over the past few decades,as then they did not care or owned digital measuring devises to measure, weight, and moan about these minuscule size differences. Back then they bought Rolex watches because they was one of the finest accurate long lasting mechanical watches made today . But lately I sometime wonder why some buy Rolex watches perhaps just to wear the name or moan about minuscule trivial details.

[mui.richard]

COVID-19 is killing us in more ways than we realize, brain cells seem to be highly vulnerable.

[Marcjvr]

Geez tough crowd.

Op was just asking an innocent question about measuring a Rolex.

He’s not asking how much it is worth as an investment

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by mui.richard

COVID-19 is killing us in more ways than we realize, brain cells seem to be highly vulnerable.

Seems like it has killed off common courtesy and politeness around here as well sadly

[Seddyspaghetti]

Poor OP. Welcome.

[214270Explorer]

Now we are likely to get posts suggesting fakes because they are "not the right size."
Thanks a bunch, OP!

Can we get this post closed, maybe?

Jeebus !!!!

[mui.richard]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

Seems like it has killed off common courtesy and politeness around here as well sadly

Sense of humor as well so it seems.
My comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek obviously...

[offrdmania]

I though I read where Rolex measures case size from the 2 to 8 position

[Chriswulff]

Hi thx for answers, first and last post on this forum :)

Chris

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by mui.richard

Sense of humor as well so it seems.
My comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek obviously...

lol don’t quit your day job

[mui.richard]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

lol don’t quit your day job

It's a good thing then that I made my fortune the old fashioned way.....




I inherited it.

[campfire]

Try measuring at 10 and 2.

On an OP41, I got 39.7 mm measuring as close to 9 and 3 as possible (the crown gets in the way). And 41 mm at 10 and 4.

But big word of warning, this is using cheap $9 digital calipers from Amazon. Haha.

[GradyPhilpott]

Obviously, your micrometer is broken.

[TTalk]

I'd be asking for a 2.27% refund.

[thenewrick]

The number of the model doesn't directly correlate to the case width. It's sort of implied but not entirely accurate.

It's like how cars used to say it was the so and so 350 because it had a 3.5L engine. Now you can call it a so and so 350 with a 2.0L engine.

The OP41 isn't 41mm and the Submariner 41 isn't 41mm. It sort of hints at the ballpark though. I think others have posted measurements and the old Submariner was like 40.3 and the new one is 40.8 or thereabouts.

[Razorsedge1]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

Geez tough crowd.

Op was just asking an innocent question about measuring a Rolex.

He’s not asking how much it is worth as an investment

Tough crowd for sure.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Chriswulff

Hi thx for answers, first and last post on this forum :)

Chris

That's a shame. Discussion on any watch topic can be vigorous, even contentious, at times. None of it should be taken too personally.

Measurement of the Deep Sea, which originally was advertised as 43mm, has been debated and discussed for years.

[samson66]

Measure across the case from just to the edge of the crown guards. Your first measurement is the bezel diameter. It can be different. In fact it usually is. But it may not be a full mm different. Usually you go either 10 - 4 or 8 - 2. This is how I measured my SD43:

[Chriswulff]

Thanks for those legit answers to my question :)

The thing is that many other watches Omega, Tudor etc actually measures close to 42mm over the bezel if its a 42mm watch

for example - Tudor Black GMT measures 40,86 over the bezel and its a 41mm watch, Omega speedmaster 39,76 and advertised as a 39,7mm watch

So I was puzzled that Rolex 116660 is a 1.0mm off on the bezel in advertised specs.

I can google zero hits on any literature raising this topic, and yes, its a fun fact
and a nerdy thing, but isn't that what horology is all about.


Thx and have a good day
Chris

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by 214270Explorer

Now we are likely to get posts suggesting fakes because they are "not the right size."
Thanks a bunch, OP!

Can we get this post closed, maybe?

Jeebus !!!!

Eh? Seems a bit of a dramatic response to fair question, offer the correct answer rather than suggest closing the post... Way to welcome a new member.

[Andad]

Hi Chris,

In your first pix I noticed that you are measuring the bezel across the flat of the peaks and not the top of the peaks.
Measuring across the top of the peaks would give you a slightly bigger diameter if you are into microns.

And then there is the option of measuring the diameter across the case from 2 to 8.

I am not saying that Rolex are correct with stating that this watch measures 44mm in diameter (because I own a DJ 41 and a ‘40mm’ Daytona )

I am just making suggestions in the interests of accuracy.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Chriswulff

Thanks for those legit answers to my question :)

The thing is that many other watches Omega, Tudor etc actually measures close to 42mm over the bezel if its a 42mm watch

for example - Tudor Black GMT measures 40,86 over the bezel and its a 41mm watch, Omega speedmaster 39,76 and advertised as a 39,7mm watch

So I was puzzled that Rolex 116660 is a 1.0mm off on the bezel in advertised specs.

I can google zero hits on any literature raising this topic, and yes, its a fun fact
and a nerdy thing, but isn't that what horology is all about.


Thx and have a good day
Chris

In simple terms most all watch manufactures round up the case sizes much like the car industry like calling a car a Morris 1000 when the engine size ranged from 995cc to 998cc over the production years.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Chriswulff

Thanks for those legit answers to my question :)

The thing is that many other watches Omega, Tudor etc actually measures close to 42mm over the bezel if its a 42mm watch

for example - Tudor Black GMT measures 40,86 over the bezel and its a 41mm watch, Omega speedmaster 39,76 and advertised as a 39,7mm watch

So I was puzzled that Rolex 116660 is a 1.0mm off on the bezel in advertised specs.

I can google zero hits on any literature raising this topic, and yes, its a fun fact
and a nerdy thing, but isn't that what horology is all about.


Thx and have a good day
Chris

Omega is an interesting one because they include the crown guards in the measurement. So if you look at a Speedmaster Moonwatch which is listed at 42 mm, the bezel width is only around 39 mm. The rest of the width is the rounds of the case including the crown guards. Very deceiving.

I will say the most accurate watch I have in terms of size is my Tudor GMT which comes out just as advertised 41 mm exactly across the case. And the bezel is the full width of the watch. The sides of the case are vertical and head straight down from the edge of the bezel.

I'm a junkie with the calipers too, it's a watch nerd thing. Don't let some of the naysayers put you off, there are plenty on here that enjoy measuring the watches and pointing out how off Rolex can be with their stated diameter (hello Datejust 41 at 39.2 mm)

[gnuyork]

Funny, I literally just bought digital calipers yesterday to measure my own watches to compare get an idea what the dimensions of the Explorer would be, since it's near impossible to try one on these days. Still trying to decide between the Explorer and the 39mm OP, but as of yesterday I threw the 36mm OP in the mix... I'm driving myself crazy trying to decide. Too bad you can't just walk into an AD anymore and actually try them on.

[samson66]

I measured my Tudor GMT and Omega Speedmaster Moonphase to show you what I mean. Notice how similar the bezel diameter is on both of these (1/2 mm apart) even though the stated watch diameter is 41 mm for the Tudor and 44.25 mm for the Omega.

Because the dial including bezel is so similar the Omega does not wear nearly as large as you would think. The eyes notice the dial and bezel, no so much the case and crown guards around them.

I will give Tudor and Omega credit, the stated watch size is exactly correct. Nome of that Rolex make believe stuff (DJ, DD, Daytona and others).



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