Rolex 1803 Bracelet

[musings_with_John]

Good Day all -

Need a bit of educating.

I have a 1968 Rolex YG 1803 that its original bracelet went missing years ago (before I owned it).

I'm told the proper bracelet will have a 53B style end link (by my AD). I've never seen a 53B stamped end link. What is the true difference between a 53 and a 53B end link?

Thanks in advance!

John

[ronricks]

53b is for the 18238

53 is for the 1803

You want the 53. I think the ‘b’ will fit but not perfectly like a 53 would.

[musings_with_John]

Originally Posted by ronricks

53b is for the 18238

53 is for the 1803

You want the 53. I think the ‘b’ will fit but not perfectly like a 53 would.

Thank you! Guess I’m going to look for a good 53!

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by ronricks

53b is for the 18238

53 is for the 1803

You want the 53. I think the ‘b’ will fit but not perfectly like a 53 would.

ronricks is right, you will want 53 end links.

However, there may be one small typo. I could be wrong (it happens far too often), but I’m not sure there are any “53b” end links - I believe the correct pre-2000 DD end links are:

1803 - 53
180xx/181xx - 55
182xx/183xx - 55b

I assume Rolex continued using 55b links on the early (1182xx/post-1999) 6-digit DDs, right up until the DDs changed to solid end links, but I’m not sure about that.

[musings_with_John]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

ronricks is right, you will want 53 end links.

However, there may be one small typo. I could be wrong (it happens far too often), but I’m not sure there are any “53b” end links - I believe the correct pre-2000 DD end links are:

1803 - 53
180xx/181xx - 55
182xx/183xx - 55b

I assume Rolex continued using 55b links on the early (1182xx/post-1999) 6-digit DDs, right up until the DDs changed to solid end links, but I’m not sure about that.

Excellent news! Since this is a 1803, late sixties, 53 end links should do the trick! Thank you all for the education - really appreciate it!

[carwashchris]

You want the 53 end link, it's the perfect match. I have never seen a 53b. I will add some photos of all 3 different end links . The case on the 18038 is the thickest and uses a 55 EL 18238 is the thinest and uses the 55b EL. The 1803 is slightly thicker than the 18238 and uses a 53 EL.

People have been able to bend the tabs on the 55b to fit the 1803 case, but beware this can weaken the tab. ( I have seen them broke off )

The 55 end link will fit both 1803 & 18238 cases with out adjustment but are loose where they meet the case.

The above is only my opinion based on owning all three and measuring the case thickness and the mouth of the end link.

Chris

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

ronricks is right, you will want 53 end links.

However, there may be one small typo. I could be wrong (it happens far too often), but I’m not sure there are any “53b” end links - I believe the correct pre-2000 DD end links are:

1803 - 53
180xx/181xx - 55
182xx/183xx - 55b

I assume Rolex continued using 55b links on the early (1182xx/post-1999) 6-digit DDs, right up until the DDs changed to solid end links, but I’m not sure about that.

Clay you are correct I had a brain freeze

[miamiclay]

I just wanted to offer my thanks to Chris for posting those very useful pics!

(Chris, I hope you’ll consider posting all of that info and your pics as a “Day-Date end links” thread in the Reference Library.)

It’s a bit surprising to me that there are not different end link numbers for WG vs YG, nor for the bark end links. (I expect it would be a truly Herculean task to find, e.g., a pair of WG/bark end links for any reference.)