Submariner Lug Question

[Lane123]

Are the lug tips on a 116610 supposed to be deburred or left sharp? The lugs on mine were overly deburred by the previous owner but when I reached out to a very reputable watchmaker to discuss repair they mentioned that it’s supposed to be slightly deburred and not a sharp edge. I’m a bit confused by this as I thought it would be a sharp edge. For reference mine looks like someone took a grinder to the very tip of the lug where the top side of the lug and the bottom side of the lug meet, luckily it’s not visible unless your looking straight at the lug tips.

[Easy E]

Can you get a picture of this?

[0nly5iv3Digits]

A rolex will not have particularly "sharp" edges anywhere. They are hand polished and softened. Any watch with fairly sharp lugs/bracelet links etc. - that's a red-flag.

[Lane123]

Originally Posted by 0nly5iv3Digits

A rolex will not have particularly "sharp" edges anywhere. They are hand polished and softened. Any watch with fairly sharp lugs/bracelet links etc. - that's a red-flag.

I’ve always heard the opposite, that a factory edge will be sharp and a polished/over polished edge begins to soften/round/dull it.

[Lane123]

Originally Posted by Easy E

Can you get a picture of this?

This is what mine looks like, it’s obviously been over done. Watchmaker advised he can laser weld some 904L back onto the tips and recut the tips. He is saying that this is normal though, just a bit overdone on mine. From the top, sides and bottom of the watch you can’t see this, just when looking at it straight on.

[Big_Red]

Based on the single image alone it does appear “over done” with additional bevel added (perhaps to clean up dings)…. But overall, I don’t see it as a bad thing if you like the watch. Personally, I don’t like sharp edges.

Somewhat related, and I’ll be cautious on my words, but with certain um, tools, people pay good money for professionals to bevel/smooth edges.

[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by Lane123

This is what mine looks like, it’s obviously been over done. Watchmaker advised he can laser weld some 904L back onto the tips and recut the tips. He is saying that this is normal though, just a bit overdone on mine. From the top, sides and bottom of the watch you can’t see this, just when looking at it straight on.

Whoa... Well, at least it's well done but def not factory original. It's not normal at all.

[Mystro]

I have not seen that done on purpose to a factory lug. I have seen edges taken down due to damage.

[Lane123]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

Whoa... Well, at least it's well done but def not factory original. It's not normal at all.

Yeah definitely not factory by any stretch, my guess is the comment below is correct and it was done to hide a ding. Luckily it’s repairable and not noticeable at all unless you’re looking at it from this angle.

Does a factory cut tip have this just to a lesser extent? Or is it a complete angle coming to a point?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Lane123

Yeah definitely not factory by any stretch, my guess is the comment below is correct and it was done to hide a ding. Luckily it’s repairable and not noticeable at all unless you’re looking at it from this angle.

Does a factory cut tip have this just to a lesser extent? Or is it a complete angle coming to a point?

It comes to a smooth finish, but not truncated like yours has been done.

My sense of your watch was that one or two lugs got damaged and needed that truncating profile. And since one or two were done, the others had to be done to make it look balanced.

Don't waste your time with laser welding all that metal on 4 lugs.

First, it'll be more expensive than selling yours and buying a better one.

Next, there's a 50/50 chance it comes out badly reprofiled.

Lastly, there isn't any weld wire alloyed like Rolex's Oystersteel (i.e., outside of RSC) so you'll have a good chance of it not matching luster.


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[Lane123]

Originally Posted by 77T

It comes to a smooth finish, but not truncated like yours has been done.

My sense of your watch was that one or two lugs got damaged and needed that truncating profile. And since one or two were done, the others had to be done to make it look balanced.

Don't waste your time with laser welding all that metal on 4 lugs.

First, it'll be more expensive than selling yours and buying a better one.

Next, there's a 50/50 chance it comes out badly reprofiled.

Lastly, there isn't any weld wire alloyed like Rolex's Oystersteel (i.e., outside of RSC) so you'll have a good chance of it not matching luster.


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If I put my watch at that angle it would look identical, I don’t think it would be visible at all. I did confirm that the watchmaker uses 904L so I’m weighing that option. I also have my name in for a new 126610, so I may also just wait till that happens, buy it and then sell this one.

[77T]

Then give us a shot at that angle.
I agree with your decision though.

We can only help with one pretty fuzzy pic and your lug tips look truncated in the one you posted. More like an IWC.


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[Lane123]

Originally Posted by 77T

Then give us a shot at that angle.
I agree with your decision though.

We can only help with one pretty fuzzy pic and your lug tips look truncated in the one you posted. More like an IWC.


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Surprisingly a hard angle to get and also have the lighting close to the one in your pic. I appreciate your response and wasn’t disagreeing with your assessment. Guess I’m just partially looking for validation that this watch isn’t completely butchered considering I’m stuck with it lol.

[joli160]

There is nothing wrong with your watch, it looks great

[CarlOver]

A burr is what is left when you works metal from one side. If you sharpen a knife from one side enough, on the other side you have a curl of metal that you can feel with your finger nail. You are moving metal. That is the burr. I wonder if you meant bevel instead if burr?

[Lane123]

Originally Posted by CarlOver

A burr is what is left when you works metal from one side. If you sharpen a knife from one side enough, on the other side you have a curl of metal that you can feel with your finger nail. You are moving metal. That is the burr. I wonder if you meant bevel instead if burr?

Could very well be correct, I’m just repeating the terms the watchmaker used when discussing the repair.

[Easy E]

This looks more like a beveling situation than a de-burring. As 77T mentioned, I would not alter this any further. Too many downsides for not a significant enough problem. Rock on.

[slus]

Originally Posted by 0nly5iv3Digits

Any watch with fairly sharp lugs/bracelet links etc. - that's a red-flag.

No joke, I cut my damn finger open on the bracelet of a homage

I've never seen lug tips profiled like that. If they took a little off the sides of that 11 series I'd be OK with it but the underside is strange.

[keeso]

Originally Posted by Lane123

Surprisingly a hard angle to get and also have the lighting close to the one in your pic. I appreciate your response and wasn’t disagreeing with your assessment. Guess I’m just partially looking for validation that this watch isn’t completely butchered considering I’m stuck with it lol.

You don't have to worry about your watch.. It is fine