14060M Advice please

[B-Horological]

Hi first time posting. I've been looking for this sub for a while now and learning what to do and not. I have found a reputable retailer and received an item recently and am on the fence about keeping. It came with Box and was recently serviced so ~2 years left on service warranty. My concern is around the lugs... My plan is to keep this watch and pass it down to my son at some point. So longevity is desired.

What are your thoughts on these photos?

[tifosi]

What are you concerned about regarding the lugs?

[B-Horological]

Have they been thinned out too much? Will a future cleanup be difficult or impossible? Are we too close to the spring bar pins?

[Tools]

Too much glare and reflection to say much, but it's a decade or more old watch, I wouldn't expect it to be new.

Here is how a 14060M looks like, unmolested.

MSub3.JPG

[B-Horological]

Nice example!
So in general those lower lugs are designed quite thin. What has me concerned is that the lug holes on side opposite the crown seem to be quite full of pin... whereas on the crown side, there is still some hole to guide your spring bar removal tool...Knowing a watch only has so many polishes in it, makes me wonder how many left. This is going to be pretty much my everyday watch and I plan on keeping it a long time and passing it down some day... So being able to maintain is important.

[Car32]

Nice example! I recently joined the 14060m club myself, but a 2-liner Z serial.

On the lugs, what I learned was the spring bars aren't long enough to be evenly across both sides. Take a springbar tool or toothpick and push the spring bar in gently and you will see that now it's teh opposite side that is full of pin.

So no need to get concerned that one side's hole is more full.

[AF_Rob]

I have the same watch and it looks fine, OP. The watch is over a decade old. Not going to get much better, especially with time. You have it in hand, keep it. Of course, if the lugs ae your only hangup. If you are having buyer's remorse, that's another story.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Car32

Nice example! I recently joined the 14060m club myself, but a 2-liner Z serial.

On the lugs, what I learned was the spring bars aren't long enough to be evenly across both sides. Take a springbar tool or toothpick and push the spring bar in gently and you will see that now it's teh opposite side that is full of pin.

So no need to get concerned that one side's hole is more full.

That’s a great tip

Welcome to the forum OP

[B-Horological]

Thanks yeah good little trick there thank you and thanks for warm welcome. Not having buyers remorse. Just second guessing my selection. Internet shopping these is not easy. I think I have a good dealer and have one more day to decide.
So I get that the pins can be moved. I am also assuming they start off completely within the lug holes when new and stay that way until too many polishes.

Wondering if anyone could venture an estimate of how many more cleanings she has Left?
Probably impossible right?

I tend to be easy on lugs but hard on crystals, bezels and brackets. So that’s in favor of keeping.

[RFC]

This 5 digit Sub can take as many polishings as my 50 year old 5513 has had. It’s a steel case and can be remanufactured to look like brand new. See what I mean. So buy it and enjoy.

[Easy Rhino]

I've been wearing my 2-line 14060M daily since new in 2005 and from here those lugs and pins look completely normal.

I am admittedly biased but the 14060M is quite nearly the perfect tool watch.

Wear it in good health.

[B-Horological]

Nice work I do not have the tools nor the skills for that. Just curious are those lugs rebuilt or original?

[B-Horological]

Originally Posted by Easy Rhino

I've been wearing my 2-line 14060M daily since new in 2005 and from here those lugs and pins look completely normal.

I am admittedly biased but the 14060M is quite nearly the perfect tool watch.

Wear it in good health.

Thanks much appreciated. This is the timepiece that I wanted in 2009-2010 but couldn’t swing it. I wore a miyota movement Sub copy and now I can go back and can afford to do it over. Time changes many things and somehow these little bits of mechanical art take us back.

[Easy Rhino]

Originally Posted by B-Horological

Thanks much appreciated. This is the timepiece that I wanted in 2009-2010 but couldn’t swing it. I wore a miyota movement Sub copy and now I can go back and can afford to do it over. Time changes many things and somehow these little bits of mechanical art take us back.

There's no watch like one's personal grail watch. The Sub was my dream for over 20 years before my wife and I achieved a point where it was not irrational to acquire one. She gifted it to me on the occasion of our 25th wedding anniversary and it has been my most treasured material possession every day since then. I will never tire of putting it on each morning and admiring it.

[B-Horological]

Right on! That’s awesome.

[928ktgold]

those lug holes are sharp. They're not rounded out at all. looks like an unpolished example. get it.

[RFC]

Originally Posted by B-Horological

Nice work I do not have the tools nor the skills for that. Just curious are those lugs rebuilt or original?

Zimmerman laser welded, recut, and refinished my 5513 case that you see in the pic above. I should mention that the bevels/chamfers in a 5513/5512 of the 1960's are broader and thicker than in an unpolished 14060. I know that because I also own a 2 liner 14060M, which remains my favorite daily go to wearer. So just because you don't see these thick chamfers does not mean that your piece has been overly polished. Mind you if any watch has been serviced by Rolex over the years it has probably been polished. Your example looks fine to me. I prefer, though, the two-liner dials which look cleaner or less cluttered.

[Gerry62]

This is one of the latest 5 digit Submariner.
4 liner and rehaut sigled. The ultimate pre/ceramic Diver. It was in the showcase for sale new with the 116610LN I remember them well.
Good choice