Why did Rolex get rid of holes on the lugs?

[HogwldFLTR]

When I was communicating through medium with Hans Wildorf he said he instructed the staff to stop making tool watches and start making fashion watches. That's why.

[destrodan]

Because exposed lug holes might cause a fashion watch to be embarrassingly identified by other well-heeled high-society fashion watches as a 'devil-may-care' rugged tool watch. A 14060m once told me that walking around with exposed lug holes is like attending an evening cocktail party with a mountain man's beard instead of a five o'clock shadow that's meticulously trimmed to the perfect designer-stubble length.

[Rocket_Man]

Originally Posted by AF_Rob

I’m a fan of lug holes as well. For old school esthetics, I’m surprised Tudor hasn’t brought them back.


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Tudor will put faux lug holes on their next Black Bay.

[Wssszsss]

The hole been removed because Rolex wanted to level up their sport watch from tool to luxury, just like royal oak and nautilus, to design the case and bracelet all together, not separate

[Goose 104]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

Tudor will put faux lug holes on their next Black Bay.

[PenDelicate]

I think they look bad.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by AF_Rob

I’m a fan of lug holes as well. For old school esthetics, I’m surprised Tudor hasn’t brought them back.


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The Heritage Ranger (2014 - 2020) had lug holes (and straight end links like the first Explorer).

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by AF_Rob

I’m a fan of lug holes as well. For old school esthetics, I’m surprised Tudor hasn’t brought them back.


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Technically, they never left. Royal still has them, as does the now-Asia-only Prince line.

Originally Posted by Dirt

Technically I imagine it's easier to get a nicer finish when polishing the case sides because they don't have to be too concerned with losing the crisp edges of the holes.

This was my thought. Nothing shows over-polishing more than the tips of lugs sticking out the ends of the holes.

[alex.cicollo]

Easy solution…

[petay993]

When they made the transition from instruments to jewellery.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Norbert

Let's bring back the stamped steel bracelets as well.

LOL good point

[Ferrari308]

I think I prefer them, simply for the strap reason. Much easier to deal with. I would not dare try to change the bracelet on my Daytona - I would scratch the crap out of it. My DJ, Sub or OP - no problem at all.


PDG

[PenDelicate]

I don't get the "lug-holes left when Rolex went from tool-watches to jewelry" thread here.

Changing a strap is 99% of the time an aesthetic choice. And aesthetics is firmly in the jewelry-realm.

If you've a tool-watch, you find the most functional strap and never change it: it's doing its job.

So removing lug-holes makes it harder to change straps, which negatively affects aesthetic choice, which is a move away from the jewelry-realm and towards the tool-realm.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Josunese1975

Why do you think Rolex got rid of them? To discourage us from changing our bracelet to different straps so easily? Or for purely aesthetic reasons? Or little bit of both? I have three Datejusts and two of them with no holes. I would love to change to different straps but don't want to deal with the hassle, especially scratching the inner lugs and spring bars flying off. I change straps on the older Datejust with holes frequently and with ease. Why Rolex why? Bring back the cases with lug holes!

I agree it is a bit of both but primarily it is to stop owners from tinkering w strap bracelet changes. Rolex goes through a great deal of trouble to insure the bracelets are not interchangeable with different models of their watches. Aesthetics are second.

You could pick up the official Rolex spring bar remover for the non lugholes watches ?

I was hooked on spring bars the very first time I used them.

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Holes went out of fashion.

Grand seiko still uses them in many of their models.

Practicality is never out of fashion

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by subtona

Grand seiko still uses them in many of their models.

Practicality is never out of fashion

They do today but funnily enough most Grand Seikos back in the 1960s and 1970s didn't have lug holes. They were mostly dressier back then, though.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by subtona

I agree it is a bit of both but primarily it is to stop owners from tinkering w strap bracelet changes. Rolex goes through a great deal of trouble to insure the bracelets are not interchangeable with different models of their watches. Aesthetics are second.

You could pick up the official Rolex spring bar remover for the non lugholes watches ?

I was hooked on spring bars the very first time I used them.




Grand seiko still uses them in many of their models.

Practicality is never out of fashion

Strangely enough Rolex chooses to include them on some of their current Tudor models. I'm not sure what their rationale is.

[Solo118]

Originally Posted by samson66

Strangely enough Rolex chooses to include them on some of their current Tudor models. I'm not sure what their rationale is.

The Tudor (such as the BB you pointed out) is heavily vintage themed. Vintage watches had the lug holes (which I think were amazing on the older tool watches) and in some cases riveted bracelets etc.

The newer Rolex models are much more luxurious, modern looking and high end on the price, and as you may know even the Rolex pure tool watches such as the Submariner or Explorer line are barely used like they used to.

[goodolejr]

Because spring bars sticking out from over-polished lugs are a real buzzkill.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by petay993

When they made the transition from instruments to jewellery.

That was around 1945 when they made the first DJ in gold

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

They do today but funnily enough most Grand Seikos back in the 1960s and 1970s didn't have lug holes. They were mostly dressier back then, though.

Always great info Adam

Originally Posted by samson66

Strangely enough Rolex chooses to include them on some of their current Tudor models. I'm not sure what their rationale is.

I guess it’s an acknowledgment of a real tool watch requirement?

Originally Posted by goodolejr

Because spring bars sticking out from over-polished lugs are a real buzzkill.

If you file the spring bars halfway down they would probably still be more substantial than their modern counterparts.