16570 bracelet options

[DJ2020]

I have my eyes on a 16570 black dial at my local watch dealer. I am considering this purchase after I get the "all clear" from my oncologist.

I actually have 2 questions. 1) If I send it in to a RSC for a complete service (3185) what are the thoughts on how long I can expect accuracy from a freshly serviced 3185.

2) The bracelet, well just sucks. It's the old style with the hollow end links and hair pulling rattle bracelet that I have had before. Will Rolex "allow" a solid bracelet to be installed? And if so, any idea what Rolex charges for it?

Or, should I just send it in for service and put a aftermarket strap or bracelet when I get it back.

Please chime in with your thoughts.

[douglasf13]

Nope, they won’t mount SEL and/or solid link bracelets to older watches at service. They don’t fit.

If it bothers ya that much, I’d probably at least hold out for a year with solid end links.

[rmagoo57]

Buy a newer model with the SEL bracelet - plenty of these on the market at any given time. I have a V series from 2008 - no bracelet issues.

[Tools]

1. A 3185 is capable of excellent time keeping and will usually be within a couple of seconds a day for years.

2. There were no solid center link bracelets available for the 16570, but later issues did come with SEL's. They will likely sell you one of the latest, exchange. They cost a couple of thousand bucks.

I have never had a hair pulling issue with the Explorer II bracelets. You really need to go back a few more decades for the hair pulling folded link bracelets.

I don't ever see a reason to use an aftermarket bracelet but many do.

[rgwarden]

Echoing the comments above really. I had an F series with SEL bracelet and it felt easily sturdy enough, but it also held its own on any after market band i threw at it. If the hollow end link rattle drives you nuts (and as pointed out they can’t fit a SEL bracelet on to the slightly older reference, if you can source a later SEL series then do that, but you then don’t get the lugholes in the case i believe. On the other point 3185 was accurate and strong and I’d imagine will outlive all of us.

[DJ2020]

Thanks for the information everyone. I feel a little better about what I'm looking for now. Good information. Appreciated.

[watchmavan]

From 1999. No hair pulling and I have hairy arms. Non-SEL on this and I love them. Drilled lugs too. A thing of beauty that is not matched by the modern interpretations imo. These things are bombs on other straps as well so the bracelet, still holding what's said above, doesn't matter.

[ebis]

My 16570 original came with hollow end links. When I took it in for service, I purchased a new bracelet and the bracelet had solid end links.

As mentioned from earlier, the SELs give it a much more solid feel. It feels slightly more modern.

[DJ2020]

So if I understand correctly, older models with drilled lug will still have solid bracelet links even though the end links are not?

I had made a assumption, My very 1st Rolex the 5513 had hollow end links and the bracelet was just pieces of steel kinda wrapped/ bent to make a link. The " hair puller" I had mentioned.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by ebis

My 16570 original came with hollow end links. When I took it in for service, I purchased a new bracelet and the bracelet had solid end links.

As mentioned from earlier, the SELs give it a much more solid feel. It feels slightly more modern.

Wow, I didn’t know that, so ignore my post above. I didn’t realize an SEL bracelet would fit a non-SEL model.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by DJ2020

So if I understand correctly, older models with drilled lug will still have solid bracelet links even though the end links are not?

I had made a assumption, My very 1st Rolex the 5513 had hollow end links and the bracelet was just pieces of steel kinda wrapped/ bent to make a link. The " hair puller" I had mentioned.

Ah, I think we’re having a semantics issue. We’re talking about three types of center links and two types of end links:

- the old folded center links, like you described on your 5513, they all come with hollow end links
- hollow center links, all of the 16570s come with hollow center links, initially with hollow end links, and then later solid end links
- the newer, 6-digit Exp II watches come with both solid center links and solid end links.

To make things more confusing, the 16570 started with lug holes and hollow end links, then briefly had lug holes and solid end links, and, finally, no lug holes with solid end links.

[watchmavan]

The best coverage of 16570 versions, bar none!

https://www.beyondthedial.com/post/c...ces-in-detail/