Does your sub bezel marker line up with the minute hands?

[Blubarb]

I recently Heard it mentioned that not all rolex bezels on subs line up perfectly to the minute markers and that the modern ceramic ones are particularly bad for this. Some bezels are off and some are spot on. I can't see how this could be, but it got me thinking. So, is this the finding of real sub owners in the real world?

[Lord]

116610LN; bang on the money here...

[5080]

My LVC is off just a smidge. Not breaking my heart however.

[Robert.B]

Mine's off, but it's by a fraction of a millimeter. So the markers line up, they're just not 'dead center' with the minute markers under the closest scrutiny.

[Abdullah71601]

The insert can be realigned to line up perfectly. There's a thread on the watch tech sub forum that shows you how to DIY.

[Syed117]

Originally Posted by Robert.B

Mine's off, but it's by a fraction of a millimeter. So the markers line up, they're just not 'dead center' with the minute markers under the closest scrutiny.

Same here.

No worries though.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by 4mat

I recently Heard it mentioned that not all rolex bezels on subs line up perfectly to the minute markers and that the modern ceramic ones are particularly bad for this. Some bezels are off and some are spot on. I can't see how this could be, but it got me thinking. So, is this the finding of real sub owners in the real world?

Originally Posted by 5080

My LVC is off just a smidge. Not breaking my heart however.

Originally Posted by Robert.B

Mine's off, but it's by a fraction of a millimeter. So the markers line up, they're just not 'dead center' with the minute markers under the closest scrutiny.

The only place the bezel marker has to line with is where ever the minute hand is on the dial.This is to time something like the lapse time underwater,its not meant to be permanently fixed within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker.Plus on the ceramic watches there will be a tiny bit of lateral play mainly because the bezel floats on 3 ball bearings plus a spring stop pin.

[mannyv11]

mine is off slightly - no biggie though, I use it to time a lot of stuff so not really concerned about a small margin like that.

[Old Expat Beast]

My Black Bay is right on. Never heard of one that wasn't.

[inzite]

Would be very annoying if it was off, i mean it kinda makes everything look off as well. Paying such money for something that looks off, not my cup of tea :).

[datejust24]

on both of my Subs its slightly off ...but guess what....I could care less!!! These superficial observations on something that isn't even being used for its intended purpose by the vast majority of Sub owner's needs to be let go...who honestly cares if it doesn't line up EXACTLY with the 12 marker...and yea I get it you spent several thousands of dollars on a watch....we all did...and a lot of us are experiencing the same thing...enjoy your watch

[Jake B]

This can often be because of how your eyes perceive things. The insert might be set completely centered but look a hair off to the right for you, way off to the left for your brother Bob & off to the right for your sister Jenny. It might look like 6:00 on the dial doesn't line up when you're looking at the dial dead-on with 12:00 up, but turn your watch around 180 degrees so that 6:00 is at the top and you might find that what was off just moments ago in the first position now lines up. You'll also find different results looking only through your left eye, or right...and with tilting the watch a little to the left or right. Optical illusions. How your brain interprets what the eyes feed it is not necessarily reality.

[Old Expat Beast]

It's not a massive issue, but it does reflect lax quality control. You won't find one single official Rolex photo where the bezel isn't perfectly aligned. That's how it is meant to be.

[Ferdelious]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It's not a massive issue, but it does reflect lax quality control. You won't find one single official Rolex photo where the bezel isn't perfectly aligned. That's how it is meant to be.

I agree with Adam here. My SD4000 is off a hair, doesn't bother me too much though. I'll probably have it rectified when it's time for servicing.

[GsurgBM]

Spot on here.

[AS1]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It's not a massive issue, but it does reflect lax quality control. You won't find one single official Rolex photo where the bezel isn't perfectly aligned. That's how it is meant to be.

Absolutely right. Unfortunately, Rolex does not get the alignment right on many that I have seen in ADs or in photos on here. Not a deal-breaker type issue but when there are PM watches retailing for $30K+, one would expect this sort of thing to look perfect.

[sickened1]

Originally Posted by padi56

The only place the bezel marker has to line with is where ever the minute hand is on the dial.This is to time something like the lapse time underwater,its not meant to be permanently fixed within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker.Plus on the ceramic watches there will be a tiny bit of lateral play mainly because the bezel floats on 3 ball bearings plus a spring stop pin.

Thanks Peter. Learn something new here everyday.

[Tools]

There is always some tolerance for these things..

As mentioned, the bezel has no real relationship to the dial; they are never used together. The bezel also has 120 clicks and the dial only has 60 ticks, therefore the most that any bezel could be "off" (if you believe it should be aligned with something) is 1/4 of a tick, not much in the scheme of things..

[Ruud Van Driver]

Hang on, the minute hand doesn't jump from one minute to the next at the precise second the third hand sweeps past the twelve o'clock position. Therefore, to my simple mind at least, the bezel has to line up with the minute hand for at least part of the minute to which it is set.

[brandrea]

My 5513 lines up perfectly after 48 years

[johneh]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

My Black Bay is right on. Never heard of one that wasn't.

Pelagos is the same. It might have to do with tighter tolerances in the 60 click bezels as opposed to the 120 click ones. I love the way the Pelagos bezel locks in at 12:00.

[123Blueface]

This thread has now traumatized me.
I will never look at my sub the same way again.

[tkerrmd]

mine are all spot on

[cht]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It's not a massive issue, but it does reflect lax quality control. You won't find one single official Rolex photo where the bezel isn't perfectly aligned. That's how it is meant to be.

agree...

true and somewhat disappointing from a company that prides itself in the obsession of perfection.

Originally Posted by brandrea

My 5513 lines up perfectly after 48 years

one benefit to getting a rolex before they thought of the clickspring.

[doubleinfive]

I guess Rolex owners care more about the alignment than Rolex does...

[trackntrail]

Mine doesn't quite line up perfectly but I couldn't care less

[treblarefils]

Mine is perfect.

[gummy]

dead on center

[Bfd70]

Originally Posted by padi56

The only place the bezel marker has to line with is where ever the minute hand is on the dial.This is to time something like the lapse time underwater,its not meant to be permanently fixed within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker.Plus on the ceramic watches there will be a tiny bit of lateral play mainly because the bezel floats on 3 ball bearings plus a spring stop pin.

Mine does and does not, line up, but can be adjusted to line up with that "tiny bit of lateral play."
Thanks for the info! Didn't know the reason.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by 4mat

I recently Heard it mentioned that not all rolex bezels on subs line up perfectly to the minute markers and that the modern ceramic ones are particularly bad for this. Some bezels are off and some are spot on. I can't see how this could be, but it got me thinking. So, is this the finding of real sub owners in the real world?

Aren't you going to ask about the Rolex logo on the Crown?