Fit solution for Explorer 36mm 124270

[SaddleSC]

I guess I lucked out. I could never get the perfect fit with my 39mm Explorer and the closest I could get was to run a half-link on BOTH sides of the clasp. Not perfect, but good enough. When I unboxed the 36mm 124270, I removed a link from the 6 o'clock side and it was absolutely perfect.

[Fraz]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

I guess I lucked out. I could never get the perfect fit with my 39mm Explorer and the closest I could get was to run a half-link on BOTH sides of the clasp. Not perfect, but good enough. When I unboxed the 36mm 124270, I removed a link from the 6 o'clock side and it was absolutely perfect.

It’s kinda crazy that you have to get lucky to get a perfect fit. It’s a shame that there is no first party solution for this. We are not complaining of imperfections under macro or fractions of a second off specification per day. I think it’s a pretty reasonable ask to have a well fitting bracelet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[matthew P]

I'm rehashing this thread to see if theres anymore feed back.

I ended up removing another link and moving the clasp pin to the widest position..... watch ended up being a good fit but with easy link open i had no adjustablity for the expected summer heat swelling .

So I added link back in on the 6 o'clock size which gives a good cold weather fit but weird feel on wrist.

so I moved the link onto the 12 o'clock side.

I now have 5 links on the six side and 6 links on the 12 side. ( i played around with 4/7 ) but it sits/ bends over wrist tendons better 5/6 ).

with it being cold right now I shifted the claps pin to the smallest hole position with the easy link closed . its comfortable when cold and slightly tight when i work out but the heat swollen wrist feel is better with the clasp moved toward 12.


right now the easy link feels too loose but i imagine in summer or in the heat the easy link may work as a tool free adjustment..... i suspect to get a better fit i will just slide the clasp pin back to the middle position but at least future adjustments won't require screw drivers.

i wonder if a half link would be of any assistance ( if one is even available ?).

I question how much i should be expecting to use the easy link with my 7 inch wrist size..... the link seems too much of an adjustment to give a good fit in both positions.

I like to wear bracelets on the loose size and i do like the way that the explorers smaller size makes it wearable loose in a couple of different size variations. if there wasn't an easy link built in id be very happy with the two clasp pin options that i currently have available to my wrist size..... its just getting the easy link to be usable that makes it a bit harder.

open to any other thoughts or suggestions but i figured i would post here to assist any other owners and to allow me to check back in 6 months with an update / memory refresh.

cheers all

[gmtln]

Originally Posted by amanbra

But that's the thing, the easy link is a half link, so if you leave it open and move the micro adjustment that should be what you need right?

any way i'm spending 2k usd right now to get another 1.5mm on a DD40 =(

Half links from a SubC are slightly bigger than the easy link extension, I believe they are 6.5mm

[Sjef1]

On my 7 inch wrist, I removed one link on the 6 o’clock side (so 4/7)
I don’t know where I read it, but I think you should start by removing links on the 6 o’clock side first.
Anyway, with one link removed, is wasn’t quite happy, so I extended the easy link entirely, and moved the micro adjustment to the tightest. Now it’s perfect.
I never use the easy link, so it doesn’t bother me it’s extended the entire time.
Good luck

[MJ EXPLORER]

The SA at my AD says to always go with a larger number of links at the 12 o'clock position. Like many posters, I have 7 at 12 o'clock and 4 and 6 o'clock.

It's hard to say what's best, but I've always been able to find a perfect fit on all my Rolexes, but it sometimes takes a second visit to the AD.

To me a perfect fit means EZ link open in the morning for a perfect fit, then when my wrist swells, I close the EZ link in the afternoon for a perfect fit the rest of the day.

Keep playing with it! You'll find the sweet spot.

[Golden Ellipse]

I recognize the situation; sometimes it happens. One trick I use when all else fails. First, get the bracelet in the “slightly too tight” configuration with the clasp as parallel to the case as possible when hanging freely. Then reverse the bracelet, i.e. swap 6 o’clock end to 12 o’clock and vice versa. This will move the tail of the folding clasp to a different position on the underside of your wrist, and (for me at least) gives a little more room.

[matthew P]

Lots of good ideas

I worked out / ran with mine for about 4 hours today.

I started with the easy link closed and full expected it to get too tight as I warmed up and wrist swelled…… only it never felt too tight and I never ended up opening the easy link until I was walking home/ cooling down. At that point it just felt better to wear it loose but I was surprised by the lack I’m imprint/ tightness on wrist.
With the easy link open it’s a little too loose for my preferences but when hot and sweaty the added friction stabilized it well.
By keeping the clasp closer to 12 side I’m able to keep the edge of the clasp just above the high point on my wrist tendons which makes it more comfortable when tight…… this does mean it look unbalanced on wrist as it’s noticeably not centered but it’s worth it for the added comfort when tight.
I’m guessing for me this is the optimal position/ combo for when I want to have the easy link capability ……. Slightly tight when closed, slightly loose when open.
Probably gear for summer when my wrists are thicker and there’s more moisture on skin.

For winter I’m probably going to slide clasp pin toward middle position and just wear it a little looser over all and give up easy link function for a more “one size fits all/ comfortably loose mid point.

If I moved a link from twelve to six side it would most likely wear a little tighter over all as it would sit higher over the wrist tendons which rise up with physical activity….. but going forward I’d prefer any adjustments to be only sliding the clasp pin so leaving it 6/5 for the moment

Interring idea about the clasp flip ….. hadn’t contemplated that option.


….Save the drama - I’m just here for the photos….

[swissfrank]

Came across this old thread and was wondering what links you removed from your 124270. Matthew P did you keep yours at 5 at 6 and 6 at 12 o’clock?
My wrist is a hair under 7” and curious how others have set their bracelets on the new explorer. Thanks. Frank

[matthew P]

Still 5/6….. happy with the fit and the easy link when I’ve worked out and want it loose and comfortable


….Save the drama - I’m just here for the photos….

[noshame]

My wrist is approximately 7 inches. For my 124273 I was able to get a great fit by removing 1 link from the 6 o'clock side. So I have 4 links at 6 o'clock and 7 links at 12 o'clock, with Easylink closed and the micro adjustment in the middle slot. Good luck!

[christian-h]

Originally Posted by amanbra

You must be like me where I need the watch within +- 1 mm to feel good. The easy link is 5mm yet the micro adjustment is 3mm and the link is 10mm. Surely you can get very close with a combo of these?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not that easy. Circumstance is one thing; adjustment of the clasp is another one. The clasp rarely gets mentioned and even if you get the circumstance right, the clasp might be centered wrong, for you wrist.

A half link allow you to adjust the clasp in a whole different way.

The Explorer clasp is short, which can be a problem and the clasp is much thicker then earlier versions of the Explorer bracelets (pre 214270). Earlier Rolex bracelets tend to fit much more comfortable and it's more forgiving when you are looking for a comfortable fit. Here's two pictures to illustrate:





You can clearly see how slim the clasp on the 14270 is, compared to the new 124270.

[Andrews148]

Originally Posted by swissfrank

Came across this old thread and was wondering what links you removed from your 124270. Matthew P did you keep yours at 5 at 6 and 6 at 12 o’clock?
My wrist is a hair under 7” and curious how others have set their bracelets on the new explorer. Thanks. Frank

My wrist is the same size. I have 7 links on the 12 o'clock side and 4 on the 6 o'clock.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by christian-h

It's not that easy. Circumstance is one thing; adjustment of the clasp is another one. The clasp rarely gets mentioned and even if you get the circumstance right, the clasp might be centered wrong, for you wrist.

A half link allow you to adjust the clasp in a whole different way.

The Explorer clasp is short, which can be a problem and the clasp is much thicker then earlier versions of the Explorer bracelets (pre 214270). Earlier Rolex bracelets tend to fit much more comfortable and it's more forgiving when you are looking for a comfortable fit. Here's two pictures to illustrate:



You can clearly see how slim the clasp on the 14270 is, compared to the new 124270.

Yep. The older clasps also have more adjustment holes, and you can bend the metal blades to add more or less curvature, which will slightly tighten/loosen the fit, too.

[EscapementArtist]

I passed on the new Exp I for a new Sub Date. The large clasp is...large, but the glidelock is amazing.

I’m truly sorry to hear that you’re unable to get your new watch to fit. I would feel some kind of way about it inside if it was me.

Why does Rolex not make a 1/2 link for the Exp I? That’s seems crazy. I did think Rolex links were 10mm and 1/2 links were 6mm though. So, if the micro adjust settings are 1mm increments and the easy link ext is 5mm, you should be able to get the same as a true 1/2 link.

Don’t forget that with taxes you paid around $8K for the watch to your AD. Make them earn the commission by helping you as best they can.

[swissfrank]

Thanks for the replies, right now I’ve removed one link from the 12 o’clock side and in the middle of micro adjustment. The fit isn’t bad, but right now it’s hot and humid, so hard to be satisfied. I’ll try it like this for a week before I change anything.
Sometimes I over think these things! Frank

[Ksbi]

You made the right choice a week from now you should be satisfied

[Stan Cooper]

Aftermarket Glide-Lock?

[swissfrank]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

Aftermarket Glide-Lock?

Never!

[matthew P]

Ive noticed that the easy link is much less important for me on the 36mm explorer.
i used it a lot on my MKII.... open in the summer and closed in the winter.
with the smaller 124270 i suspect its lower weight/ smaller size allows it to be comfortable / wear better with a slightly looser fit. For me this has negated the squeeze i used to feel with the MKII in the heat and after working out.
on my wrist the applied crown is almost centered with the clasp noticeably off center and closer to the 12 side. This position gives me a hinge point above the wrist tendon that expands / rises up with wrist clenching activity. For me thats when the bracelet feels too tight in the 7/4 configuration that centered the clasp.
this 6/5 configuration also tends to allow the watch head to settle in the preferred position on my wrist and not allow the watch to migrate toward the 12 side of my wrist when worn looser.

when i made the previous adjustments in the winter i expected to make some tweaks during the summer but until re-reading this thread I've been happy with the fit and hadn't given any thought to the bracelet.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by matthew P

Ive noticed that the easy link is much less important for me on the 36mm explorer.
i used it a lot on my MKII.... open in the summer and closed in the winter.
with the smaller 124270 i suspect its lower weight/ smaller size allows it to be comfortable / wear better with a slightly looser fit. For me this has negated the squeeze i used to feel with the MKII in the heat and after working out.
on my wrist the applied crown is almost centered with the clasp noticeably of center and closer to the 12 side. This position gives me a hinge point above the wrist tendon that expands / rises up with wrist clenching activity. For me thats when the bracelet feels too tight in the 7/4 configuration that centered the clasp.
this 6/5 configuration also tends to allow the watch head to settle in the preferred position on my wrist and not allow the watch to migrate toward the 12 side of my wrist when worn looser.

when i made the previous adjustments in the winter i expected to make some tweaks during the summer but until re-reading this thread I've been happy with the fit and hadn't given any thought to the bracelet.

Agreed. Easy Link was partly a necessity due to increasing watch weights. I’ve occasionally considered spending a few hundred bucks on one to add to my 114270 for the heck of it, but I end up talking myself out of it, because I’m not sure when I’d actually need it.

[swissfrank]

Originally Posted by swissfrank

Thanks for the replies, right now I’ve removed one link from the 12 o’clock side and in the middle of micro adjustment. The fit isn’t bad, but right now it’s hot and humid, so hard to be satisfied. I’ll try it like this for a week before I change anything.
Sometimes I over think these things! Frank

Well, the weather cooled down a little and I’ve worn this for a week now.
I’m going to keep it as is ( 5 on 6 o’clock and 6 at 12 ). I like it a little loose and micro is in middle slot, so lots of adjustments left.
I was experimenting with locktite… I found the 222 holds the screw firmly in place, and the 242 really locks it place like the watch came from the factory.
I went with the 222.

[Ssunnylee24]

ask your AD to order a half link for you.

[swissfrank]

Originally Posted by Ssunnylee24

ask your AD to order a half link for you.

The reason this thread was started is because there is not a half-link available for the 124270.