Need Advice, Getting Hard to See My Sub

[cab56]

OP, I'm in a similar position. Progressive lens work for me for everyday life. I've given up on silver dial watches (although I love them) and now stick to white or black dials with contrasting hands. Good luck finding the right watch.

[Johny]

hi op. lv with black bezel and also see what can be done about your sight.

[SeaDweller50]

Originally Posted by Ironmike

Hello Rolex Friends,
I am new to this forum but not new to Rolex. My latest acquisition (and my only Rolex presently), an M series Sub was purchased from my local AD here in south Florida, in 2008. I love it and I wear it everywhere, this includes gym, water sports, and the ever increasingly rare evening out. My current dilemma is that because of a vision problem and age, the Sub’s thin hands are becoming increasingly difficult to see, especially in low light. I am faced with some options…

1. Go out and find a good pre-owned LV with maxi-dial and put a black insert in it, (I can’t do green full time).
2. Put an LV maxi-dial and or maxi-hands in my current Sub 16610.
3. Put hour, minute, and the cool red second hand from a yacht-master in my current sub, (I think these are also the larger hands), and maybe change the dial or not. Red would be more visible under water.
I would prefer not to get the new 6 digit Sub, as it is just too large for my wrist and it is pricey. Please let me know what the best option might be for a daily wear watch. I really like to use the Sub in the manner for which it was designed. Not as a beater or tool watch, but a functional sport timepiece for the water inclined. Thanks for the thoughts.

You'll find with the Sub maxi dial the hour hand is no larger in size, only the minute hand was made slightly wider. The GMT hour hand, however, is larger and in proportion with the minute hand. This is also true of the DSSD.

[Casey VP-26]

If you can see Maxi, That's the way I would go.

[GradyPhilpott]

Glasses with progressive lenses.

You're running a losing race with your eyes and buying new lenses is a lot cheaper and more effective than buying larger and larger watches.

We use all kinds of rationalizations to justify new watches, but failing eyesight is not a good one.

[HogwldFLTR]

Maybe Ironmike can't see to find his computer either. Leaves me feeling like I've bit some bait.

Neither of my Subs have particularly thin hands...my DJ, maybe.

[Rolex fan 61]

Welcome to the forum Ironmike - for legibility the best model IMO is the latest explorer 2 polar white which I own, the dial is easy to see, the hands are both large and wide, and the lume is brilliant it lasts all night.

[JackDFD]

LASIK and try on the EXP2 or LV.


Dallas Fire Fighter/ Navy Senior Chief

[Wingman244]

Originally Posted by JackDFD

LASIK and try on the EXP2 Attachment 606345or LV.


Dallas Fire Fighter/ Navy Senior Chief

Wow that pretty much settles the legibility question.

[pfg1]

Get the new Sub-C. I just held one two hours ago at Bigham Jewelers, a Rolex AD in Naples, FL. Talk to Dan Kelly. He will take your old 2008 Sub in trade for a new one.....and treat you well. Dan has a complete selection of Subs and GMTs, along with all other Rolex models. Dan can be reached at 239-434-2800. Good luck......and post pics of your new Sub-C!

[VICI]

Get a Tudor pelagos

[Mr DateJust]

Might be time to consider a polar explorer 2. Personally prefer the 40mm but either that or the 42mm are the most legible watches rolex has made.

[Loevhagen]

No Rolex - regardless of model - is legible as a 42mm Explorer II Polar.

[Dr.Brian]

I've had all kinds of hands and dials on dozens of watches.
The most legible in my opinion is a flat black dial with reasonable markers and/or text and white hands, not the Rolex gold hands with white inset lume.
Next most legible is white dial with black or blued metal hands. Black is probably more legible, but I love my blued hands!
If you want to stay with Rolex, the new white explorer 2 is probably the best dial/hand combo for you.
I think this watch is the king of legibility. If my vision starts to go, this will be on my wrist.


You could read that bad boy from across the room.

[Dr.Brian]

This would work well if you want to go upscale.


Looking at hundreds of wrist shots, I think that I changed my mind. Plain white dial with black hands may be the winner. I love the markers on this nautilus.
There used to be a black stick marker Day Date that I think had black hand inserts as well. Maybe onyx? I haven't seen one in ages.
Good luck with the search!

[Dr.Brian]

One more oddball that may actually have great legibility.


This one is growing on me big time. Strange, and a bit scary...

[aka]

I've struggled with this same issue. My close-up vision needed more help by the age of 46. At the age of 54, I now wear progressive lenses. I really wanted a current model Rolex GMT. The white gold hands were not legible enough for me to choose the BLNR, and the 116713 (TT) was marginally better.

I ended up buying a SS Daytona black dial. The first night I wore it out to dinner with my wife and friends. The Mrs. asked me the time and I told her I couldn't read the dial in the dim light. We laughed. A week and a half later I flipped the Daytona for this:

[Ironmike]

Hello Friends,
I want to thank all of you responders for the thoughtful and helpful suggestions. To sum up the options, fellow forum-ers advised:
1. Get glasses. Sadly, I did that when I was 6.
2. Try contacts. I did that when I was 12.
3. Try reading glasses or bifocals. Did that when I was 40-ish
4. Get surgery. Did that too.
5. Get the LV (maxi) Sub and add a black bezel. This is not a terrible idea. I found a late model engraved one for just over 6 g’s. But… what do I do with 2 high-end dressy tool watches. Can’t sell my 16610, my son knows I have it.
6. Check out the newer models again. Well, I went to my local AD last evening (Mayor’s) in Ft. Lauderdale. An accommodating young woman allowed me check out the SubC’s, GMT’s, and Explorers. The SubC is very nice, diameter appears the same, dial much easier to read but, the lugs are as reported, too blocky for me. I have to keep it small to allow for my ‘chicken wrists’. The GMT didn’t do it, too blingy. When I tried it on though, the nice lady attempted conversation by asking if I travelled much. That killed it. I should be travelling more. The Explorer polar was very nice and easy to read but, too large at 42mm. As I examined the 6 digit models, the skinny minute hand on my 16610 just sat there, slowly mocking me.
So my dilemma continues… For now, it will be my Sub, or my Invicta (Sub homage), or my Seiko (divers), or my Bulova (Marine Star). Can you say limited interest? Who knows, I may even check out…dare I say it…Omega?

Originally Posted by Ironmike

Hello Rolex Friends,
I am new to this forum but not new to Rolex. My latest acquisition (and my only Rolex presently), an M series Sub was purchased from my local AD here in south Florida, in 2008. I love it and I wear it everywhere, this includes gym, water sports, and the ever increasingly rare evening out. My current dilemma is that because of a vision problem and age, the Sub’s thin hands are becoming increasingly difficult to see, especially in low light. I am faced with some options…

1. Go out and find a good pre-owned LV with maxi-dial and put a black insert in it, (I can’t do green full time).
2. Put an LV maxi-dial and or maxi-hands in my current Sub 16610.
3. Put hour, minute, and the cool red second hand from a yacht-master in my current sub, (I think these are also the larger hands), and maybe change the dial or not. Red would be more visible under water.
I would prefer not to get the new 6 digit Sub, as it is just too large for my wrist and it is pricey. Please let me know what the best option might be for a daily wear watch. I really like to use the Sub in the manner for which it was designed. Not as a beater or tool watch, but a functional sport timepiece for the water inclined. Thanks for the thoughts.