Explorer 1 short hands!!!

[lamadoo]

I have not noticed the hands being too short only when I started reading these forums...I am a perfectionist and the explorer 39mm is one of the closest quintessential watches (and the datejust) within my budget range but now I am having second thoughts.

At first I thought it was perfect being the watch hand lengths appeared in this order - shortest being the hour hand to the minute hand than to the seconds hand as the longest and that it had no bezel/tachymeter for the need to fully extend the minute hand. The lume also perfectly passes by the dial markers. But after reading these forums I have second thoughts now!!


Notice the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A has a short minute hand with a full length seconds hand while the Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1A has a full length minute hand but completely removed the seconds hand.


I also plan to buy the marinemaster 300 but I will not if its too short...it has a bezel so I am thinking the minute hands must touch it now



Am I splitting hairs? I do truly believe they are short now, this only happened after reading the rolex forums or did I turn paranoid?
Thanks for your opinions guys. Here are some more watches

[Old Expat Beast]

The minute hand on the 39mm does look short to me, and has been commented on many times, on many forums. I read somewhere here recently that someone sold theirs because accurately setting the minute hand against the minute markers was tricky, due to the distance.

If it bothers you, just go for a 36mm Explorer (even more "quintessential" than the 39mm), or a Ranger if you want the larger size. You'll save quite a bit of cash that way, too.

[capote]

The proportions overall are much better on the 36 mm version IMO.

[Tony64]

36mm has better proportion IMO. On the other hand, it only began to bother you after reading the forum opinions so make sure that you've not been unduly influenced by mob OCD. Sometimes reading the forums can take you down a bad path. Next thing you'll be buying a loupe and then my friend your happiest days will be behind you.

[FTX I]

You've got internet visual disorder from massive exposure and now you see short hands everywhere. Only the EXP II with huge hands will cure that now.

[travisb]

Now that it's in your head you probably won't see past it.
I also say have a look at the 36mm Explorer.

[dysondiver]

36 is a classic

[padi56]

Originally Posted by lamadoo

I have not noticed the hands being too short only when I started reading these forums...I am a perfectionist and the explorer 39mm is one of the closest quintessential watches (and the datejust) within my budget range but now I am having second thoughts.

At first I thought it was perfect being the watch hand lengths appeared in this order - shortest being the hour hand to the minute hand than to the seconds hand as the longest and that it had no bezel/tachymeter for the need to fully extend the minute hand. The lume also perfectly passes by the dial markers. But after reading these forums I have second thoughts now!!


Am I splitting hairs? I do truly believe they are short now, this only happened after reading the rolex forums or did I turn paranoid?
Thanks for your opinions guys. Here are some more watches

Let me get this straight because you have read on some forum that the hands look to short now you do not like the watch.Well I am telling you buy the watch you want, and forget about what some have said on the internet the Explorer in 36mm 39mm both great watches.And you are not a perfectionist you just have OCD watch forum reading posting syndrome instead of making your own mind up about the watch..

[beer]

i believe the reason they seem short is that they reused the same hands from the 36mm model

i assume the hands used on 40mm models would have been too large, and probably avoided making new hands just for one model - for cost cutting

[TK-710]

I've read this complaint multiple times and to me it's just someone looking for something to complain about. In all of your images above the minute hand does not appear to come any closer to the minute markets than the Exporer. The Lume seems to cover more of the hand which make the hands look longer than the explorer but that's about it. If the problem didn't exist in your mind before someone told you it was s problem how big of a problem can it actually be. If this was a legitimate problem effecting sales or even legibility one would think Rolex would have changed it by now.

[Dubarzy]

For me, the shorter minute hand does not detract from the function of the watch. Would I prefer a longer minute hand like that of Adam's Ranger? Sure, but honestly it never crosses my mind until one of these threads pops up again. Maybe if I had more experience with the 36mm, the shorter hands in the 39mm would bother me more.

But if the hands bother you now, they'll probably bother you later...

[Racerdj]

If you think they are too short, then that is enough of a reason to keep looking. Try to form your own opinion without undue influence from others.

[subtona]

That minute hand drives me crazy, I think they should all be recalled and corrected.

Ps where did you get that pic of a nautilus?
Here is what a current 5711 nautilus has as a minute hand.

[ryansmith]

The 36mm Explorer is the way to go.

[Mezz72]

I much prefer the 36mm too as its more proportionate.

[mtrunner]

I have always thought the hands were too short on the Explorer 39mm. I actually wouldn't buy the watch for this reason.

[2JHead]

Originally Posted by ryansmith

The 36mm Explorer is the way to go.

This.

[kopykopy]

I have the 36mm Explorer 1 and would choose that over the 39mm Explorer 1. But that being said, I think you are just too bothered by what others say cause you said you loved your 39mm Explorer until you read this forums. WTF? Man, you just got to get over your OCD.

[FremStar]

Short hands and all, I'm a fan of the 39mm... With that said I don't think any Rolex watch or any watch for that matter is without flaws there will always be something that someone complains about lol...

[SemperFi]

You need to ask yourself two questions:

First, is the so called "shorter hour hand" aesthetically displeasing to you?
Second, does the "shorter hour hand' prevent you from easily telling the time?

If you answered yes to either question then the 36mm Explorer is not for you and you should look elsewhere as others have suggested.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by padi56

Let me get this straight because you have read on some forum that the hands look to short now you do not like the watch.Well I am telling you buy the watch you want, and forget about what some have said on the internet the Explorer in 36mm 39mm both great watches.And you are not a perfectionist you just have OCD watch forum reading posting syndrome instead of making your own mind up about the watch..

Hit the nail on the head.

[Ckci]

Originally Posted by FTX I

You've got internet visual disorder from massive exposure and now you see short hands everywhere. Only the EXP II with huge hands will cure that now.

Or a pair of those special glasses your wearing Flavio.

Ps. I like the 36mm Explorer much better. I'd get it.

[HiloBeMagical]

"Am I splitting hairs?"

Yes.

If this was the first Explorer ever, and no one had the 36 to compare it to, no one would be complaining. If the overall proportions and aesthetic of the 39 speak to you, buy it. :)

Hilo

[Friar]

The only time I notice the shorter minute hand is when setting the watch. After that, when it's on my wrist or on the night stand, it looks fine.

Now Adam has a point (as he usually does)-- take a look at the Ranger. It may not be as versatile as the Explorer, but it screams "explorer."

[Ckci]

Originally Posted by subtona

That minute hand drives me crazy, I think they should all be recalled and corrected.

Ps where did you get that pic of a nautilus?
Here is what a current 5711 nautilus has as a minute hand.

Nice Patek but is the 5 crowding the top of the cutout for the date?

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Ckci

Nice Patek but is the 5 crowding the top of the cutout for the date?

No, it is just the angle I took the photo. Patek dates fill the window from edge to edge, unlike rolex who uses smaller numbers (more difficult for me to see)

But this is about the minute hand

[Maxy]

If the definition of short hands = minute hand not touching the minute markers then majority of Rolex models will fall in that category.

Just look around and you'll realize how true it is!

[bbressler]

Looking at macro shots on the forum makes it seem worse than it is. In real life I've never glanced at my explorer and had difficulty reading the time. Its my go-to and favorite, short hands and all.

[Brenngun]

Everyone has an opinion about everything. Don't let that determine your preferences. Your watch has all the required elements to correctly give you the time. After that, only your opinion of the various component proportions really matters. If your not comfortable making your own decision then sell it and buy what someone else says you should buy.

[sickened1]

I had the 39mm version before and the minute hand wasn't an issue for me at all. You'll have to take a look at it in person before deciding. Currently I have the 36mm since it's more proportionate to my wrist size.