Early 1990s Gold Submariner Question

[Funkeruski]

I have my father’s N serial number gold submariner which he purchased new from an AD in January, 1993. Several years ago, I took it to an AD to have the bracelet sized and they told me that the bracelet was fake because it had push pins instead of screws. My brother also took it to an AD for sizing years ago, and was told the same thing. I have all the paperwork from the purchase, as well as the warranty certificate.

I generally despise AD’s and the mouthbreathers that usually work there. So, I put it to the experts here. Did Rolex ever use push pins on their gold submariner bracelets?

[breitlings]

Find another AD. Many generations of clasps had push springbars. Watch looks real to me. I bet they don't want to order you the bracelet link, it will be about $500 I would guess.

[Tangier11]

Let me play devil's advocate here for a moment. Two issues here, first I would bet that most AD's are not probably not very well trained especially on models made before they were employed there (or born in some cases) So if what you have does not look just like what they are currently selling they become suspect. This leads me to the second issue. Rolex is probably THE most faked watch in the world so if you work at an AD I am sure you get to see your share of faked, bastardized, molested Rolex watches. However, with that said, I would be damn sure I was correct before telling someone that a family heirloom of that degree is fake.

[breitlings]

TBH I think the OP wants to know that the watch is real but ADs are not the place to confirm. There are some good ADs. L&B in Montgomery Mall is great.

[MonBK]

Pushpins on the clasp yes but not on the bracelet.

Now let's see the screw heads on the other side.

[Funkeruski]

Originally Posted by breitlings

TBH I think the OP wants to know that the watch is real but ADs are not the place to confirm. There are some good ADs. L&B in Montgomery Mall is great.

Not at all. I walked in there to get the bracelet sized, not to ask them to authenticate it. I have the box, and all the paperwork, including the sale receipt. I know it’s real, I’m just curious where these folks were getting this about the bracelet.

And it was been years since this happened.....probably around 2000 or so. So, that’s not that far removed from the early 90s. Unfortunately, I’m not a big gold person, so the watch just sits in my safe. I just thought about this incident and thought I would pose the question to the experts here.

[oldman2005]

I thought early bracelets had hollow connecting/intermediate links? This bracelet in the picture has solid links

[Funkeruski]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Pushpins on the clasp yes but not on the bracelet.

Now let's see the screw heads on the other side.

Again, they are pushpins on the bracelet. No screw heads.

[MonBK]

Here's mine for comparison.

[Funkeruski]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Here's mine for comparison.

What year is yours?

Just found this post asking the same question regarding the same year sub.


https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=161715

[Calatrava r]

Not only the pins but the brushed finish is way too grainy for a real Rolex satin finish. I doubt Rolex ever used pins for their bracelets. Pins are very inexpensive and very low end. Commonly found on cheaper watches and fakes. Most watches which used pins have moved to screws.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Not only the pins but the brushed finish is way too grainy for a real Rolex satin finish. I doubt Rolex ever used pins for their bracelets. Pins are very inexpensive and very low end. Commonly found on cheaper watches and fakes. Most watches which used pins have moved to screws.

The added thread says they were pins but Rolex moved to screws. Pins may have used years ago but definitely not the best way to go. Screws are the hallmarks of fine watches. Takes a bit more metal to secure a screw than a pin.
Hard to believe an all gold watch would be made with pins. Still, it is a special watch of the era. Enjoy.

[Chewbacca]

informative thread.

[s7horton]

My dads ‘91 all gold sub was the same way. My AD said they same thing (it wasn’t real), until they found out they could still order the pins from Rolex.


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[Bigblu10]

Looks good to me, I have seen older gold Subs in the for sale section here with the same push pins instead of threaded bracelet studs.

[Flstfirider]

I think that Rolex switched from pins to screws in the late 80’s or early 90’s.

[Funkeruski]

Thanks guys. I guess I won’t melt it down after all. :)

[faimag]

Originally Posted by Flstfirider

I think that Rolex switched from pins to screws in the late 80’s or early 90’s.

Early to mid-1990s. Your Sub is N serial (1991 production; purchased in 1993) so push-pins are absolutely date-correct They changed to screws around S serial (1993-1994 onwards).

Enjoy it!

[faimag]

Also, the sides of the links were brushed in early 1990s YG subs, like yours. Later, they started polishing the sides of the links. So it all checks out.

Edit: the change from brushed to polished sides occured after the pin to screw change. So you can have brushed with pins, brushed with screws, and polished with screws.

[JackPine]

Originally Posted by oldman2005

I thought early bracelets had hollow connecting/intermediate links? This bracelet in the picture has solid links

I thought the same thing! No answers?

[faimag]

YG 16618s from early 1990s had solid center links. Steel and two-tone had hollow center. I think hollow YG dates back to the riveted oyster bracelets. And I am not sure if the 16618 ever came on rivets (the 16808 did).

[Ballzzz]

Beautiful watch and very informative thread.

[crowncollection]

investigated this with my first gold sub purchase, and have verified via rolex push pins are correct pre early 1990's on a sub bracelet

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Funkeruski

Thanks guys. I guess I won’t melt it down after all. :)

Beautiful watch

[Onikage]

Nice watch. If a thread started on here listing the times ADs have been wrong it would probably overload the server.

[sechsgang]

TRF is awesome in short...really cool thread.

[GBD]

Great information in this thread, and OP that sub is stunning.

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[REFZ]

Learned something new today, nice Sub BTW.

[Alpino]

.

Initially 92908 bracelet was assembled with tubes and pins.

Later on 92908A got screws.


You can show following pictures to your AD

.

[yessir69]

Originally Posted by Alpino

.

Initially 92908 bracelet was assembled with tubes and pins.

Later on 92908A got screws.


You can show following pictures to your AD

.

Now that's what I'm talkin about...

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