116610 - Different font styles

[Thumpr]

Hello everyone,

I am looking at purchasing my second Rolex, a Submariner and have doing as much research as I possible can and have a question.

In doing my research of the 116610, I have noticed that the letter “f” in the 1000 ft is different from watch to watch and I can’t find any information on when this changed or why they use two different fonts for the “f”.

I have looked at dozens of high quality pictures from well known sites (all state that each watch is authentic), private sellers and others and see two different letter “f” used even within the same year of watch.

Can anyone shed some light on this or point me to a reference that explains the difference?

Thanks


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[Nikrnic]

There are different fonts and spacings of them on Submariner dials. This is not uncommon for any era as well as modern. I believe some change during the same model year.

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[Thumpr]

Thanks for the information!


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[rolexryan329]

none of these things are noticeable unless you look side by side but regardless:

compared to my 2018 sub, my dads 2014 sub has a stubbier crown at 12 o'clock in addition to all other font on the dial seeming to share the same boldness.

My 2018 sub has a bolder, marginally taller crown + "ROLEX" & "SUBMARINER" are visibly bolder than the rest of the text

also, the older sub has more seperation between 300 & m on the older one than mine

[Thumpr]

Originally Posted by rolexryan329

none of these things are noticeable unless you look side by side but regardless:

compared to my 2018 sub, my dads 2014 sub has a stubbier crown at 12 o'clock in addition to all other font on the dial seeming to share the same boldness.

My 2018 sub has a bolder, marginally taller crown + "ROLEX" & "SUBMARINER" are visibly bolder than the rest of the text

also, the older sub has more seperation between 300 & m on the older one than mine

I was noticing the same as my research went on. I keep reading about the Replica’s being so close to the real Rolex and the usual telltale sign is the font.

With so many differences between the authentic versions, I see it could be hard for the uninformed to ensure they are getting a genuine Rolex.

Once I make my purchase, I will be taking it in for authentication.
Thanks again for the information!


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[padi56]

Originally Posted by Thumpr

Hello everyone,

I am looking at purchasing my second Rolex, a Submariner and have doing as much research as I possible can and have a question.

In doing my research of the 116610, I have noticed that the letter “f” in the 1000 ft is different from watch to watch and I can’t find any information on when this changed or why they use two different fonts for the “f”.

I have looked at dozens of high quality pictures from well known sites (all state that each watch is authentic), private sellers and others and see two different letter “f” used even within the same year of watch.

Can anyone shed some light on this or point me to a reference that explains the difference?

Thanks


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Over the past 60 plus years there have been hundreds of tiny font changes on all Rolex watches.

[ronricks]

Rolex is always doing font changes and has been for what seems like forever.

[Mr.Rolex1]

I think you're stressing very minute details here

[R G]

As others have said, font changes have varied and also text spacing.

It is really small detail but I actually always wanted the font that carries a smaller ‘f’ as I think it flows more nicely.

Fortunately, that is what the AD happened to receive when I ordered my SubC (back in 2013).

I see more of the longer ‘f’s nowadays on the dials.

[brandrea]

I’d go with the Mark 1 f font ... very highly coveted

[spoon-turbo]

Could it be Rolex’s way of internally identifying batches in production by producing font variations?

[TreiseKL]

I did a pretty in-depth comparison on 2012 vs 2018 versions of 114060 here:

https://forums.watchuseek.com/f23/li...s-4995401.html

[padi56]

Originally Posted by spoon-turbo

Could it be Rolex’s way of internally identifying batches in production by producing font variations?

No simply dials were made in 3 different factories but now owned by Rolex, and when you print the hundreds of thousands of Rolex dials each year there will be always tiny differences.