SEL Bracelets on 5 Digit-cases, Success, 77200 on 16610 and 16570 WITH holes

[Newt]

Hey all,

Putting this here just because I know it gets asked sometimes, particularly there seems confusion about putting these on the older "lugs with holes" cases. I have two A-Serial(1998/1999) "Swiss Only" 5 digit sport watches. An EXPII 16570 and a Sub 16610. Both have lugs with holes. And both have the smaller cutout for SEL's that Rolex started machining at about that time, even though both watches came with hollow end links.

There's a good writeup at the following link on those cutouts(a few posts from the top). I hope it's ok to post to that forum. It's, to date, the best writeup I could find on that subject that has pictures. https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/m...tches.4952007/

Anyway, the only modern sports bracelet I have is a 39mm MKII ExpI, reference 77200. But I wanted try to fit it before I spent a bunch of grey market money on a 97200. Anyway, the 77200 would NOT fit with any of the original springbars from either the 214270 or the 16610/16570. However I was able to get it to fit both watches(probably obvious, but I checked anyway) with Everest "ROLEX VINTAGE SUBMARINER SPRING BAR" which is 2.0mmX20mm.

The fit was great, and it felt awesome enough that I now think I'll go find one of those 97200's. :) Hope this is helpful

Newt.