Look at the lug holes The lug holes should have sharp edges around them and be very precisely cut. When a Rolex is polished over time, the holes lose their sharp edges. If the lug holes are rounded at the edges, your Rolex has likely been polished. The cut should obviously be 90 degrees.

When did Rolex remove lug holes? As you probably know, Rolex does not give official dates of when they announce small changes or updates. However, it is widely agreed that Rolex started removing the lug holes on its cases at the end of 1994 for its Oyster models.

Holes versus no holes These would allow you to easily remove the bracelet which is handy if you intend to wear the watch on a strap. However, Rolex found that most users never removed the band, so the holes have disappeared on modern pieces.

Sometimes referred to as horns, lugs are projections on the watch case that are used to secure the strap or bracelet to the watch case.

The name ‘4 Liner’ refers to the four lines of text to the dial. This particular variant is referred to as “SCOC,” meaning the text is in the order “Superlative / Chronometer / Officially / Certified” on its dial, showing that this watch is equipped with a chronometer grade movement.

When people talk about vintage watches, today they generally mean watches that were manufactured at least 30 years ago – perhaps between the 1950’s and the 1970’s. These watches, especially steel ones from this time, are breaking price records.

In the majority of cases, a Rolex timepiece can last a lifetime, especially if it’s serviced regularly. While Rolex recommends service every ten years, it’s a good idea to have your watch looked at every 5 to 7 years to ensure optimal performance.

The Rolex Day-Date is known as ‘the president’s watch’. Made only in gold or platinum, it was the first wristwatch to display both date and day of the week, spelt out in full in windows on the dial. A hallmark of the watch is the semicircular, three-piece link “president” bracelet that was created for it.

The lug-to-lug measurement is the length from the top of one set of lugs to the bottom of the other.

The no-date version of the Submariner, the Rolex Submariner 14060. The Rolex Submariner 14060 is now discontinued, and there’s a new Submariner model available for those looking to buy a brand new Rolex Submariner without a date function, but more on that later.

The Submariner featured lug holes, just like the predecessor. The watch featured Rolex’s 93150 bracelet with end links. The bracelet features a handy diving extension, which is, in today’s standards flimsy and not so robust.

When it was retired in 2012, it was the last Rolex sport model to feature drilled through lug holes, a stamped bracelet clasp, stamped end links, and an aluminum bezel insert: all hallmarks of the original. As information, it’s sibling, the 16610 Sub date was replaced in 2010 but even it lost its lug holes in 2003 and stamped end links in 2001.

Introduced in 1990, the 14060 proved to be Rolex’s initial step into modern watch construction while still staying true to its vintage roots. The sapphire crystal, 300 meter water resistance, and triplock crown all showcase modern innovation and toughness, while the uncluttered 2-line dials maintain the old school feel.