Same old question...vintage Rolex wise

[automatico]

"Is a genuine 5512 dial the same diameter as a genuine 5513 dial (26mm)?

If 'yes' then ass-uming a 5512 dial is also 26mm wide...

How does it stay in place with a 26.13mm hole in the case?"

After looking at the genuine 5512 case with the 26.13 dial window in the post above, I wondered how this could work with a 26mm dial. SInce I have a DW 5513 case that I got from a member (we both thought the dial window was too big), I put the 26mm IG44 5513 dial on a 1520 and mounted it in the DW case with a 26.0mm dial opening. It works fine. Everything lined up...stem, case clamp screws etc.

How can it work with the dial window as big as the dial?

The movement is a precision fit in the case and this holds it all in place. The dial might be almost the same size as the dial window but the movement is not...and it is clamped against the front of the case. This is probably why a 26mm dial in a case with a 26mm dial opening using an eta movement and spacer does not work out every time...there is too much slop in the fit and the movement and dial will not stay centered.

I measured this 'new MBW 1680' and here are the sizes:

lug tip to tip...47.7mm on both sides

lug hole center to center...42.4mm on both sides

20.05mm between lugs at 6

20.06mm between lugs at 12

springbar hole size...1.2mm+/- (submariner sb will not go in)

case thickness...5.0mm at 3 and 9, also at 6 and 12

case thickness at 3 and 9 including case neck (where crystal mounts)...6.5mm

case neck od (where the crystal mounts)...28.2mm

dial window opening...25.5mm

this case has the O ring groove on top of the case under the inner bezel

Inner bezel:

id 30.2mm where it presses over the crystal.

overall od...35.43mm

high...2.03mm

I did not remove the insert.

rotating bezel:

id where is snaps over the inner bezel...35.38mm

overall od...39.6mm

inner shelf just under the insert...31.1mm

thickness...2.2mm

The DW 5513 case is machined inside to accept genuine parts although the outside is out of spec as far as crystal, inner and outer bezel are concerned.

The MBW case is closer to genuine on the outside but not very close to genspec on the inside. Imho it is not worth the trouble to install a genuine dial and movement in this particular case. It is a good candidate for an eta 1680 or 5513 though.

As I said before this particular case is a lot closer to being a 5513 than a 1680.