GMT/GMT II Jubilee Bracelets & Jubilee/Oyster End Links and Spring Bars

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GMT & DATEJUST JUBILEE END LINKS AND SPRING BARS FOR THE 62510 "D LINK" JUBILEE BRACELET,
ALONG WITH IDENTIFICATION FOR SOME OF THE OYSTER BRACELET END LINKS.

All GMTs have 20mm wide lugs and use spring bars that have a diameter of 2mm - which is a larger diameter than the 1.8mm spring bars found on a Datejust and similar 36mm cases. The correct end links when installing a correct GMT Jubilee bracelet on a GMT or GMT II are as follows:

502 & 502B - Jubilee - GMT 16700, GMT II 16760 and 16710 (502B was introduced during the 1990s and are found on the newer style Jubilee that utilized a pointed or "bird beak" style end ring that fit into the end link. The two variations of end rings are found on both Jubilee and Oyster bracelets. See the comparison photo below detailing the variation between these two end rings.)

502T - Jubilee - GMT II 16710T (no hole lugs - no holes on the outer lugs for the spring bars)

550 - Jubilee - Late 1970s GMT 1675 or 1980s GMT 16750 but works on the 16760, 16700 16710 with lug holes with the possibly of some minor adjustments to the end links

50 - GMT Jubilee end links are for a vintage Swiss-made 6251 Jubilee with folded or rolled links. Fits 20mm lugs

55 - Jubilee end links for a vintage Swiss-made 6251 Datejust and similar watches with 20mm lugs. Folded or rolled links.

450 - Jubilee - two-tone (gold & stainless) end links for Jubilee 62523H GMT 16753

402B - Jubilee - two-tone (gold & stainless) end links for Jubilee 62523H GMT II 16713

USA-made vintage oval link Jubilee bracelets: Based on several early GMTs that I have seen, some of the GMT end links stamped 50 on the left side, and some without stamped 50 end links. Oval link bracelets were also found on Datejusts and similar models using 20mm end links and were not stamped with a number. 19mm vintage USA Jubilee end links (no number stamping) were also used on other vintage models utilizing the smaller 19mm lugs. The GMT model seems to have been the only model with stamped end links based on my research. These USA Jubilee "50" stamped end links are mostly found, but not always, on the 1960s Jubilees found on the GMTs

There are two versions of the clasp found on the USA Jubilee bracelets. Photos of these clasps can be found in this post. The first clasp variation with the large coronet stamped on the clasp was normally found on the earlier watches - prior to 1970 - and the later clasp variation is found on the USA Jubilees ended production during the late 1970s. The four photos in the second post in this thread are photos of the first generation USA oval-link clasp (JB manufactured) with the embossed large coronet. The second USA Jubilee clasp variation has a small coronet in the center of the clasp that protrudes outward from the clasp. Photos of this bracelet/clasp can be found in the first post.

555 - Jubilee model 62510 end links with 1.8mm diameter holes for the spring bars. Used for Datejust and other Rolex models with 20mm lugs and 36mm case diameter. Not designed for GMTs, Subs and other sport models.

501 - Oyster end links used for the 78360 found on the GMT II 16760 and Explorer II 16550

593 - Oyster end links for the 93150 used on the the GMT II 16760 "Fat Lady" and the Submariner 16800. (These end links have been identified in Rolex manuals as the correct end links for these two watches with the 93150 bracelet, although 501 end links will fit.)

501B - Oyster end links for 78360 (later bracelet), 78790 and 93150 bracelet found on later GMTs 16700 and 16710, plus later Submariner 16610 models where the spring bar ring at the end of the bracelet is more oval-pointed in shape (appears to look like a bird beak) instead of being round like on the earlier 16610 and 5513 Subs which used 580 end links with the 93150 bracelet.

580 - Oyster end links for the 78360 Oyster bracelet and 93150 Oyster bracelet used on the GMT 16750.

558, 558b - Oyster end links for the Datejust and similar watches with 36mm diameter cases. These end links are 20mm wide but the diameter for the spring bars is 1.8mm. 558 end links are for use on cases with spring bar holes in the lugs. 558b end links are for cases without spring bar holes cut completely through the lugs.

Most of the GMT end links are interchangeable between models with little or minimal tweaking. The easiest way to tweak the end links if they do not fit properly is to close the end link by crimping it with a tool if the end link appears too tall to properly fit between the lugs/case or if the end link does not fill up the gap properly between the lugs/case. Additionally, the end link can be opened or spread apart with a screwdriver until it properly fits the gap in the case area between the lugs.

Do not put any of the GMT end links on a GMT II model 16710 no-holes-case (meaning a case without spring bar holes) except for the 502T end links or you might not be able to remove the end links without destroying them or damaging the case.

WHAT IS A CORRECT GMT JUBILEE BRACELET?

A correct GMT Jubilee model 62510 bracelet with the "D" shaped links should have the number "50" stamped on the last link on both ends of the bracelet and should not be confused with other Jubilee bracelets without this "50" stamp. Jubilee bracelets without the "50" stamp are for Datejusts and other 20mm wide lug holes that use 1.8mm diameter spring bars. The GMT uses 2mm diameter spring bars therefore the bracelets were marked with the "50" to differentiate the two sizes of Jubilee bracelets. Additionally, the bracelet end rings that slip into the end links on a Jubilee GMT "50" marked bracelet are also 2mm in diameter. On the Jubilee bracelets missing the "50" stamp, the end rings on the bracelet and the end links are both 1.8mm. Based on these facts you can conclude that:

1) GMT "50" stamped Jubilee bracelets will fit on a Datejust, but you must use 1.8mm spring bars because the holes drilled in the lugs where the spring bars fit are smaller (1.8mm) than the 2mm size found on the GMT and sport models.

2) Jubilee bracelets without the "50" stamped on the last link will fit a GMT but you must use 1.8mm diameter spring bars because the correct 2mm diameter GMT spring bars will not fit through the holes in the bracelet end rings or the tubes in the 555/558/558b end links.

3) It is best to use the correct Jubilee bracelet and end link combination for a proper fit of the bracelet to your watch.

WHAT IS A D-LINK, OVAL LINK OR FOLDED LINK JUBILEE BRACELET?

The Jubilee 62510 bracelets are referred to as "D link" Jubilee because when viewed from the side and the individual links are solid "D" shaped links (the clasp is stamped 62510. Vintage USA oval link bracelets have solid, oval-shaped links and were used prior to 1979, and made in the USA (there is no model number for the oval link USA bracelet). The vintage 6251 Swiss Jubilee bracelets have folded links and are easily discernible when viewed from the side of the links. On the 6251 bracelets, the clasp is stamped 6251 and normally on the inner clasp blade, you will find a two digit date code, like 72, which would indicate 1972 as the date of manufacture.

Thanks, enjoy, and I hope some of the info here is useful during your future endeavors in the world of Rolex.

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Below are photos of the first generation USA Jubilee (JB manufactured) clasp found on the 1960s GMTs and possibly some early 1970s GMTs. Notice the difference in this first variation of the USA clasp when compared to the other USA clasp in the first post.