Bracelet stretch? Real danger?

[East Bay Rider]

I've been wearing my watch to bed more and more. At least once per week, sometimes 2 or 3. How real is the danger that over time I'll stretch the bracelet and need to replace it. The watch is a 16710 Z series (worn daily) that I plan to own forever, then pass on to my son.
Should I be more diligent and take it off?

[Tools]

I don't think that you will see any stretch for at least a decade or two, if at all, unless you never clean it or let it just bang around on your wrist...

Remember though, bracelets are expendables, so if you're going to wear it 24/7, and then hand it down to your son, then expect to replace that bracelet in 20 to 30 years to give an heirloom that will last another 30 years..

[East Bay Rider]

Will the bracelet for that watch be available in 20-30 years? Sounds doubtful.
Something to think about...

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by Tools

I don't think that you will see any stretch for at least a decade or two, if at all, unless you never clean it or let it just bang around on your wrist...

Remember though, bracelets are expendables, so if you're going to wear it 24/7, and then hand it down to your son, then expect to replace that bracelet in 20 to 30 years to give an heirloom that will last another 30 years..

10 or 20 yr? I've seen watches that are only 3-5 yr and you can see the bracelet stretched alot already!

[scottschoe]

Well, sleeping with it on can't be GOOD for the bracelet (although it might not be bad for it either). I'd take it off just to be safe. I highly doubt it will add to wear and tear if you did, however, especially with the SELs.

[walds11]

LOL!!! Wear and enjoy your watch. The bracelet will be fine.

[padi56]

Well after wearing Rolex watches now for well over 30 years and using the sports models what they was made for.Myself have never experienced any appreciable stretch in any oyster bracelet.Just keep them clean with a occasional wash and brush up in plain old soap and water and the oyster bracelet will last decades with just a service now and then.Most Rolex watches worn today get in reality quite a pampered life, so stretch should never be a problem Jubillee or Oyster,just keep them clean its that simple.

[StanGMT]

The Jubilee bracelet on my SS GMT is forty years old this year. I have worn the watch daily throughout that time and have slept wearing it for probably 70% - 80% of the nights. The bracelet is now a bit stretched (see pic), but I've had it checked out by a Rolex-trained technician recently and it's nowhere near reaching the stage where it needs refurbishment.

Hope this helps.

Stan.

[f16570]

I am always amused by these post.
Valid question granted, but the stretch issue has always perplexed me.
I wore a Seilko on a "Jubille" brecelet for 10 years and it has stretched, but that watch is now 25 years old and does not have solid links.
With the oytser bracelet of today I think stretch is less of a worry.
Wear and enjoy.

[Parachrom]

Took 18 years for my Sea Dweller bracelet to finaly self destruct. RSc says it is beyond repair as the SEL the holes in them went oblong. Can one get just the SEL and put new ones on or does the whole bracelt have to be pitched

[dotcomakazee]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Will the bracelet for that watch be available in 20-30 years? Sounds doubtful.
Something to think about...

I'm having a 'date-appropriate' bracelet put on a 1675 from 1969 right now at RSC, so I say yes.

[f16570]

Parachrom, no doubt you will have to spring for a new band.

[SSD]

Jocke posted a pictorial of a referb. he did on his Datejust a while back. He performed extensive cosmetic cleaning because the watch gets used very hard. New crystal, case polished, ultrasonic cleaning of parts, etc. The thing that struck me was excessive wear on the bracelet's springbars: they were worn through and had to be replaced. I don't think your bracelet will be in any danger or see very much accelerated wear in this case. These suckers are tough!

[CKay]

I don't think mine will be stretched as it is enjoying a pampered life like mine.

[rocco1109]

Originally Posted by StanGMT

The Jubilee bracelet on my SS GMT is forty years old this year. I have worn the watch daily throughout that time and have slept wearing it for probably 70% - 80% of the nights. The bracelet is now a bit stretched (see pic), but I've had it checked out by a Rolex-trained technician recently and it's nowhere near reaching the stage where it needs refurbishment.

Hope this helps.

Stan.

An article in Watch Time magazine says "...the tolerance for bracelet component parts is 2/100th of a millimeter and that's why a Rolex bracelet will last 30 to 40 years without needing repair."

[SeniorDad]

I recently sold a spare 78360 on Fleabay. This bracelet had been in daily use since 1992. I slept with it on every evening. I painted the house, did woodworking, did just about everything except work around AC electricity and my car with it on.

Here's how it looked.

IMO, the number one thing you can do to reduce stretch is to wear the bracelet tight. I find more damage happens to my watches when off my wrist than when on. Number two would be clean it with a soft brush and soap and water weekly. (Anyone still have one of the real old Rolex cleaning cloths that used have that printed on it?)

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Parachrom

Took 18 years for my Sea Dweller bracelet to finaly self destruct. RSc says it is beyond repair as the SEL the holes in them went oblong. Can one get just the SEL and put new ones on or does the whole bracelt have to be pitched

For the cost of a new bracelet I would think about having a jeweler drill out the hole to round again and put a sleeve in it to hold the pin more securely. You should be able to get another several good years out of it..

[Tareg]

Is 'stretch' caused by the link stretching or the pin deforming?

[Dalton]

Originally Posted by Parachrom

Took 18 years for my Sea Dweller bracelet to finaly self destruct. RSc says it is beyond repair as the SEL the holes in them went oblong. Can one get just the SEL and put new ones on or does the whole bracelt have to be pitched

got a pic. they could be repaired.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Tareg

Is 'stretch' caused by the link stretching or the pin deforming?

On the Jubilee it's caused by both. The relatively small center links would actually pull and flatten out, and the pins would gouge the other links and also be worn down. To fix these, new pins are fitted and the links need to be bent back to more round..

On the Oyster most of the damage is caused by the pin wearing a deep groove in the link and also the pins thinning out. These can usually be rebuilt with sleeves and new pins.. Sometimes labor costs are more than a new bracelet..

[Dalton]

also, other than the fear of theft in a hotel or vacation home. Why do you guys sleep with your watches on?

[AJF]

I would not wear a TT (hollow) bracelet playing golf. I have worn my Oyster with TT band for 7 plus years and the second main link from the 6 o'clock position has stretched.

Next service I will look at a bracelet rebuild or replacement of that link and pin. Depending on RSC recommendation.

The watch stays in the golf bag now.

AJF.

[GoldenBear]

Wear it. It will be fine. It will break-in over time but it won't be "damaged" from sleeping. Playing golf is fine, too. I've been wearing mine for golf and sleep for almost 17 years. It has gone through 2 services. They replace the pins and tighten the bracelet. It comes back as good as new. I have heard of more people damaging their watches by taking them off and dropping them on the floor than damaging them by sleeping.

[Brcmpbl]

Take that beauty off and let it rest.

[AJF]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Wear it. It will be fine. It will break-in over time but it won't be "damaged" from sleeping. Playing golf is fine, too. I've been wearing mine for golf and sleep for almost 17 years. It has gone through 2 services. They replace the pins and tighten the bracelet. It comes back as good as new. I have heard of more people damaging their watches by taking them off and dropping them on the floor than damaging them by sleeping.

GB,

I did not think they replaced pins and tighten the bracelet as part of a normal service. My understanding was that they just polish the band!

AJF

[Bobareno]

Wear it all the time, but go buy a new bracelet now and save it. In 20 years it will be about 3 times more. When you are ready to pass the watch along, put on the new bracelet and save to old one.