Replacement 78350 19 screw pins?

[Andy198712]

Hi All,

New Rolex owner here. I brought a 1972 (I think #294345*) oyster date with a later bracelet 78350 19 with 557 ends and a VE date stamp (1980?)

I needed a link removing for my wrist, the local jeweller (whom had a decent range of Rolex’s for sale so thought worth an ask) couldn’t remove the links as the screw heads are a little worn/chewed. They offered to try it at their other store this week with better tooling.
I then tried my local AD whom were very nice and was a great experience on there, they said the same and offered to send it away to have the links removed at another branch.
But mentioned they didn’t hold that style of new pins there (the AD I was in) in stock.

So…..

Having been searching on here a lot and reading about the loctite 222 variant ect I applied heat to the female part of the link and slowly worked it with a FACOM 1.55 driver I had (searching for a U.K. source of a hollow ground 1.7mm now)

Slowly working between heat and gentle perseverance ect (I’m quite mechanically minded/skilled and very aware a bull in a China shop never succeedes)

I got some movement and got the pins out. I noted some step wear on the pins and a little built up dirt/oxidisation on the pins which probably all contributed (I had given the bare bracelet a decent time in the ultrasonic the night before to try and help)


Now I have resized the bracelet to a nice fit I want to change out the worn pin/screw, currently just nipped in there.


Is there a good U.K. source for these pins? Trying to find the exact size seems tricky. I have read about this too though.

The pin measures
14mm length (will double check this as may drop to 13.9 with a cleaned up screw slot)
1.6mm dia (checked in two points)
1.6mm thread length

Are some aftermarket ones better than others? Can’t find any Rolex made ones online and the AD surguested trying a jeweller in town for them. But may push them if I can get a part number?)


Lengthly thread sorry!

Cheers
Andy