So Called Bracelet Stretch.

[padi56]

Although indirectly Rolex related some of you guys worry about the so called bracelet stretch which in the real world is link pin wear and pin hole wear.Now this is a picture of my grandsons Alpha watch bracelet he has been wearing daily for over 7 years now as you can see very little wear.He just kept it clean with soap and water as I instructed him to do yes its scratched but that a fact of wearing.Although only rated to 30m he has several times fully submersed watch in water while fresh water fishing but has washed it regular,and many on forum afraid to get there Rolex watches wet.I bought two Alpha manual wind chronograph watches off ebay that cost then just $60 each.I bought one for my grandson the other was going to use movement in another old watch I had.Now the movement was a direct copy of the old Swiss Venus 175 column wheel chronograph a very fine movement in its day.Now the Chinese brand Seagull bought the tools and the rights to make these old Venus movements,but they increased the BPH rate and slightly modded it to fall in with today's higher beat movements.This Seagull ST19 is a very fine and very accurate fully functioning 30 minute chronograph movement out of the box when put of machine was showing +10 seconds a day after a bit of regulation ran well inside todays COSC spec.But over the years I have re-regulated it a few times and just done a oil service.

Please excuse picture taken with a very old cell phone.

[Heady Topper]

… ok?

[uansari1]

Yeah, I think people discount how effective regularly washing the bracelet with soap and water can be in preventing “stretch”. I tend to wear a particular watch for several weeks before rotating to another, and probably wash the watch and bracelet every week since its so hot and humid where I live currently. Been years, and have not noticed any wear in my bracelets.

[EscapementArtist]

Can you elaborate on your soap and water wash? Do you simply use warm water and a Dawn type product? Do you use a soft toothbrush or do you use a soft cloth? Thanks.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by EscapementArtist

Can you elaborate on your soap and water wash? Do you simply use warm water and a Dawn type product? Do you use a soft toothbrush or do you use a soft cloth? Thanks.

Any soap and clean water will do as if any soap that dont harm your skin then 100% sure it will not harm one of the toughest materials made by man SS. Just rinse well after in clean running water, pat dry with any clean cotton type lint free cloth.

[Vishy26]

Thank you

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by EscapementArtist

Can you elaborate on your soap and water wash?

Yes.

Originally Posted by EscapementArtist

Do you simply use warm water and a Dawn type product?

Yes.

Originally Posted by EscapementArtist

Do you use a soft toothbrush or do you use a soft cloth? Thanks.

Yes and Yes. (i.e. very soft toothbrush gets in the spaces between the links, but (and excuse the terminology!) I only use that from behind on models with PCLs. I just use my hands and a soft cloth for the top side, before rinsing with cold water, and then drying with a micro-fibre cloth. All it needs really IMO.

[beshannon]

Thank you Peter, that bracelet looks great.

Makes me wonder about some of the bracelets we see where every link is damaged

[Cambo]

Great post. It’s amazing how quickly a bracelet can get gummed up with body oils, sweat, dirt, sunscreen, bug spray etc.

[subprimero]

Many don't understand what "stretch" actually is. Thanks for sharing the useful information.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Cambo

Great post. It’s amazing how quickly a bracelet can get gummed up with body oils, sweat, dirt, sunscreen, bug spray etc.

The point I was trying to make if a $60 Alpha bracelet can get worn almost daily by a teenager and often abused. Then I am 100% sure a Rolex bracelet could do much better, the secret for long life on any bracelet, is regular washing in good old soap and water like you would do with your own body.

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by EscapementArtist

Can you elaborate on your soap and water wash? Do you simply use warm water and a Dawn type product? Do you use a soft toothbrush or do you use a soft cloth? Thanks.

I’ve been using dawn dish soap and a watch tooth brush ( silicon crazy soft) for a while. Works great, watch looks amazing every time. Couple drops of dish soap and you’re all good.


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[Bstewart]

WTF does soap and water have to do with bracelet stretch/wear and tear? Is the soap going to fortify the parts?

[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by Bstewart

WTF does soap and water have to do with bracelet stretch/wear and tear? Is the soap going to fortify the parts?

Couple of things.

Body oils, dead skin and so on make the watch surfaces sticky and this attracts grit. The grit in between the moving surfaces accelerates wear. Almost like a jewelers polishing paste. And the more grit the more wear. Soap both washes the accumulated grit away and dissolves the oils so it attracts less grit after.

[ndane]

Originally Posted by padi56

The point I was trying to make if a $60 Alpha bracelet can get worn almost daily by a teenager and often abused. Then I am 100% sure a Rolex bracelet could do much better, the secret for long life on any bracelet, is regular washing in good old soap and water like you would do with your own body.

How often do u wash? I try to do 1-2 times a week on my daily wearer with that ChronoPen from HODINKEE, but am never sure how often I should.

[subtona]

After 20 years of daily wear my TT sub 16613 bracelet showed significant wear to the point I was concerned about sudden failure.

The watch took a shower a day with routine soaping.

the 18k links exhibited nearly identical wear to the SS links.