Easylink - Sometimes Very Difficult to Open?

[puma1552]

I don't know if one of my DJs has always been harder to open than the other one and I've just been oblivious, but I went to wash both of my DJs today and extended the easylinks to do so as I always do (this is the only time I ever need to open them), and found that one was noticeably harder to open. Both watches are a little over a year old and were bought a couple months apart new from the AD, so one isn't appreciably older than the other or anything. Both watches are kept clean and live an easy life.

I then went down a rabbit hole testing both of them like 100 times and found that on one DJ, it is always easy yet secure to open and close, while on the one in question it's always slightly harder but sometimes still generally easy enough (likely why I haven't noticed prior) while other times it was suddenly damn hard to open or even close.

I've done it so many times now it's almost lost meaning. My fingers kind of hurt now.

I investigated both in great detail, the one in question doesn't have a bent springbar or anything like that, no debris in the way, bracelet links in the area all look good when opened or closed, though there is a more noticeable scrape mark on the springbar where the link clasps closed, which you would expect since it's slightly harder to open and close. Nothing alarming, just tiny springbar variability I guess.

Everything in the bracelet looks good and is aligned, nothing weird or bad being noticed and no problems with actual functionality, it just randomly sometimes is really hard to open or close? Was actually worried I was going to bend or break something, but was careful not to.

Anyone else ever experience this? Really odd how inconsistent it is, but maybe I've been effing around too much in one sitting.

[puma1552]

FWIW I think this was just user error somehow. Gave my fingers a rest for a while and went back to it for a couple different rounds tonight opening and closing it quite a bit and had no issues at all as long as I made sure to be very deliberate with opening and closing it. Tested it quite a lot, zero issues, resinspected everything at the end and everything still looks great. It is just slightly stiffer than the other DJ due to inherent manufacturing variability of the easy links, but both feel good and secure and consistent as long as I am deliberate.

I must've just gotten a little sloppy when I went to open them today to wash the watches which sent me down an unfortunate investigation rabbit hole. Oh well, good refresher on popping the easy link in and out. I will say - it really is easier to close it if you really fold it in as much as possible before applying any pressure. I definitely had times where I had it like half folded in and figured my fingers would do the rest to finish folding it down as I applied pressure but that was when I sometimes had issues. Once I started fully folding the link into the clasp as much as I could before applying any pressure, I had no more issues closing.

Hopefully this helps someone, I didn't find any other mentions anywhere online of easy link issues.

[joli160]

Your method of testing is destructive, opening and closing thousands of time is going to wear it out pretty fast.
Why would you want to test this anyway i don’t understand.

Next test on the agenda is the winding crown ?

[Andad]

If it ‘ain’t broke don’t fix it?

[Krash]

My DJ41 is a lot more difficult to open than my GMT BLNR. It was difficult the day I brought it home. Once I set it, I never tried to open it up again to be honest. By contrast, my GMT is easy as pie. I never worried about it. No need to be so obsessive.


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[padi56]

Originally Posted by joli160

Your method of testing is destructive, opening and closing thousands of time is going to wear it out pretty fast.
Why would you want to test this anyway i don’t understand.

Next test on the agenda is the winding crown ?

Have to agree sure is a lot of strange Rolex watch owners today.

[77T]

Originally Posted by puma1552

Hopefully this helps someone, I didn't find any other mentions anywhere online of easy link issues.

Well it helps those who are grappling with OCD aimed at their clasp.

To all:
Stop - do not self-select into clasp mania.


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[fsprow]

Great. A new mania!
- Scratch mania
- Polishing mania
- Timekeeping mania
- Is it safe to wear… mania
- Clasp mania

[superdog]

Originally Posted by joli160

Your method of testing is destructive, opening and closing thousands of time is going to wear it out pretty fast.
Why would you want to test this anyway i don’t understand.

Next test on the agenda is the winding crown ?

Originally Posted by Andad

If it ‘ain’t broke don’t fix it?

exactly right, gentlemen.

[puma1552]

Jesus, forget I posted. Was just trying to see if other people have found variance in easy link stiffness. Nothing has been broken or bent in the watch and everything looks good and even if something did break, the easylink/clasp/all of it are replaceable parts so whatever.

That said, having to apply force to the clasp/bracelet to actuate it with only the spring bar in those little divots holding it all in place as the forces are applied doesn't seem like the the greatest implementation IMO.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by puma1552

Jesus, forget I posted.

It was a memorable post and will be remembered in many a gathering of WIS for years to come.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by puma1552

Jesus, forget I posted. Was just trying to see if other people have found variance in easy link stiffness. Nothing has been broken or bent in the watch and everything looks good and even if something did break, the easylink/clasp/all of it are replaceable parts so whatever.

That said, having to apply force to the clasp/bracelet to actuate it with only the spring bar in those little divots holding it all in place as the forces are applied doesn't seem like the the greatest implementation IMO.

If it makes you feel any better, I sometimes have a little difficulty using the easy link. I find that it’s not an obvious straightforward maneuver. I always have the thought, “Now, how do I DO this?” I always get it to work, but it’s not always “easy”.

Kat


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[puma1552]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

If it makes you feel any better, I sometimes have a little difficulty using the easy link. I find that it’s not an obvious straightforward maneuver. I always have the thought, “Now, how do I DO this?” I always get it to work, but it’s not always “easy”.

Kat


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Thanks. I tend to hold the bracelet steady near the easylink with the broad side sandwiched between my right thumb on top and the side of a finger behind it between the bracelet and the inner clasp blade and then use the thumb on my other hand to gently pry the end of the outer clasp up and use the clasp as a lever to release the link...only downside with this is you can sometimes feel the outer clasp release spring actuate before the easylink lets go in a sort of backwards manner in that it's pivoting based on prying from the back end of the clasp and not the typical release end of the clasp (shouldn't really make a difference though) but it doesn't feel right to hold the outer clasp and tug down on the bracelet to release it, but I realize some people do it that way.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by puma1552

Thanks. I tend to hold the bracelet steady near the easylink with the broad side sandwiched between my right thumb on top and the side of a finger behind it between the bracelet and the inner clasp blade and then use the thumb on my other hand to gently pry the end of the outer clasp up and use the clasp as a lever to release the link...only downside with this is you can sometimes feel the outer clasp release spring actuate before the easylink lets go in a sort of backwards manner in that it's pivoting based on prying from the back end of the clasp and not the typical release end of the clasp (shouldn't really make a difference though) but it doesn't feel right to hold the outer clasp and tug down on the bracelet to release it, but I realize some people do it that way.

I think you just proved my point that it’s not a very straightforward maneuver, with your very detailed explanation.

Kat


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