Oyster Stainless Steel Bracelet Life Expectancy

[mcavana]

As the title states.... What would the reasonable life expectancy be for a stainless steel oyster bracelet? When I refer to life expectancy I am talking from new to being worn out to the point where if you continue to wear it, it will possibly break when mildly stressed.

Obviously it depends on lots of different things.... So to be more specific, assume the person:

1.) wears the watch all day every day including in bed and in the shower. The watch is worn correctly... not too loose or too tight.
2.) cleans the watch regularly in the shower with a soft tooth brush and soap.
3.) cleans bracelet in ultrasonic cleaner at least once every 6 months.
4.) works an office job and generally speaking will take the watch off for obvious things (like using a jackhammer!) :)
5.) gets watch serviced every 7 years by Rikki, who polishes the bracelet to look like new.

obviously nobody knows the exact answer... but are we talking 10 years? 20? 30? 100???

Thanks!

PS I searched the forums and couldn't find a thread on this exact topic...

[HRV]

No idea.....50 years?

[Armyguy03]

This is a great question. If the person completed steps 1-5 then I would have to say longer than the person would live.

[andromeda160]

well I have the original unrestored bracelet on my oyster precision it's 41 years old and still kickin strong xD

[Casey VP-26]

My guess would be about 100 years, If you don't mind a little stretch.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by mcavana

When I refer to life expectancy I am talking from new to being worn out to the point where if you continue to wear it, it will possibly break when mildly stressed.

Not that it answers your question, but the bracelet is going to be a stretched out mess years and years and years before it's worn to the point of just falling off your wrist. Take a look at some of the old trashed bracelets that show up on the vintage forum - they look like scrap metal but their structural integrity hasn't waned.

[rocco1109]

An article I read in the Rolex magazine said 40 years.

[DJJon]

Well I have a vintage Oyster bracelet that is probably 25+ years and not knowing the history of the bracelet, but seeing the battle scars on the watch head, I'd say steps 1-5 were never followed. And it is going strong with little stretch to remark upon.

So I'm going to "X2" the comment "longer than I will live"

[Sublover2166]

My TT oyster bracelet has been worn every day for 16 years and is still almost still like new. So I would say many many years.

[cop414]

Great question as well as several great answers!! Keep it clean, wear it adjusted correctly (not too tight or too loose) and it will likely last for many, many years!

[mjclark32]

I follow those steps, more or less, and if I can get 25 years out of my bracelet I'll be very happy.

[Rikki]

Keeping the dirt and grit out of the links and it will last a lifetime and then some. Rikki

[Jdd155]

Old folder sheet metal ones from the 1950-60s 30-40yrs, the new solid ones if maintained my guess about 100 yrs +.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Rikki

Keeping the dirt and grit out of the links and it will last a lifetime and then some. Rikki

Have too agree and some of mine are 25 plus years old, and two had a very hard life working as proper tool watches,yet they show no signs of this so called stretch scratches yes.Now today most Rolex watches get a very very pampered life special sprays, resting cloths, etc. So any of the so called stretch is simply down too three or four things of owner neglect.Not keeping them clean, wearing them too lose so they flop around wrist, and fussing and polishing the tiniest scratch and not proper routine maintenance.Even the older type Oyster bracelets have been stress tested and will take 525 lbs pressure before breaking and that's enough to seriously damage your wrist.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

Not that it answers your question, but the bracelet is going to be a stretched out mess years and years and years before it's worn to the point of just falling off your wrist. Take a look at some of the old trashed bracelets that show up on the vintage forum - they look like scrap metal but their structural integrity hasn't waned.

I don't agree.

The old, trashed bracelets you mention are "trashed" because they are so badly worn. The "stretch" is caused by physcial wearing-away of the metal of the links and pins. When the pins are worn away like that...they are indeed quite close to failure.

[gpfps]

I also read that Rolex says 30 years for their bracelets.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

I don't agree.

The old, trashed bracelets you mention are "trashed" because they are so badly worn. The "stretch" is caused by physcial wearing-away of the metal of the links and pins. When the pins are worn away like that...they are indeed quite close to failure.

I was somewhat terse in that post (it's hard to post well when you're holding an infant). I was talking about the older folded link bracelets, where the center links actually can elongate. IMO this can produce huge amounts of stretch without necessarily eating into the pins too much.

If one of my more current bracelet ever gets badly stretched, I'll test its ultimate tensile strength (point where it fails due to pulling) and post my results.

[DEZ]

I had my bracelet replaced in 1993 and have just been told by rolex that it needs replacing again. I have worn the watch every day including my work as a boat builder, my cleaning was not all that it could be so I suppose 20 Years is not bad.

[Rich2putt]

As long as your life.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

I was somewhat terse in that post (it's hard to post well when you're holding an infant). I was talking about the older folded link bracelets, where the center links actually can elongate. IMO this can produce huge amounts of stretch without necessarily eating into the pins too much.

If one of my more current bracelet ever gets badly stretched, I'll test its ultimate tensile strength (point where it fails due to pulling) and post my results.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

If you keep it clean and properly adjusted I say 50 plus years.

[gmtm2]

all your life...