Show off your before and after Michael Young bracelet repairs

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I'm waiting for him to respond to this thread and am a bit surprised he hasn't done so yet?

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=341269

I sent him an email a few minutes ago with the link.


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[Onikage]

The work of a true master. Anyone with some watchmaker expertise care to explain the process? I'm intrigued.

[Evil-Twin]

AS an Engineer, I am also fascinated by his work. I would never ask him how he does it, but I do know one thing. In grandfather clock movements, over the years pivot points become elongated, they are drilled out and sleeved to make the pivot hole round again and back on center.
My guess would be, Michael, drills out these pivot holes in the links that are worn using a gig. and already has sleeves made up the size of the drilled out OD size and the sleeve had the same ID as the original so when you reengage the link, it like putting the right sized peg in the right size hole. If it isn't the hole that wear out, My guess would be the peg is worn, he drill that out and had new pegs, made up with the base size the same as the dilled out peg hole, and the engaging side of the peg is original. So when pressed together they go in tight and take up the stretch. While the links are apart he can do a thorough polish of each link. In either case, either the hole had to be made smaller with a sleeve, or the peg has to be made bigger.
It's precise work, but that's what watch makers do. Its like being a doctor, you can do generalized medicine or you can become a specialist.
Just my view on Michaels work.
Bill

[coralfarmer84]

Looks great Bill. This thread sold me on MY if I ever need a band fixed. However its done its great work none the less. I assumed (no knowledge of how it works) that they used some sort of compression device to squeeze the play out of the link back to form and then polished. Maybe heat the metal up compress in some sort of specialized vise then reform the holes. But your way sounds a lot more logical

[Cc1966]

Originally Posted by coralfarmer84

Looks great Bill. This thread sold me on MY if I ever need a band fixed. However its done its great work none the less. I assumed (no knowledge of how it works) that they used some sort of compression device to squeeze the play out of the link back to form and then polished. Maybe heat the metal up compress in some sort of specialized vise then reform the holes. But your way sounds a lot more logical

I believe he does some recasting in extreme cases...

[Evil-Twin]

Oh IM just guessing on how he does it. My only exposure to this type of work is what I was told about the movements in Grandfather clocks. OH and BTW, I have two 40 year old Grandfather clocks. I was told when I bought them, they need service every year. just to clean and oil, service is done right in the house. IN forty years, I've never had either one serviced, and they run as good as my Rolex. IM guessing that when they do fail it will be catastrophic.
My only guess as to how he does it, is my logical mind's opinion on how it could be done.
Bill
The good news is that the end result is what is important.

[coralfarmer84]

absolutely! I'm sure if you got really curious you could pull a link off and have a look and see if there is indeed a sleeve inside. But I wouldn't risk the scratch from messing with it.

[Evil-Twin]

Originally Posted by Cc1966

I believe he does some recasting in extreme cases...

I've heard the same thing but only with gold links. Gold is very malleable, meaning its easy to work. A gold link can be melted down and recast easily, if you have the correct mold, its also possible he puts the link in an exact mold and just heats it up to reform the original link to its original specs, or fills the holes and re-drills. when I say re-drills, its not really that easy, it's not like drilling a 2x4. There are very specific dimensions required for a press fit interface. the link has to be mounted in a jig. the hole has to be drilled undersize and then a very specific reamer or hone has to be use to make the precise hole dimension. If you are set up to do this, it not really that hard, but to get it set up, is the mastery that is involved.
Bill

[CaveDiver]

Originally Posted by Evil-Twin

AS an Engineer, I am also fascinated by his work. I would never ask him how he does it, but I do know one thing. In grandfather clock movements, over the years pivot points become elongated, they are drilled out and sleeved to make the pivot hole round again and back on center.

Bill

No need to ask, he tells here:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...=Bracelet+rest

Btw, does the inside of your clasp have your watch s/n engraved?

[Evil-Twin]

Originally Posted by coralfarmer84

absolutely! I'm sure if you got really curious you could pull a link off and have a look and see if there is indeed a sleeve inside. But I wouldn't risk the scratch from messing with it.

No I've been through enough with this bracelet, I don't need to know how he does it, only the fact that he can.. There is something called destructive and non-destructive testing.. in this case I could find out how he does it , but it would be in the destructive range of testing.

I will throw this out, and not for the moment cast the slightest dispersions on Michael young but like in a master magicians mind, they think of an illusion " First".. then they figure out how to do it.

This it just for ships and giggles... OPs spell check.

China ahhh China, the land of clones and fakes, and knock offs. AS an Engineer I can tell you the cost to manufacture can be far removed from the MSRP. IN many cases the cost to manufacture and the MSRP are more than 1000X different. Take a SS Rolex watch band. There is no magic in making one. The links are high quality, the interfaces are high quality, and the engraving is typical. There are no safeguards or holograms on a bracelets,to guarantee its authenticity. its just metal and metal manufacturing. China can make anything almost undetectable, China can make a High quality Rolex bracelet for pennies. EG. the MSRP on a Roles Sub bracelet is 1495.00 with the cost of the metal and once set up, that bracelet could be made for under 50 dollars. Identical looking clones are sold on the internet for under fifty dollars but they are light weight in comparison, do not have the engraving and those little things that are engraved on every Rolex watch, but who is to stop the clone making capital of the world from doing it ? No one. I think in China, you could buy exact links to any watch you wanted and they would be undetectable in weight or aesthetics. IM am not for the moment suggesting, Michael does this, but again, if trying to figure out how it is done. IM betting China already knows how to do it. I Thought about not posting this, because I do not want to cast any dispersions on Michael.
I was involved with an internet sting with SanDisk corporation, China and EBay, and International litigation. to make a long story short, China was selling undetectable clones of SanDisk memory cards. SanDisk would constantly change their security codes, and china would step up and follow, this was going on over several years, SanDisk even devolved their own website so people could detect china's clones. SanDisk went to a hologram which china was able to copy After US customs and the US attorneys office was handcuffed by international law, they started to go after companies like EBay for selling counterfeit memory cards and batteries. China is so good at copying things US customs confiscates 20 million dollars a month in counterfeit goods sent from China at the Port of San Francisco. Just a little FYI from my three year involvement with the SanDisk story. BTW, Us customs estimates that even with their diligences at ports around the country, 5 billion dollars worth of counterfeit good of all kinds from China make it through the blockade. Selling knock offs in this country is a federal offense. Its a breach of federal international trade laws.

Bill

[Evil-Twin]

Originally Posted by CaveDiver

No need to ask, he tells here:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...=Bracelet+rest

Btw, does the inside of your clasp have your watch s/n engraved?

Looks like IM just not another pretty face. I had no idea how Michael does what he does.but my guess was not too far off.

As Far as My bracelet goes its the second bracelet not the original., This bracelet was forced on me by Rolex in 2007. I will look at it shortly to seeON the inside of my clasp it says on the left side
Registered Swiss made
On the right side at the top is says at the top S MA4
below that on the right its says STEELINOX
below that it says 93150
I cant find my watches' ID on the bracelet clasp anywhere.

[CaveDiver]

Originally Posted by Evil-Twin

Looks like IM just not another pretty face. I had no idea how Michael does what he does.but my guess was not too far off.

As Far as My bracelet goes its the second bracelet not the original., This bracelet was forced on me by Rolex in 2007. I will look at it shortly to seeON the inside of my clasp it says on the left side
Registered Swiss made
On the right side at the top is says at the top it say S MA4
below that on the right its says STEELINOX
below that it says 93150
I cant find my watches' ID on the bracelet clasp anywhere.

If it is there it would have been done with a hand engraver and hard to see with the necked eye. It will not be on the blades of the clasp, but on the back side of the clasp. If it is not there, Rolex flubbed up.. Does not mater if they replaced it in the past. In the example above, the watch was not serviced, just a new bezel and new band was fitted then returned to my independent watchmaker for movement service.
See my pic above for reference.

[Evil-Twin]

Originally Posted by CaveDiver

If it is there it would have been done with a hand engraver and hard to see with the necked eye. It will not be on the blades of the clasp, but on the back side of the clasp. If it is not there, Rolex flubbed up.. Does not mater if they replaced it in the past. In the example above, the watch was not serviced, just a new bezel and new band was fitted then returned to my independent watchmaker for movement service.
See my pic above for reference.

I looked with a 5 X and a 10 X loupe . its not there. There is no hand engraving at all. And Yes, Rolex did flub up. I've been saying that all along. So as long as there is no connection of this bracelet to my watch head, They could have easily switched this by accident because it had to be separated from the watch for over 4 weeks while at RSC NY. I'm 98% sure this is not the bracelet I sent them. Or it was severely abuse while there at RSC. The big problem was that they sent it back to me in the horrible condition.
Bill

[CaveDiver]

Originally Posted by Evil-Twin

I looked with a 5 X and a 10 X loupe . its not there. There is no hand engraving at all. And Yes, Rolex did flub up. I've been saying that all along.
Bill

It would be interesting to hear there response to why the s/n is missing. There is no reason for MY to polish that area, so that should not be an excuse.

Did you send it directly to RSC or through an authorized dealer?

[Evil-Twin]

Originally Posted by CaveDiver

It would be interesting to hear there response to why the s/n is missing. There is no reason for MY to polish that area, so that should not be an excuse.

Did you send it directly to RSC or through an authorized dealer?

Like I said I've sent it to them at RSC in NY five times, over the last 30 years always directly. I sent them their survey card the day I received my watch back, I also sent a direct email of my dissatisfaction. in the survey and in the email I said they could call me , text me, or email me, or snail mail me. Its been almost two months and no response from my email or survey card. I called them( RSCNY ) on the Monday after I received my watch the Friday before.
I was met with what I could only describe as a script read from the customer service rep. There was no empathy, no apology, no interest in making it right or concern for my satisfaction. BTW IM not a dummy, I did not call with a rant attitude, the idea with the call was to get them to correct the problem. They told me the estimator said the bracelet was beyond repair and that the only course for me was to replace the bracelet. He said he did not see the bracelet and only went by the estimators recommendation. ( he blamed the other guy ) He told me he could do nothing.

[CaveDiver]

Originally Posted by Evil-Twin

Like I said I've sent it to them at RSC in NY five times, over the last 30 years always directly. I sent them their survey card the day I received my watch back, I also sent a direct email of my dissatisfaction. in the survey and in the email I said they could call me , text me, or email me, or snail mail me. Its been almost two months and no response from my email or survey card. I called them( RSCNY ) on the Monday after I received my watch the Friday before.
I was met with what I could only describe as a script read from the customer service rep. There was no empathy, no apology, no interest in making it right or concern for my satisfaction. BTW IM not a dummy, I did not call with a rant attitude, the idea with the call was to get them to correct the problem. They told me the estimator said the bracelet was beyond repair and that the only course for me was to replace the bracelet. He said he did not see the bracelet and only went by the estimators recommendation. ( he blamed the other guy ) He told me he could do nothing.

Should have talked to the service manager. Water under the bridge now I suppose. Btw, I know they fubb up from personal experience. Rolex can be very arrogant.. Just got play the game.

Dang, that replacement from 2007 sure took a beating. Oh, wait.. That prob ant yours.

[MonBK]

.

[coralfarmer84]

Originally Posted by MonBK

.

You never know! Could be a zombie horse

[Evil-Twin]

Originally Posted by MonBK

.

IF YOU don't like this thread STAY out of it.... its a thread designed to show off the work Michael Young does. Your negative comments about beating a dead horse is arrogant and rude...
This thread is designed to show that a member's bracelet can be confidently sent to Hong Kong, and in the expert hands of Michael Young, be repaired without having to deal with Rolex.
Bill
BTW unlike you, who cried about me behind my back, Ill post what I sent about your post to the forum's administration.
right to your open forum face.:

This is how threads turn into a train wreck... there is no reason why anyone should post "Killing a dead horse" and "Enough already" when the thread is designed to invite members to show off their work from Michael Young. This guy's ( MonBK ) hostile and antagonistic picture post of "beating a dead horse" has no place in my thread. Or on this forum.

Bill

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Evil-Twin

IF YOU don't like this thread STAY out of it.... its a thread designed to show off the work Michael Young does. Your negative comments about beating a dead horse is arrogant and rude...
This thread is designed to show that a member's bracelet can be confidently sent to Hong Kong, and in the expert hands of Michael Young, be repaired without having to deal with Rolex.
Bill
BTW unlike you, who cried about me behind my back, Ill post what I sent about your post to the forum's administration.
right to your open forum face.:

This is how threads turn into a train wreck... there is no reason why anyone should post "Killing a dead horse" and "Enough already" when the thread is designed to invite members to show off their work from Michael Young. This guy's ( MonBK ) hostile and antagonistic picture post of "beating a dead horse" has no place in my thread. Or on this forum.

Bill

This is the "dead horse".


Like I said I've sent it to them at RSC in NY five times, over the last 30 years always directly. I sent them their survey card the day I received my watch back, I also sent a direct email of my dissatisfaction. in the survey and in the email I said they could call me , text me, or email me, or snail mail me. Its been almost two months and no response from my email or survey card. I called them( RSCNY ) on the Monday after I received my watch the Friday before.
I was met with what I could only describe as a script read from the customer service rep. There was no empathy, no apology, no interest in making it right or concern for my satisfaction. BTW IM not a dummy, I did not call with a rant attitude, the idea with the call was to get them to correct the problem. They told me the estimator said the bracelet was beyond repair and that the only course for me was to replace the bracelet. He said he did not see the bracelet and only went by the estimators recommendation. ( he blamed the other guy ) He told me he could do nothing.

[Welshwatchman]

Let's just return to the spirit of the title.

Pics of M.Y bracelet repairs.

The other stuff, perhaps notsomuch .... if at all.

[Chynatown]

AMAZING work done by M.Y.!!!!!!

[Darlinboy]

Originally Posted by Chynatown

AMAZING work done by M.Y.!!!!!!

Agree...I'd be very happy with that!

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by southtexas

$1,100 repair job. And, after people mentioning added links, I looked closely at mine and it appears he did so with mine as well without charging. Top-notch service!

Before:



After:



Before:



After:




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Absolutely amazing; that watch band should be nicknamed the Messiah.

[Chynatown]

Forgot to mention......I think mine was pretty straight forward, but he received my bracelet on the 17th of March and it arrived today!!!! That was an amazing turn around time...

[cdelgado1982]

wow

[Shaolin]

I just got my watch band back from Michael and I couldn't be happier, I paid the extra $100 dollars to change all the pins and it was well worth it.

[rolexbound]

Here is my 1680 with its freshly restored bracelet...I asked that the bracelet not be polished thats why there are still some scratches.

[rolexbound]

Here are some before shots...

[basicksickness]

I'm looking into getting a presi band returned. is M.Y. still the only real option? roughly how much $1000?