Preventing Bracelet Damage

[Oyster Lover]

As part of my continuous obsession with my Rollies...

I saw at least one person on TRF who said that wearing a rollie "like a bracelet" will unduly wear down the bracelet. Now, while I don't wear my watch like a bracelet, in the Summertime, I do tend to wear my watches "with plenty of room" because of the humidity expanding my wrist.

My question is: will wearing the watch with plenty of room for it to jiggle create more wear on the bracelet, than if the bracelet were tight against my wrist? Personally, I would think the higher the tension, the more stretch one would get on the braclet (like stretching out the jubilee band).. What do you folks think?

[Bama]

I don't know but I think it is a good question. I stress over details like this myself. I currently have my bracelet just a little loose - enough to slip a finger between it and my wrist. It is hot right now so I like to have just a little room. I remember that post and have wondered about it. For all this talk about the strength of the Rolex steel-this is one think I hope I don't have to worry about.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

If you wear it like Michael "Bama" so that you can just slip your index finger under the clasp then the fit is perfect (and should also be loose enough to compensate for an expanding wrist during summer time).

IMHO, wearing the watch too tightly is as bad for the bracelet in terms of stretching as is wearing it too loose, since wearing it very tight would strain the bracelet when you bend your wrist.

And wearing it too loose: The simple law of gravity makes the watch be all over your wrists due to its weight resulting - again - in straining / stretching the bracelet.

So to sum it up: Wear it so that you can put your index finger under the clasp

[Oyster Lover]

Originally Posted by Bama

I don't know but I think it is a good question. I stress over details like this myself. I currently have my bracelet just a little loose - enough to slip a finger between it and my wrist. It is hot right now so I like to have just a little room. I remember that post and have wondered about it. For all this talk about the strength of the Rolex steel-this is one think I hope I don't have to worry about.

Yes - that post got me thinking! If we had jubilee bands, I think it's definitely something to watch out for, as they can get stretched out over time - but we both have the Sub LV, and I also have a GMT-II, and their bracelets have been improved in the last decade, with the links milled from solid metal rather than bent from sheet metal - so I wonder how much we need to worry about this? If anything, TRF is the place to find that out!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Oyster Lover

As part of my continuous obsession with my Rollies...

....................Personally, I would think the higher the tension, the more stretch one would get on the braclet (like stretching out the jubilee band).. What do you folks think?

This may seem logical, but perhaps an anology may help.

If you try to press a nail into a board, you can do a lot of pushing (bracelet under tension) before you move it any at all.

However, pound it with a hammer (bracelet constantly "hammering" itself while loosely on your wrist), and in no time you have it deep into the wood.

The same basic principle of physics applies to your Rolex

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I think we are basically saying the same thing, Larry "Tools"

[Oyster Lover]

Originally Posted by Tools

This may seem logical, but perhaps an anology may help.

If you try to press a nail into a board, you can do a lot of pushing (bracelet under tension) before you move it any at all.

However, pound it with a hammer (bracelet constantly "hammering" itself while loosely on your wrist), and in no time you have it deep into the wood.

The same basic principle of physics applies to your Rolex

Makes sense! I just measured, and I have one index finger under the bracelet - I guess I'm in the clear!

[John685]

Originally Posted by Oyster Lover

Makes sense! I just measured, and I have one index finger under the bracelet - I guess I'm in the clear!

I asked my AD about this some time ago and he advised the watch should be worn tight enough that it doesn't slide up and down your wrist as you go about your activities. The excessive movement causes the bracelet to stretch with the pins elongating the holes they are in. It also causes extra wear on the pins too.

He really made his point when he reminded me that they had recently replaced the clasp on my gold bracelet. Mine had what is called the "lobster claw" clasp which is one of the heavier clasps. The clasp still looked solid but where the two ends connect had worn to such a thin area that it broke.

Most bracelets are worn loosely (as do I) and the movement up and down the wrist causes excessive wear. The same would apply to a wrist watch.

[mike]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

If you wear it like Michael "Bama" so that you can just slip your index finger under the clasp then the fit is perfect (and should also be loose enough to compensate for an expanding wrist during summer time).

IMHO, wearing the watch too tightly is as bad for the bracelet in terms of stretching as is wearing it too loose, since wearing it very tight would strain the bracelet when you bend your wrist.

And wearing it too loose: The simple law of gravity makes the watch be all over your wrists due to its weight resulting - again - in straining / stretching the bracelet.

So to sum it up: Wear it so that you can put your index finger under the clasp

[mcubed]

I guess getting my bracelet covered in dirt so that the links crunch when they move is not a good thing......ooops......

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

Wear it so that you can put your index finger under the clasp

Agreed.....like this!!

[Oyster Lover]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Agreed.....like this!!

Awsome - thanks JJ! By the way, went to my AD today to have him move the link from one side of the GMT to the other, as you suggested - the clasp is now centered and looks great! Thanks again!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Agreed.....like this!!

I wrote your FINGER, JJ!!

NOT your ... you know !

[Spark]

I know this is only adding to an already answered question, but I had to have the Oyster bracelet replaced on an Air-King I ownerd some years back and the Rolex Service Technician told me it was due to the bracelet being worn too loosely, by the previous owner.
The links wear into each other too, which looks horrible.
The finger underneath is the way to go unless you want to wear out your bracelet prematurely

[ducksaw]

I had a 1680 briefly, that had the original bracelet and it was unbelievable how the links had worn into each other. The little "u" shape that it wore into several of the links was so dramatic, I thought it was made that way! Of course, this particular bracelet was 34 years old, and the fellow I got it from wore it loose enough that with enough force, you could probably push it up to his elbow.

[Arturo]

Wearing the bracelet loose will wear it out earlier. I spoke in detail with an ex RSC tech who explained this to me. Some guys like to wear it like jewellry...a bit loose..and that is a style. But really a watch is to be worn snug..not too snug, but snug so that the watch does not move around your wrist. It is better for winding of the watch, and certainly for the bracelet. These sports watches have heavy heads that, when loose, will put pressure on the pins. And when you let the watch lie low on the wrist and, for example, get out of a chair, you have to be careful to slide it up or you could damage the bracelet when you lift up and fles your hand forward if the bracelet is sitting low. He showed me a bracelet that had been damaged just from this guy wearing it loose and him getting out of his chair over and over. So I snugged all mine up.

[Arturo]

So I go a little snugger than the finger underneith.

[Bama]

Good info.

[mikey]

Wear it the way it makes you feel comfortable otherwise get a Nato

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Arturo

Wearing the bracelet loose will wear it out earlier. I spoke in detail with an ex RSC tech who explained this to me. Some guys like to wear it like jewellry...a bit loose..and that is a style. But really a watch is to be worn snug..not too snug, but snug so that the watch does not move around your wrist. It is better for winding of the watch, and certainly for the bracelet. These sports watches have heavy heads that, when loose, will put pressure on the pins. And when you let the watch lie low on the wrist and, for example, get out of a chair, you have to be careful to slide it up or you could damage the bracelet when you lift up and fles your hand forward if the bracelet is sitting low. He showed me a bracelet that had been damaged just from this guy wearing it loose and him getting out of his chair over and over. So I snugged all mine up.

reply

[Lubrifar]

Originally Posted by Arturo

Wearing the bracelet loose will wear it out earlier. I spoke in detail with an ex RSC tech who explained this to me. Some guys like to wear it like jewellry...a bit loose..and that is a style. But really a watch is to be worn snug..not too snug, but snug so that the watch does not move around your wrist. It is better for winding of the watch, and certainly for the bracelet. These sports watches have heavy heads that, when loose, will put pressure on the pins. And when you let the watch lie low on the wrist and, for example, get out of a chair, you have to be careful to slide it up or you could damage the bracelet when you lift up and fles your hand forward if the bracelet is sitting low. He showed me a bracelet that had been damaged just from this guy wearing it loose and him getting out of his chair over and over. So I snugged all mine up.

Perfect! I agree 100%!