How to avoid bracelet stretch?

[Solo118]

As per my original plans, I plan on wearing my TT Daytona for many many years. I have seen lots of bracelets with tons of stretch that costs crazy amounts to make right. They were all hollow mid links, which I imagine is a worse thing to have

My question is, how do I maintain the bracelet to not stretch? I have had the watch for almost 3 years, and have done nothing but wear it. No oils or polishing etc.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated

[Tools]

I've got some that are more than a decade old and do not exhibit any stretch...

All you have to d is keep it clean so the grit doesn't get in and grind it away, and do not wear it to loose so it "hammers" it's self to death with our movements........

[Solo118]

Its kind of loose on me (it moves up and down my wrist but not too much) and I wear it in the shower daily and I usually put some soap on the bracelet :)

[sakuraba]

I'd just make sure the bracelet is clean. I use a sonic cleaner (bracelet only) every now and then, but a soft toothbrush and warm water should do it.

[nektar]

especially... do not wear it loose!

[mike]

Yeah, proper fit and keeping it clean goes a long way to holding off any stretch.

[Colnago]

Only thing I can add is it's better to use liquid soap, dish washing stuff is best because is has a rinsing agent, trust me, if you use bar soap you will end up with soap deposits on the internals of the bracelet where you can't reach with your fingers or even a brush, dirt will stick to the residue and can then grind away even though your bracelet looks spanky clean on the outside, this residue can also cause a very nasty rash if it comes into contact with your skin for a period of hours....keeping it clean is the best advice to stop elongation due to wear (I hate that S word!)

[deserted]

Wear it to fit your wrist..........

[kzm40]

Originally Posted by Colnago

Only thing I can add is it's better to use liquid soap, dish washing stuff is best because is has a rinsing agent, trust me, if you use bar soap you will end up with soap deposits on the internals of the bracelet where you can't reach with your fingers or even a brush, dirt will stick to the residue and can then grind away even though your bracelet looks spanky clean on the outside, this residue can also cause a very nasty rash if it comes into contact with your skin for a period of hours....keeping it clean is the best advice to stop elongation due to wear (I hate that S word!)

Shampoo works best, I've found, no residues, also wear it not to loose or to tight. I cleaned my sister in laws lady dj for her, she had never cleaned it, and wore it pretty much 24/7r. took about 5 goes before the black gunge stopped coming off it.. Looked great when I'd done, she said it looked new again, I was just amazed at how much gunge had accumulated, and that all causes additional wear.

[cwru32]

Originally Posted by Solo118

Its kind of loose on me (it moves up and down my wrist but not too much) and I wear it in the shower daily and I usually put some soap on the bracelet :)

thats exactly what the DR ordered!! :)

[padi56]

Well my Sons still wearing two OP watches with oyster bracelets that I owned one from the late 1960s the other from early 1970s.And both bracelets are fine with very very little wear just keep clean with plain old soap and water they they will last for decades

[swatty]

You have had great advice

[icnbne]

great advice everyone
I guess it pays to look after these bracelets..after all, they cost something like $1000..