Anyone ever break a SPRINGBAR?

[Porsche]

Hi guys

with summer coming on here in Australia, I'll be spending most weekends at our "beach-shack" (yeah yeah, I know )

I will obviously be going into the ocean for a swim and body-surf several times a day. I am still convincing myself that a trip-lock crown will keep the insides dry, but I am terrified that if I get rolled by a "dumper" I may emerge from the foamy water without my GMTIIc

How strong are the springbars? Am I crazy going into surf with a AU$8800 watch on?

My choices...
1. leave watch at home for the weekend and wear my Seiko divers
2. wear the GMT and take off before swimming (and leave in beach shack at with a small risk of theft)
3. wear GMT 24/7, and place my trust in the springbar strength

I have read posts about Nato straps having the security of still holding watch if one springbar breaks, but has anyone actually ever had this happen???

I guess if you were doing something rough, or maybe caught watch on a door, or something it may break, but how rough can a wave get???

Would love to hear...

[SLS]

Never had a problem with any of mine. I have bought a few vintage pieces that had the non-SEL end links and the spring bars were bent, but they still worked fine. This is when a NATO strap is nice, even when one spring bar fails, you have the other holding the watch to the strap. FWIW, I have surfed, body boarded, body surfed, snorkled, swam and never had a problem. Any modern Rolex should be fine.
~Scott

[JJ Irani]

No problem, John. The spring bars have been designed by Rolex to take a lot of strain and pull.

The SELs actually support the bar by creating an "umbrella" like protection. The 2 ends of the SELs hold firmly against the case while the bar nestles in the centre.

This gives added protection and solidity to the bar.

JJ

[Jocke]

The springbars can take heavy abuse.

Here is a 20 year old ones from one of my watches that still works.



Jocke

[Andad]

C,mon Jocke this is a serious post.

John,

IMO leave your GMT in a safe place and enjoy your weekends.

It doesn't sound like you would if you were wearing your GMT.

[sbakar]

Why not trust the springbars and have a good time!

SNB

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

No problem, John. The spring bars have been designed by Rolex to take a lot of strain and pull.

The SELs actually support the bar by creating an "umbrella" like protection. The 2 ends of the SELs hold firmly against the case while the bar nestles in the centre.

This gives added protection and solidity to the bar.

JJ

Thanks JJ, I get it, the SEL acts as a "sleeve", so it's like trying to bend a pipe-inside-a-pipe

Originally Posted by directioneng

John,
IMO leave your GMT in a safe place and enjoy your weekends.
It doesn't sound like you would if you were wearing your GMT.

Good idea, but how can I enjoy my weekend without my Rolex on


EDIT: I'd still like to hear if anyone broke a springbar and LOST their Rolex????

[sbakar]

Originally Posted by Porsche

Thanks JJ, I get it, the SEL acts as a "sleeve", so it's like trying to bend a pipe-inside-a-pipe



Good idea, but how can I enjoy my weekend without my Rolex on

I think my answer solves the problem

Enjoy your weekend!

SNB

[ROLEXUS]

http://www.clockmaker.com.au/watchma...nbracelet.html

This should answer your question John. YES! but seems to be older, well worn watches.

[padi56]

Yes once in the Redsea but at the time there was around 15 stone hanging by the bracelet over the side of a boat,Still better for the spring bar to fail than my wrist but a SD lost to the abyss.

[RsqVet]

On lesser watches yes. On rolex no.

Having messed with a fair number of watches and bands over the years the differance between rolex springbars and more common watch parts is night and day --- way tighter, closer fit and very strong / hard to get out.

I have thought about it and other than solid bars like a mil-sub spring bars are about as foolproof as you can get.... and of course the funny thing is on a nato strap your watch is riding on 13 cents worth of nylon and a little bent piece of wire that forms the buckle. Not that I have issue with NATO straps, I just am not sure they are vastly better than a good SEL bracelet with good springbars

[mailman]

Wear the GMT and enjoy your weekends

[veefour]

Wearing a Rolex to the beach, pool, work, etc, etc, etc for the last 39 years (only 3 diff watches trough this time), and never had a spring bar issue.
If you want to use your's, it will be OK.
But if you'll spend your hollydays worried about it.......

[cody p]

only had my AK for 7 months, but i did have springbar failure on a zeno explorer while riding a bicycle in the city. needless to say, i got rid of it asap after that.

[sheldonsmith]

From http://www.minus4plus6.com/photos/photo34.htm

To answer your question, if the Springbars are less than five years old on a SEL bracelet, I think they will be fine... Wear your watch everywhere...

-Sheldon

[delldeaton]

Something for which my mind is now at ease!

[veefour]

Originally Posted by sheldonsmith

From http://www.minus4plus6.com/photos/photo34.htm

To answer your question, if the Springbars are less than five years old on a SEL bracelet, I think they will be fine... Wear your watch everywhere...

-Sheldon

So are SEL weaker than old style?.
After 22 years on my wrist, wearing for EVERYTHING from sports, work on cars and bikes, painting walls, doing the garden etc, etc, springbars are as good as new.
Checked them a few months ago while installing a rubber band, just for a change.

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by ROLEXUS

http://www.clockmaker.com.au/watchma...nbracelet.html

This should answer your question John. YES! but seems to be older, well worn watches.

What a great link! (Pardon the pun)