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ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
30 October 2008, 03:21 PM
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#1 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: John
Location: ɹǝpun
Watch: and learn
Posts: 2,986
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Anyone ever break a SPRINGBAR?
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...
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Obey Gravity, it's the Law! ROLEX --- SEIKO --- HEUER TRF REHAUT T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M |
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30 October 2008, 03:27 PM
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#2 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Real Name: Scott
Location: GMT -7
Watch: GMT's & Sub's
Posts: 10,401
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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
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"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of lower price is forgotten." -Benjamin Franklin Member No. 922 |
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30 October 2008, 04:13 PM
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#3 |
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Fondly Remembered
Join Date: May 2005
Real Name: JJ
Location: Auckland, NZ
Watch: ALL SOLD!!
Posts: 74,319
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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
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Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!!  I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!! |
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30 October 2008, 04:17 PM
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#4 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Real Name: Jocke
Location: Sweden
Watch: A dozen of Rolex's
Posts: 22,541
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The springbars can take heavy abuse.
Here is a 20 year old ones from one of my watches that still works.  Jocke
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This message is written in perfect swenglish. What is best a custom Rolex or a Rolex that is stuck in custom? Buy a professional camera and you´re a professional photographer, buy a flute and you own a flute. |
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30 October 2008, 04:26 PM
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#5 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Real Name: Eddie
Location: Australia
Watch: A few.
Posts: 37,534
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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. 
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30 October 2008, 04:29 PM
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#6 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Vancouver
Posts: 650
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Why not trust the springbars and have a good time!
SNB |
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30 October 2008, 04:32 PM
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#7 | ||
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: John
Location: ɹǝpun
Watch: and learn
Posts: 2,986
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Quote:
Quote:
 EDIT: I'd still like to hear if anyone broke a springbar and LOST their Rolex????
__________________
Obey Gravity, it's the Law! ROLEX --- SEIKO --- HEUER TRF REHAUT T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M |
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30 October 2008, 04:35 PM
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#8 | |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Vancouver
Posts: 650
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Quote:
Enjoy your weekend! SNB |
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30 October 2008, 05:17 PM
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#9 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 200
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http://www.clockmaker.com.au/watchma...nbracelet.html
This should answer your question John. YES! but seems to be older, well worn watches. |
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30 October 2008, 06:35 PM
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#10 |
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"TRF" Life Patron
Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
Watch: ing you.
Posts: 53,063
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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.
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 ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder 
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30 October 2008, 06:44 PM
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#11 |
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 142
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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 |
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30 October 2008, 07:15 PM
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#12 |
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TRF Moderator & SubLV41 2024 Patron
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: .
Watch: 126610LN
Posts: 35,510
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Wear the GMT and enjoy your weekends
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JJ |
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30 October 2008, 09:09 PM
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#13 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canary Islands
Posts: 520
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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....... 
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16800 Matt (1986) Avatar pic by Jocke |
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30 October 2008, 09:44 PM
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#14 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Canada
Watch: Air-King 114200
Posts: 2,878
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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.
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30 October 2008, 10:29 PM
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#15 |
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2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Member 202♛
Posts: 1,815
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  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
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30 October 2008, 11:24 PM
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#16 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Real Name: Dell Deaton
Location: NAWCC Museum!
Watch: Never kiss & tell!
Posts: 883
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Great topic
Something for which my mind is now at ease!
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31 October 2008, 09:37 AM
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#17 | |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canary Islands
Posts: 520
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Quote:
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.
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16800 Matt (1986) Avatar pic by Jocke |
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31 October 2008, 09:55 AM
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#18 | |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Real Name: David
Location: Scotland
Watch: 16610 & 214270
Posts: 1,294
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Quote:
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Sub 16610, Explorer 214270, Ω Speedy Pro & many others. David |
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