President Bracelet Repair

[71mach1man]

Hello All
I have a Day-Date 18238 in YG and my bracelet has some stretch that I need repaired. I would prefer to have the whole band re-pinned.

Thank you in advance, can you please provide referals? I am in the US.

Thanks again.

Brian

[Alcan]

Hi there, and welcome aboard!

Use the search function for Michael Young at www.classicwatchparts.com. Several members here have had outstanding results on bracelet restoration by him. The only caveat is that he's in Hong Kong and turnaround time is a bit.

[greekbum]

I have had several if not a dozen done by various people and will tell you the end result is hit or miss.Some bind some don't etc but all were way better than before.How stretched is your bracelet? The last 1 I had done cost me around $600

[Colnago]

It's actually a pretty tricky job, it will not be (just) the pins which are worn but the centre links.

On the older style bracelet the centre links are actually hollow so the sides on those links where the pins go through is actually quite thin plate......the holes through the 'plate' at either side of the centre link elongate over time with the rubbing of the pins.....this is why it is vital to keep bracelets clean, if tiny grit particals or dirt gets in between the pins and the link material excessive wear can be the result.......causing "elongation due to wear" (not 'stretch', I hate that word bacause it just isn't true)

So the bracelet has to be stripped down into all the individual links and these holes have to be built back up from oval to the correct circular dimensions.....then the whole thing has to be re-pinned back together.....not a simple task.....however some repairers can work absolute wonders....

[BeeMee]

I had my 1979 18078 bark finish President bracelet "tightened" by Michael Young last year. The bracelet was quite loose and the NY RSC refused to touch my bracelet when I had the watch serviced. They only wanted to sell me a new bracelet for $8750. In fact, they handed my the bracelet back to me when I left the watch for service. They only serviced the watch.

When the watch was new, I needed two extra links for the watch to fit my wrist properly. As the bracelet got looser, I removed one link and later on I removed a second link.

I emailed Michael Young and sent him pictures of my bracelet. He quoted me a price and I mailed the bracelet to him in Hong Kong. I told him that I removed two links and he asked me to include them as they would be needed after he tightened the bracelet.

8 weeks later, I received the bracelet back. All of the pins were replaced, but I can see no evidence that the hollow center links were soldered to fill in the slightly oval holes.

I would say that my bracelet is somewhere between 90% and 95% as tight as when it was new. It cost me less than $1000 and I am thrilled with the job he did.

I do not have a "before" picture, but here is an "after tightening" picture. Sorry the picture is not sharper, but you can get the idea of how tight the bracelet is now.

[71mach1man]

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the insightful and indepth responses. I did not know that it was such an involved process. I appreciate the input. I have emailed Michael Young an I am awaiting his response. I will keep you informed.
Thanks again,
Brian

[hhh007]

<<< I would say that my bracelet is somewhere between 90% and 95% as tight as when it was new. It cost me less than $1000 and I am thrilled with the job he did. >>>


Beautiful looking job BeeMee!

[BeeMee]

71mach1man:

Just to let you know. Do not be concerned if Michael Young does reply promptly to your email. He is usually very busy and it may take a few days for him to reply - but he will reply,

On the other hand, if he is available, you just might get a very quick reply.

[DDG]

So, it sounds like the bracelet is disassembled, and the holes in the center links welded or soldered up, and re-drilled? Are the new pins 18k or stainless? I guess you could use Loc-Tite on the side links when it's pressed back together, or solder & re-drill them for new pins too.

[Colnago]

Dennis, I don't think the side links are ever a problem, the wear occurs on the pins and the centre link 'walls'.....not sure if the pins are stainless steel or all Gold....as far as I can remember they always say that the whole thing is Gold.....no other metals are used.....that would certainly explain why president bracelets get so elongated over time....the pins as far as I know are a 'press fit' into the side links

[hhh007]

It's a shame there aren't more people who specialize in that band tightening service, especially here in the US. With all the older model stretched President and Jubilee bracelets out there, I'm sure they'd have a ton of business.

[Koala]

the president bracelet restoration mafia deliberately keeps competition to a minimum