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AndersB · 21 July 2010, 07:47 AM

Hi - does anyone have any experience of replacing a non-SEL bracelet on e.g. a Submariner or GMT?

Thing is this. I ordered a replacement bracelet from Rolex via my AD recently, non-SEL since that's what originally came with the watch but a SEL would have worked as well. It turned out that the final fixed part of the bracelet (the part that goes into the end-link) had the wrong dimension or something (so the spring bars that are meant for the watch model didn't fit). The watchmaker at the AD (very skilled and knowledgable by the way) had to expand the hole in that part (i.e. the final part that goes through the end-link) using a special tool.

Anyone else encountered this?

roger0770 · 21 July 2010, 09:06 AM

that's odd because the sel bracelets are designed to replace the non-sel bracelets. depends what model you have, as long as you get the correct bracelet w/ the end links, the bracelet should fit like a glove. i am able to fit my 93160 sd bracelet on my gmt-ii. my sd is a z serial, and the gmt-ii is a r serial 16760. they are about 20 years apart in terms of production date.

AndersB · 21 July 2010, 09:08 AM

Sorry Roger you mean you put SELs on or? Putting SELs on my GMT is no problem, the problem was getting the non-SEL to fit.

roger0770 · 21 July 2010, 09:27 AM

as long as you have the right end pieces, the bracelet should fit. your ad should have a chart that details what end pieces go with which watch. in your case, it sounds like the replacement bracelet requires a smaller (in diameter) spring bar. instead of fiddling with the bracelet, how come the watchmaker didn't use a new spring bar instead?

Maxseven · 21 July 2010, 09:59 AM

Is a Non-SEL bracelet a hollow end link? If so, then why is it not HEL vs SEL?

Anyway, if you ordered an entirely new bracelet, doesn't it come with the end links, or is that a separate part?

Tools · 21 July 2010, 01:44 PM

Sounds like the wrong end-links. The Sub should always use the 2mm thick spring-bar, however, some of the other models used a 1.8mm spring-bar, and so the endlinks would have a smaller diameter spring-bar tube fitted.

AndersB · 21 July 2010, 05:44 PM

Thanks Tools, I think that could be just it, the diameter of the tube. You wouldn't know the ref number of the 1.8mm bar would you? Although frankly I think even 1.8 could have been too thick. I'll have to try and measure that.

However the end-links are fine (if by end-link we mean the part that sits closest to the watch case). As I tried to describe, it's the dimension of the hole in the part that goes into the end-link, and the spring bar passes through, that caused the issue. I.e. the spring bar passes through this part I'm referring to and the end links. Hope it got clearer. I should have posted a picture of it.

Anyway - as reported the watchmaker could widen the opening using a special tool.

21 July 2010, 07:47 AM	#1
AndersB "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Europe Posts: 603	Replacing non-SEL bracelets Hi - does anyone have any experience of replacing a non-SEL bracelet on e.g. a Submariner or GMT? Thing is this. I ordered a replacement bracelet from Rolex via my AD recently, non-SEL since that's what originally came with the watch but a SEL would have worked as well. It turned out that the final fixed part of the bracelet (the part that goes into the end-link) had the wrong dimension or something (so the spring bars that are meant for the watch model didn't fit). The watchmaker at the AD (very skilled and knowledgable by the way) had to expand the hole in that part (i.e. the final part that goes through the end-link) using a special tool. Anyone else encountered this?

21 July 2010, 09:59 AM	#5
Maxseven "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Real Name: Joe Location: Bloomfield, MI Watch: Submariner Posts: 467	Is a Non-SEL bracelet a hollow end link? If so, then why is it not HEL vs SEL? Anyway, if you ordered an entirely new bracelet, doesn't it come with the end links, or is that a separate part? __________________ Hooper: Watch it! Damn it, Martin! This is compressed air! Martin: Well what the hell kind of a knot was that! Hooper: You pulled the wrong one! You screw around with these tanks and they're going to blow up!

21 July 2010, 01:44 PM	#6
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	Sounds like the wrong end-links. The Sub should always use the 2mm thick spring-bar, however, some of the other models used a 1.8mm spring-bar, and so the endlinks would have a smaller diameter spring-bar tube fitted. __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

21 July 2010, 09:06 AM	#2
roger0770 Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: On Earth Watch: A Few Posts: 1,510	that's odd because the sel bracelets are designed to replace the non-sel bracelets. depends what model you have, as long as you get the correct bracelet w/ the end links, the bracelet should fit like a glove. i am able to fit my 93160 sd bracelet on my gmt-ii. my sd is a z serial, and the gmt-ii is a r serial 16760. they are about 20 years apart in terms of production date.

21 July 2010, 09:08 AM	#3
AndersB "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Europe Posts: 603	Sorry Roger you mean you put SELs on or? Putting SELs on my GMT is no problem, the problem was getting the non-SEL to fit.

21 July 2010, 09:27 AM	#4
roger0770 Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: On Earth Watch: A Few Posts: 1,510	as long as you have the right end pieces, the bracelet should fit. your ad should have a chart that details what end pieces go with which watch. in your case, it sounds like the replacement bracelet requires a smaller (in diameter) spring bar. instead of fiddling with the bracelet, how come the watchmaker didn't use a new spring bar instead?

21 July 2010, 05:44 PM	#7
AndersB "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Europe Posts: 603	Thanks Tools, I think that could be just it, the diameter of the tube. You wouldn't know the ref number of the 1.8mm bar would you? Although frankly I think even 1.8 could have been too thick. I'll have to try and measure that. However the end-links are fine (if by end-link we mean the part that sits closest to the watch case). As I tried to describe, it's the dimension of the hole in the part that goes into the end-link, and the spring bar passes through, that caused the issue. I.e. the spring bar passes through this part I'm referring to and the end links. Hope it got clearer. I should have posted a picture of it. Anyway - as reported the watchmaker could widen the opening using a special tool.

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