East Africa wore my Oyster out!

[polishing peanuts]

Hi all,
After years of working in East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya) which entailed thousands of dust laden hours spent jolting around off road; the wear and elongation of my faithful (90,000 appx hours worn!) 'Date' strap is pretty severe!

I would love to repair it my self because I am that sorta guy but does anyone know where I can buy a strap 'kit' or reconditioning gear in the UK?

The curved bands have had to be squeezed back on a couple of times too, (after hard knocks) so I would need replace those too.

I know that we are getting into the 'old faithful axe' territory, (three new shafts and a new head, but still the same good old axe!)

But I am sentimental about stuff, even if a 'new' strap is cheaper in the long run. I am at least now better educated about keeping it clean......It used to get covered in dust, especially the years that I lived in Uganda; man. that red dust used to get everywhere!.

Ian
---------------------------------

[Psmith]

Welcome Ian. Send the watch to a RSC (Rolex Service Centre) for a full overhaul.

After 90,000 hours of wrist time (~10 years) in that environment, it is well overdue.




Cheers

[polishing peanuts]

Thanks Clive,
I know, seriously overdue. I admit to being woefully ignorant about Rolex's, it was years before I even knew that they should be serviced from time to time!

I wore my Rolex like every other watch I ever owned, i.e wore it and forgot it! No wonder all the others used to last about 5 years in my hands.......

[Psmith]

It may cost a few $$$ Ian, but the watch will come back looking like new and be good for another decade of adventures



Cheers

[nickriebe]

Sounds like a very "adventurous" life for you and your watches. Definately agree with Clive on this one... Time for a full service tune up! Keep living the adventure!

[AndersB]

Hello Ian - sorry for marking words but is it a strap or a (steel) bracelet ? It sounds like it's a bracelet.

[mcubed]

1) For wearing your Rolex properly, we Sir, salute you.

2) Unfortunately a Rolex is something you really can't fix yourself. It is worth it to get a full service...

3) I find it funny that it seems that a lot of the "working Rolexes" i see in posts tend to be Datejusts and Oyster perpetuals, rather than Subs and GMTs, the opposite of what many would think.

[polishing peanuts]

Originally Posted by AndersB

is it a strap or a (steel) bracelet ? It sounds like it's a bracelet.

Not sure of the difference, its the one in the avatar pic if you can just make it out!

I got the 'date' in steel as I wanted a simple watch that would be reliable and not attract too much attention.......there are far too many pangas (machete) in Africa and I quite like my hands on the end of my arms......

Seemed a little fool hardy to walk around with a watch that cost the equivalent of the whole village's annual income on my arm!

Looks like I have got to set aside a 'little' for a bracelet o/haul and a spring clean then.......

Many thanks for your comments one and all!
Stay well
Ian

[Tools]

I don't think that anybody sells a "kit" for rebuilding your bracelet. There are a couple of places that do pull the links apart and replace the pins that hold them together so there may be a source for them..

Unfortunately rolex does not rebid them at service, only refinishes the parts so you may have to buy a new one... probably around 500USD with another 500USD for a service.. quite a bit for a watch that's only worth around that...

Perhaps you could find a used bracelet of the same type and use the best parts from the two.............

[polishing peanuts]

Thanks Larry,
I had a quick shufti on the net for pins and they are there, but with so much 'dubious' Rolex stuff around it looks like I would need a recommendation first.

In a way I am a little 'disappointed' about this kind of wear, as I have not experienced it with any other watch that I owned prior to buying a Rolex (as the 'last watch I'll ever buy').

I used to get through a watch about every 5 years or so and it was always the mechanisms that used to fail. I don't ever remember the straps wearing out.

I remember looking at the Rolex once as we barreled down a remote rural heavily washboarded road for hours, out near the Kenyan border thinking, how the heck does it cope with that kind of vibration!! Still keeps fair time though, it gains a little here and there, but then it did when it as brand new!

Anyway, as you know we will forgive our beloved Rolex's their 'little' foibles!

And, I'll keep an eye out for a second hand strap in case this one gives up the ghost at some point!

Stay well
Ian

[polishing peanuts]

Originally Posted by mcubed

"The safest place for your Rolex is on your wrist"

I love that McCubed! I so agree, I always knew that I was somewhere safe if I took my watch of and put it on the bedside table when going to bed!

Otherwise it most definitely stay on my wrist knowing that at least I'd get a chance to 'defend' it!!

Thankfully, years of working all over, my lovely watch has yet to encounter a near miss, long may it continue.

Thanks again, it's a lively forum isn't it this!
Ian

[t e x]

Welcome to TRF Ian

[acce1999]

That is a great story in this thread. I like to see Rolexes being used, and this one certainly seems to be used as intended. How old is it?

Good to see "a user" on this forum. A lot of people are collectors rather than users. I consider myself a user, although I have a collection ;-)

Best,

A

[polishing peanuts]

Thanks Anders,
I bought it new in....1996 I think, yes it was just before I went to work abroad for the first time.

Yes, I am definitely a user and I do wonder what kind of job you need to have if your hobby is collecting Rolex watches?!

I will buy my second one though one day, as (if he wants it), I anticipate giving this watch to my boy once he gets all growed up (he's only 4 so I get to keep it for a while yet) and then I will have to find myself a new one!

Although, I'll probably end up getting him a new one and I'll keep this 'comfortable' one....
Cheers
Ian

[nickriebe]

If its just the band that is the problem, may i suggest a NATO strap? Or would that even work on this watch? I admit my ignorance but it may be a simple solution.

[mcubed]

Originally Posted by polishing peanuts

Thanks Anders,
I bought it new in....1996 I think, yes it was just before I went to work abroad for the first time.

Yes, I am definitely a user and I do wonder what kind of job you need to have if your hobby is collecting Rolex watches?!

I will buy my second one though one day, as (if he wants it), I anticipate giving this watch to my boy once he gets all growed up (he's only 4 so I get to keep it for a while yet) and then I will have to find myself a new one!

Although, I'll probably end up getting him a new one and I'll keep this 'comfortable' one....
Cheers
Ian

Well if you got it in 96 the you have been wearing it for 14 years, so it is hard to compare the bracelet wear to a watch that was only used for 5 years. Tools is right, the watch would likely cost between 800 to 1000 to completely redo via Rolex service, with a new bracelet though I think the watch is worth slightly more than 1000, since I think it would be hard to find one in just serviced condition with a new bracelet at that price from a reputable dealer. Also remember that a new OP date would cost over 4K US these days.

You could always find a competent watch maker in your area for a service, that might be cheaper and they might be more willing/able to consider repairing the bracelet, since Rolex likely wont. Also, if you can't afford both the service and a new bracelet, you could always get an aftermarket bracelet for now, you can get a very high quality one for a few hundred or under, and replace the bracelet at a later date with an original. Or get a rubber strap (leather or an NATO might not hold up to your level of wear). There are lots of options to keep the watch going.


Also remember that there is stretch and there is STRETCH. From the picture it is hard to tell if the bracelet is in danger of failing or not. It might go years before it is really unusable. A good watchmaker can also replace at least some of the accessible pins in the bracelet clasp.

[AndersB]

Originally Posted by nickriebe

If its just the band that is the problem, may i suggest a NATO strap? Or would that even work on this watch? I admit my ignorance but it may be a simple solution.

Yes a Nato would work on that watch I would say - "cosmetically" as well as functionally. A slightly thinner one than the most common ones would probably work better though - as the normal ones could perhaps be a bit difficult to get between the spring and the watch case.

Ian - I'm not sure you're familiar with "Natos" but they're tough nylon straps with stainless steel buckles. Do a search on the forum and you'll find lots of info on them. A Nato typically also makes a Rolex look less expensive and less easily recognisable as.. a Rolex. Which is an advantage in some cases.

[polishing peanuts]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the heads up on the Nato, like you say it might be worth getting one 'in' just in case this one breaks. Also like you commented, it could be years before is unwearable.

The weakest point I feel in the strap is the joint betwixt the two curved metal parts of the fastener (sorry don't know correct term!) as this came apart after a hard knock once, I put it back together and gently folded the metal back over the pin. However, it doesn't fasten quite as securely as before.

I doubt that I wouldn't feel it, if it broke and fell off, but you never know, especially as I have young kids and the kind of play that involves. And of course there is work, I wear it all the time as I feel that it is better to wear it out (I am doing my best ) than it lay neglected on a shelf. Imagine how gutted you would feel though, to get home and realize that it was missing......

I also wear it all the time as I think the stainless ones make great 'working' watches. Same great legend and workings but just not in a posh frock! Not to mention that putting anything else on my wrist now, just wouldn't be cricket.....

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by polishing peanuts

I wore my Rolex like every other watch I ever owned, i.e wore it and forgot it!..

That is music to my ears. You are using a Rolex they way it should be.
How tough does a watch really have to be if it is babied and pampered its entire life?? Any piece of junk watch will last forever if its babied and serviced every 3 years. Wear it and forget it. Fix it only when its showing accuracy issues.

[polishing peanuts]

True!
To tell you how tough they are, once I remember dropping something in some masonry walling and naturally reached into the rough bricks and blocks to retrieve it.

Short sleeved shirt on as usual (always 25+) and on the way up I (unintentionally) dragged the face of the watch against the rough locally made concrete blocks.

I daren't look.

But, not a mark, not even a tiny scratch. Those sapphire watch faces have earned my respect over the years. Even now, the pic up there is very recent and relatively 'uncleaned' it still looks amazing to me.

That reminds me I must give it a once over now that I have been educated here!

[Puffy]

Post some pics please Ian. Would love to see what condition it is in.

[mcubed]

Originally Posted by polishing peanuts

Hi guys,

The weakest point I feel in the strap is the joint betwixt the two curved metal parts of the fastener (sorry don't know correct term!) as this came apart after a hard knock once, I put it back together and gently folded the metal back over the pin. However, it doesn't fasten quite as securely as before.

That could probably be fixed, or you could just get a new clasp, which would be cheaper than a whole new bracelet. I would also replace the spring bars that hold the bracelet to the watch-that is something that could be requested during a service.

[acce1999]

Originally Posted by polishing peanuts

Thanks Anders,
I bought it new in....1996 I think, yes it was just before I went to work abroad for the first time.

Yes, I am definitely a user and I do wonder what kind of job you need to have if your hobby is collecting Rolex watches?!

I will buy my second one though one day, as (if he wants it), I anticipate giving this watch to my boy once he gets all growed up (he's only 4 so I get to keep it for a while yet) and then I will have to find myself a new one!

Although, I'll probably end up getting him a new one and I'll keep this 'comfortable' one....
Cheers
Ian

1996 ... pretty much the same age as my Explorer then, that also has seen a lot. I had it serviced two years ago, and it is my most comfortable watch. Give your watch a service. Most likely they will tune up your bracelet too.

BTW my bracelet is worn, but functional, and very comfortable. I can start to spot areas of wear, but would say that the bracelet has still to see the majority of its lifetime.

As I understand it Rolex designed the Oyster bracelet for daily wear during 25 years.

Currently I am wearing a folded Oyster bracelet that is almost twenty years, and when I checked the weak points I'd say it still has another 20 years to offer ;-)

Best,

A

[zeuloa]

I know it's been a while, but what did you do in the end? Any pics?