Oyster bracelet question

[watchsmack]

Hello all,
I am new here and don't know much about rolexes, but that will change fast after lurk here a while. The knowledge here is incredible. Enough stroking, I have a (two tone)1966 Oyster Perpetual, no date, automatic. It was my father's and doesn't have the original band.
I saw a 1968 two tone oyster bracelet 19mm on ebay for $650.00. It says the gold is 14k. Did the originals have 18k? Is this band too cheap?
Also, I have had 2 different "watchmakers" tell me 2 different things in regards to lug size, one says 19mm, the other says 20mm. If it's a 20mm, will a 19mm band work?
I appreciate any info or direction to find the info and look forward to being a member of this forum.
Shane

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by watchsmack

Hello all,
I am new here and don't know much about rolexes, but that will change fast after lurk here a while. The knowledge here is incredible. Enough stroking, I have a (two tone)1966 Oyster Perpetual, no date, automatic. It was my father's and doesn't have the original band.
I saw a 1968 two tone oyster bracelet 19mm on ebay for $650.00. It says the gold is 14k. Did the originals have 18k? Is this band too cheap?
Also, I have had 2 different "watchmakers" tell me 2 different things in regards to lug size, one says 19mm, the other says 20mm. If it's a 20mm, will a 19mm band work?
I appreciate any info or direction to find the info and look forward to being a member of this forum.
Shane

Your watch is probably 19mm, althought it is easy enough to measure. I'm surprised your "watchmakers" didn't do this.

The 14K bracelet should work; most Rolex TTs were not 18K until the 1980s.

A 19mm band will fit on a 20mm watch but it will look pretty bad.

[George Ab]

Shane,

Ask about bracelet stretch. Ask to see a pic of the bracelet from the side hanging freely. $650 could be way too much if the band is shot. $650 sounds like the right price for a good band, but I have not researched it thoroughly (or at all for that matter). Not a huge market for 19mm bands compared to 20mm band.

An oyster bracelet should have a life cycle in the order of 60 years with proper maintenance and 10 to 15 years without. Proper maintenance is putting it in a ultrasonic cleaner every three to six months with a light cleaner for a few cycles. This removes the gunk that gets inside the links. This gunk acts like polishing compound and wears the pins and inside surface resulting in stretch. The signs of maintenance not being done are black gunk in between the links, screw pins that you can see are worn (diameter steps down) and stretch. A decent ultrasonic cleaner can be had for $30 on eBay.

That classic watch looks great on a strap.

PS: Welcome to TRF!

[watchsmack]

thanks for the replies. I at least now have the confidence to make an offer.