The unofficial Rolex Band Restoration Manual

[zippycar]

Many many thanks for joining, and for sharing the methods of your magic. Not many posts to my credit, but I've read about you on the forum for years now. I'm especially glad you do this work, since my president band will need a re-furb sooner rather than later.

[scooba]

Hi Michael , Amazing work, I have read lots off good things and have a special project for you ,Its my Mothers 18k bracelet off her Datejust

Could you be as kind as to PM me all the details so I can ship it to you .

Best Regards

Paul

[RIPLEYXL9]

Hi Michael
I have a 10 year old 16618 18 ct Gold Submariner Oyster , my second watch and the links are very very good - but I must confess I really "save it" for more special occaisions. Specifically as I was told it was many £1,000's to refurbish and generally cheaper to buy a new bracrlet then repair!
Having just had major heart surgery I'm now thinking, sod it! wear it and enjoy it! - you can't take it with you! How much is a refurbishment ?
Reason I ask is its up for replacement by a 116618 Sub 18 ct. Are these a similar price to refurbiish?
NB both would be 'caught' well before they got sloppy.

I ask now, because one of the reasons for selling it at 10 years old (probably six were spent in the safe) was to avoid the cost of a bracelet refurbishement, which I think they said 8 years ago was over £5K! :(
My logic being, spend the refurb cost on an upgrade which being new will have no wear.

But your costs seem so reasonable and impressive, kinda negates my thoughts on this current investment plan - but in any eventI have decided to wear and enjoy on a daily basis! from now on.



For future ref

[classicwatchparts]

Originally Posted by RIPLEYXL9

Hi Michael
I have a 10 year old 16618 18 ct Gold Submariner Oyster , my second watch and the links are very very good - but I must confess I really "save it" for more special occaisions. Specifically as I was told it was many £1,000's to refurbish and generally cheaper to buy a new bracrlet then repair!
Having just had major heart surgery I'm now thinking, sod it! wear it and enjoy it! - you can't take it with you! How much is a refurbishment ?
Reason I ask is its up for replacement by a 116618 Sub 18 ct. Are these a similar price to refurbiish?
NB both would be 'caught' well before they got sloppy.

I ask now, because one of the reasons for selling it at 10 years old (probably six were spent in the safe) was to avoid the cost of a bracelet refurbishement, which I think they said 8 years ago was over £5K! :(
My logic being, spend the refurb cost on an upgrade which being new will have no wear.

But your costs seem so reasonable and impressive, kinda negates my thoughts on this current investment plan - but in any eventI have decided to wear and enjoy on a daily basis! from now on.



For future ref

Don't worry there is too much in life to worry about. We can easily restore 2 tone oyster bands so there is no urgency to sell the watch.

enjoy life!!

[Oyster Al]

Hi Michael, im about to purchase a 17 year old bluesy 16613 that needs a bit of help on the bracelet. My question is do you also add Rolex authentic links if requested. I think i may need to add two or three gold/ss links.Thanks sir!

[classicwatchparts]

PM replied

[Darlinboy]

Excellent results! '67 folded link jubilee just got it back from MY this week.

[Joachim]

Just got mine back too.
Before:




After:






Amazing!
Very nice service by MK, thanks!!!

[jolimont]

Originally Posted by Darlinboy

Excellent results! '67 folded link jubilee just got it back from MY this week.

Attachment 360482

Hi can I get a pic from the side of the jubilee?
Cheers, I need mine done

[Darlinboy]

Originally Posted by jolimont

Hi can I get a pic from the side of the jubilee?
Cheers, I need mine done

More pics here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=271684

[Sparkle_zo]

I am wondering if some bracelets stretch more then other, for example jubilee comparing to oyster.

[aharcar]

This is some great news! I really wanted to know how these things came apart. Then to find out you can fix one. I will be a customer one day when need be.

THANKS for the info!!!

[seattleal]

Hi Micheal - thanks so much for the incredibly informative post.

Can you also restore Pt president bracelets, and if so, what is the approximate cost?

In your experience, do Pt bracelets wear faster than 18kt gold? I ask because a Pt watch/bracelet is so heavy it almost has to be worn tight on the wrist.

Does your half-inch rule apply to these as well?

And, as asked earlier, would you recommend periodic ultrasound cleaning to help slow wear and stretching?

I appreciate your help!!!

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by seattleal

Hi Micheal - thanks so much for the incredibly informative post.

Can you also restore Pt president bracelets, and if so, what is the approximate cost?

In your experience, do Pt bracelets wear faster than 18kt gold? I ask because a Pt watch/bracelet is so heavy it almost has to be worn tight on the wrist.

Does your half-inch rule apply to these as well?

And, as asked earlier, would you recommend periodic ultrasound cleaning to help slow wear and stretching?

I appreciate your help!!!

He does . . . it was $ 850.00 + shipping . . . don't know the current price but Michael will get back to you . . .

Why do you wear it so tight . . . must be uncomfortable ?

HAGWe

[seattleal]

I guess tight is a relative term - so tighter than I wear a SS sub or TT 1630, but not tight enough to leave an impression and not loose enough to slip around. As you know, the president bracelets can only be adjusted by adding or removing links, so it's more of a compromise, and less easily changed than the standard bracelets.

[onkyo]

Welcome aboard Michael and thank you for sharing this information.

And a big thank you for bringing my 9315 back to life.

[RolexWatchFan]

Thank you so much for this thread. Hoping you can show how you put the metal sleeve or tube over the existing pin and then how you place everything back.

Anyway, really looking forward to seeing the continuation of this post!!!

[RXDJ68]

I'm sending MY my 2000 20mm Jubilee Band tomorrow March 4. Will keep you posted how it went.

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by Sparkle_zo

I am wondering if some bracelets stretch more then other, for example jubilee comparing to oyster.

I would say yes, more joints and pins to work loose, more slack overall than the Oyster, with fewer links...

[classicwatchparts]

Originally Posted by seattleal

Hi Micheal - thanks so much for the incredibly informative post.

Can you also restore Pt president bracelets, and if so, what is the approximate cost?

In your experience, do Pt bracelets wear faster than 18kt gold? I ask because a Pt watch/bracelet is so heavy it almost has to be worn tight on the wrist.

Does your half-inch rule apply to these as well?

And, as asked earlier, would you recommend periodic ultrasound cleaning to help slow wear and stretching?

I appreciate your help!!!

Hi. We can do Pt bands at around USD1200 a pop, but really depends on how worn and how much metal we have to add to the restoration.

PT ones are better that 18k because they are harder. The 1/2 inch is really just a rough guide, whenever you feel it as slack then its time to restore.

Ultrasonic cleaning does nothing to help with the wear, but more a personal hygene, since it is your own sweat and dead skin that is accumulating in the gaps.

[classicwatchparts]

Originally Posted by RolexWatchFan

Thank you so much for this thread. Hoping you can show how you put the metal sleeve or tube over the existing pin and then how you place everything back.

Anyway, really looking forward to seeing the continuation of this post!!!

The metal sleeve is just bending a thin sheet of metal around the pin and putting everything back is just with a plastic jewellery hammer

[Private]

What an interesting thread Michael!

My 62510H strap has about 3/4 of an inch of stretch, can this still be repaired? If so, is the cost still around $120?

I would be sending the strap from Scotland, UK. Is there a preferred courier company to use? Lastly, what is the insurance value of the bracelet?

Thanks in advance Michael.

Gordon

[Watchcollectables]

I was wondering with the Oyster 93150 how does the machine pull the links apart as from the picture it must has pins that fit between the middle links but as that isnt the central point to the link you want to remove the link would only come away on one end and possibly bend? Very interested and superb thread!
W C

[Runnin' Rebel]

This is excellent, thanks Michael. Your were like a mystical subtonic person 'round here, at least I thought so techXpert status should be
bestowed for you.. Or at least a forthcoming sticky !!

A video of your work would be nice as well..

[Jollyclub]

Originally Posted by watchcollectables

I was wondering with the Oyster 93150 how does the machine pull the links apart as from the picture it must has pins that fit between the middle links but as that isnt the central point to the link you want to remove the link would only come away on one end and possibly bend? Very interested and superb thread!
W C

The centrelinks on a 93150 are not fixed to the adjacent links. If they were the bracelect wouldn't be flexible.

Once one outside link comes off, the centrelink will just slide right off.

[Watchcollectables]

?? I didnt say the centre links were fixed!!

[rmurphy]

Wonderful post and very informative, it answered a lot of my questions concerning the whole band thing. I have a 2001 Model 16610 Sub that is in very good shape for its age but the band is starting to stretch more than I like. I have been searching for someone who will do a complete overhaul on it versus buying a whole other band, but now that makes sense why my AD looked at me crazy, they will replace those top two pins but I don't think they had any intention of doing the whole band. Is that normally done or is it just best for me to purchase another band and if so does anyone know of a 93250 that's available right now via the forum?

[dynhm6]

Excellent thread, Michael!

You've done a number of pieces for me and the results (all positive) speak for themselves.

I can also attest to the experience required to properly repair folded links--whether riveted or not. Over the years, I've repaired a number of riveted Rolex bands using the same process Michael demonstrated, but the bent links always end up misshapen. Definitely one of those watchsmithing skills that I'm still lacking.

[toholio]

I'm impressed by your work Michael!

What can your goldsmith do with D'Agosto president bands made under license in South America in the 1970s?

I have one band that has completely uncapped links and "maximum" stretch. Can your goldsmith cap the links and fix the stretch?









A lot of the D'Agosto bands have open links like this. Here's another one I found online:

[classicwatchparts]

Originally Posted by toholio

I'm impressed by your work Michael!

What can your goldsmith do with D'Agosto president bands made under license in South America in the 1970s?

I have one band that has completely uncapped links and "maximum" stretch. Can your goldsmith cap the links and fix the stretch?









A lot of the D'Agosto bands have open links like this. Here's another one I found online:

Basically, the center links have to be recasted and obviously more gold needs to be added in the process.