Sea Dweller "Safety Clasp"

[groberts1980]

I recently received my father's Rolex Sea Dweller watch as my college graduation gift. He recently had it serviced and it is beautiful, I just had one question. It is missing the "safety clasp" or "fliplock." I'm not sure what it is called. Is there any way or place I can purchase a genuine Rolex replacement part? I believe he was told the only way to have a new one installed was to send the watch back to Rolex, but I'm wondering if there is another way. It seems to me there has got to be a place to find a Rolex part like that. Any ideas?

[Lol-x]

Welcome, I take it from what you say that you have the folding clasp oyster bracelet. The correct bracelet for your watch should have the "flip lock" but it maybe that your bracelet is from a different model?
Sometimes, a watch such as a Seadweller can be found to have a GMT or Explorer bracelet, which depending upon how old the watch is may not have the "fliplock".
I'm just guessing from the information you have given.
Your answer may be to go to a local jeweller who has some knowledge or serviceability in Rolex watches and see, he might have a spare part. The other alternative might be to go to Roles.
A photo of your bracelet may be useful for more ideas.
Worse case scenario seems to be that you might have to get the clasp replaced.

[groberts1980]

It is a "fliplock" bracelet, the fliplock is simply missing. It used to have one, its just an older watch that no longer has the original fliplock. I'm interested in a replacement. I'll check around the local jewelers in the area.

I'll see about posting a pic of the bracelet and watch tomorrow.

[Alcan]

Hi there, welcome aboard!

Congratulations on graduating for college, and especially receiving such a significant icon Rolex from your Dad!

Good luck on hunting down the safety fliplock for the clasp.

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by groberts1980

It is a "fliplock" bracelet, the fliplock is simply missing. It used to have one, its just an older watch that no longer has the original fliplock. I'm interested in a replacement. I'll check around the local jewelers in the area.

I'll see about posting a pic of the bracelet and watch tomorrow.

O.K. no worries. Yes well as I said there maybe a local jeweller that has that piece (fliplock) and can fit it to your bracelet. Alternatively, you might try to search on e-bay for the part or just the clasp with it attached, and get a local jeweller to fit it. Alternatively, you could ask the local jeweller what they could do, worst case is that it will need to get a new clasp from Rolex, not the whole bracelet.

[groberts1980]

This looks very similar to my watch band:
http://cgi.ebay.com/rolex-flip-lock-...QQcmdZViewItem

Its for a Submarinar, I wonder if it would work on my band?

This one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/rolex-93150-buck...QQcmdZViewItem
Is exactly what my clasp looks like. Mine is also missing the lock part of it, like the one in the picture.

[ashu2289]

Congrats for your graduation n also for such a gr8 gift with such wonderful memory

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by groberts1980

This looks very similar to my watch band:
http://cgi.ebay.com/rolex-flip-lock-...QQcmdZViewItem

Its for a Submarinar, I wonder if it would work on my band?

This one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/rolex-93150-buck...QQcmdZViewItem
Is exactly what my clasp looks like. Mine is also missing the lock part of it, like the one in the picture.

Welcome to TRF, Roberts.

In the second picture, it is so obevious that the secure fold-over clasp has been broken off. What gives?

JJ

[padi56]

Yes you can just buy the just the fliplock complete clasp from Rolex.

[DJD]

I would go to Rolex (AD) and get a replacement, the old saying of you get what you pay for is true IMO, I have used a non AD before in order to save a few dollars and it cost me more in rectification (you may be luckier than me).

[roadcarver]

The clasp assembly on a no date sub may cost around 285-300 CAD. SD would be a bit more.

[groberts1980]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Welcome to TRF, Roberts.

In the second picture, it is so obvious that the secure fold-over clasp has been broken off. What gives?

JJ

Not sure, that was just a listing on eBay I'd found that illustrates what my clasp looks like. Its a long story how my dad came about owning this watch, but somehow I think you guys would appreciate it.

A good friend of my dad's bought this watch new and wore it for years. One day he was driving down the interstate and his engine made a funny noise. He pulls over and pops the hood. He doesn't want to scratch his Rolex, so he takes it off and sets it on the horn. He adjusts something on the engine, drops the hood, gets back in the car and takes off. Five miles later, the warning lights in his brain go off and he slams on the brakes. Pulls over again, pops the hood, Rolex is gone. Made for one sad individual. Well, that Christmas his lovely wife buys him an exact replacement. He's happy again. A year or two later, he honks his horn. Horn sounds funny (he must not honk his horn very often). When he gets home he disconnects the horn, turns it over on his workbench, out falls his original Rolex. So now he has two identical Sea Dweller's. Anyway, one day he's relating this story to my dad, and my dad asks if he'd be interested in selling the old one. Ever since then my dad's told me it'd be mine if I ever finished my degree.

Anyway, I'm not sure how the flip lock ended up not being on the Rolex. If what padi56 says is true, then my dad was misinformed when he was told the watch would have to be sent back to Rolex for a replacement flip lock. What do you think about the first eBay link I posted? That looks like the whole clasp assembly for a Submariner, but it looks identical to the clasp on my Sea Dweller.

My dad wore it for years without the flip lock, but it just makes me nervous. To me its like driving around without my seatbelt. Sure, probably nothing will go wrong, but I'm pretty screwed if it does.

Roadcarver: Would those prices be for a new one direct from Rolex? Would I go through a Rolex dealer (jeweler) to order that?

[Kris]

Sounds like the previous owner must have snagged the little locking clasp on something and knocked it off. Obviously, you can still wear the watch as the folding links lock under the clasp before you flip the lock on over the clasp.

If it were me, I'd just get the whole clasp assembly replaced. By doing so, you can still keep the original bracelet as the clasp is held in by links with removable screws. This shouldn't be an issue, unless the money part is. I'm assuming it is as you keep going around in circles on this and are considering buying a part off ebay which may or may not be genuine Rolex.

The SD & Sub should both share the same clasp. Only difference that I'm aware of is the number of links on the bracelet.

[President]

Originally Posted by groberts1980

Not sure, that was just a listing on eBay I'd found that illustrates what my clasp looks like. Its a long story how my dad came about owning this watch, but somehow I think you guys would appreciate it.

A good friend of my dad's bought this watch new and wore it for years. One day he was driving down the interstate and his engine made a funny noise. He pulls over and pops the hood. He doesn't want to scratch his Rolex, so he takes it off and sets it on the horn. He adjusts something on the engine, drops the hood, gets back in the car and takes off. Five miles later, the warning lights in his brain go off and he slams on the brakes. Pulls over again, pops the hood, Rolex is gone. Made for one sad individual. Well, that Christmas his lovely wife buys him an exact replacement. He's happy again. A year or two later, he honks his horn. Horn sounds funny (he must not honk his horn very often). When he gets home he disconnects the horn, turns it over on his workbench, out falls his original Rolex. So now he has two identical Sea Dweller's. Anyway, one day he's relating this story to my dad, and my dad asks if he'd be interested in selling the old one. Ever since then my dad's told me it'd be mine if I ever finished my degree.

Anyway, I'm not sure how the flip lock ended up not being on the Rolex. If what padi56 says is true, then my dad was misinformed when he was told the watch would have to be sent back to Rolex for a replacement flip lock. What do you think about the first eBay link I posted? That looks like the whole clasp assembly for a Submariner, but it looks identical to the clasp on my Sea Dweller.

My dad wore it for years without the flip lock, but it just makes me nervous. To me its like driving around without my seatbelt. Sure, probably nothing will go wrong, but I'm pretty screwed if it does.

Roadcarver: Would those prices be for a new one direct from Rolex? Would I go through a Rolex dealer (jeweler) to order that?

Nice story!

[roadcarver]

That is a great story, thanks for sharing.

The clasp assembly that was replaced on my 14060 was done by RSC in Toronto.

Thanks,

Vernon

Originally Posted by groberts1980

Not sure, that was just a listing on eBay I'd found that illustrates what my clasp looks like. Its a long story how my dad came about owning this watch, but somehow I think you guys would appreciate it.

A good friend of my dad's bought this watch new and wore it for years. One day he was driving down the interstate and his engine made a funny noise. He pulls over and pops the hood. He doesn't want to scratch his Rolex, so he takes it off and sets it on the horn. He adjusts something on the engine, drops the hood, gets back in the car and takes off. Five miles later, the warning lights in his brain go off and he slams on the brakes. Pulls over again, pops the hood, Rolex is gone. Made for one sad individual. Well, that Christmas his lovely wife buys him an exact replacement. He's happy again. A year or two later, he honks his horn. Horn sounds funny (he must not honk his horn very often). When he gets home he disconnects the horn, turns it over on his workbench, out falls his original Rolex. So now he has two identical Sea Dweller's. Anyway, one day he's relating this story to my dad, and my dad asks if he'd be interested in selling the old one. Ever since then my dad's told me it'd be mine if I ever finished my degree.

Anyway, I'm not sure how the flip lock ended up not being on the Rolex. If what padi56 says is true, then my dad was misinformed when he was told the watch would have to be sent back to Rolex for a replacement flip lock. What do you think about the first eBay link I posted? That looks like the whole clasp assembly for a Submariner, but it looks identical to the clasp on my Sea Dweller.

My dad wore it for years without the flip lock, but it just makes me nervous. To me its like driving around without my seatbelt. Sure, probably nothing will go wrong, but I'm pretty screwed if it does.

Roadcarver: Would those prices be for a new one direct from Rolex? Would I go through a Rolex dealer (jeweler) to order that?