SEL internal spring bars

[DDG]

My daily worn 2004 EXP ll has a lot of slop in the bracelet where the solid end piece pins to the rest of the bracelet, especially on the 6 0'clock end. From what I can determine from other posts here, that first hidden pin is actually a spring bar. But, I can't figure out how to remove it, out other than wait until it finally breaks or wears in two. (It may actually be broken already) If I could shear it somehow, I could replace it. The rest of the bracelet is good, except for the tiny double headed rivet that goes through the flip lock. It's is about worn through too, but I think I can get it replaced locally. I took out all the screw pins and looked at them, and they have some wear too, one has lost about 1/4 of it's diameter. I think I could replace all those, and take up a little slack. Any ideas on the spring bars?

[padi56]

Have look through the in-forum tutorial.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=44158

[DDG]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have look through the in-forum tutorial.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=44158

The spring bar I'm concerned with cannot be seen, it's built into the bracelet. It's at the first pivot point on the bracelet end of the SEL it'self. It looks like the first link would have to be pulled apart, pin replaced, and pressed back together. (With a little Loctite !)

[gt3pilot]

Originally Posted by DDG

The spring bar I'm concerned with cannot be seen, it's built into the bracelet. It's at the first pivot point on the bracelet end of the SEL it'self. It looks like the first link would have to be pulled apart, pin replaced, and pressed back together. (With a little Loctite !)

The spot you describe has no spring bar, but is pinned together Not such an easy fix. Also your watch band as described seems to have quite a bit of wear on it. Did you give it regular cleanings. The wear comes from dirt and sweat getting in there and acting as a compound to wear away the metal. Also how tight or loose you wear it makes a difference on wear


-Scott B.

[DDG]

It does get cleaned once in a while, but any watch I wear get's a pretty good work out. I don't have time to mess with too much, it gets a lot of daily wear & tear. If Rolex could just give me test models, I could be a one man proving ground. The weak points would show up pretty fast. I'll try to put up a couple of photos of the places I'm talking about. In the photo of the first link, it's worn to the point you can actually see part of the bore in the SEL.

[DDG]

I decided to take the flip lock & link off the bracelet to see what's in there that wore so bad. I found the bore opened up to about twice it's normal diameter, and the tiny little riveted pin that goes through is worn about 50%. That tiny little piece of crap is the only thing holding a $6000 watch to my wrist. Anybody with a parts account know if the fliplock/link assembly is available? (78790 A) I have a local watchmaker that can fix it, but I'd rather have the new part. In the interim, I bought an el-cheapo repro bracelet, and swapped the buckle to my old bracelet so I can keep wearing the watch. It's built heavier & will probably last longer than the under-engineered original.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by DDG

The spring bar I'm concerned with cannot be seen, it's built into the bracelet. It's at the first pivot point on the bracelet end of the SEL it'self. It looks like the first link would have to be pulled apart, pin replaced, and pressed back together. (With a little Loctite !)

Bracelets are considered expendible and Rolex will sell you a replacement on exchange. You have simply worn yours out..

The springbar that connects the SEL is not available for purchase that I know of.. a lot of people have tried to find them..

[acce1999]

Wow, you have really worn your bracelet heavily...

It is true that there is a spring bar in the SEL. I have seen one fail before, and it might be a replacement part from Rolex (although you have to destroy the current pin to replace it with a new).

I have several bracelets that are 15-20 years old, and one of them I have worn pretty much daily twice as long as yours, and the pins are still like new. I recently inspected it by help of a 10x loupe, and it is far from as worn as yours. I am wearing my bracelets tight, and clean them every second weak or so. Can I assume that you are wearing yours loose?

I had a discussion about this with one of the watchmakers at my closest RSC, and he told me that he saw many bracelets that were worn out too fast, mainly due to the owners wearing them loose, and not cleaning them after - for example - doing work in the garden and getting dirt (sand) into the bracelet.

Thanks for posting pictures, and please let us know if it you are succesful in replacing the SEL pin.

And, good luck in restoring your bracelet.

Best,

A

[DDG]

I do wear it in dirty dusty conditions sometimes, I just never take it off. I'm not as bad as "Mike" on "Dirtiest jobs", but when I work on the car or truck, mow the yard, stuff like that I get dirty & so does the watch. I do clean it every couple of weeks or so, but I think for everyday wear & tear, a Timex would hold up better. I keep it kind snug, can't stand it loose. Here is a link to another post about that first pin, and I think it is actually a spring pin. It's the least of the problem at the moment. I might just get a new one if it get's too expensive to repair this one.
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=212757

[ecsub44]

I'm not sure I would consider the design "under-engineered" considering that it has proven itself over 30+ years to be reliable, robust, and long-lasting.

I wouldn't trust your watch to a cheap repro bracelet. Instead put it on a nylon bracelet until you can get the original repaired. The repro could literally fail at any moment.

I assure you, there are VERY few designs that have proven to be "better" than the Oyster bracelet that is on your Rolex. They're out there...but at a much higher price.

Good luck.

[HERITAGE82]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

I'm not sure I would consider the design "under-engineered" considering that it has proven itself over 30+ years to be reliable, robust, and long-lasting.

I wouldn't trust your watch to a cheap repro bracelet. Instead put it on a nylon bracelet until you can get the original repaired. The repro could literally fail at any moment.

I assure you, there are VERY few designs that have proven to be "better" than the Oyster bracelet that is on your Rolex. They're out there...but at a much higher price.

Good luck.

The Original hollow NON SEL bracelets have lasted the test of time (the 30+ years) as you have stated and are still being worn by their owners even after decades of abuse. However, I have noticed that the SOLID SEL bracelets do not have the longevity (expecially with people who are hard on their watches) at the link that connects the bracelet to the the end link as what happened to the OP.

I see this as another example of Rolex changing a fantastic design to satisfy customer complaints and enhance the image to a more refined luxury item.

Here are IMHO the sequence in which Rolex went from a durable "tool" to a "luxury" item:

The first was Rolex going from plexi to sapphire crystals to save the complaints about scratches on the glass even though the plexi is more durable and a watch can continue to be worn and function if the plexi cracks but not if a sapphire breaks.

Then they changed the bracelet from hollow to solid since people were tired of the end links coming loose and paying so much money for a "light" bracelet. Again, the design was light and durable, but they had to change to charge more $.

Then the final step was to remove the lug holes from the case to make the watch look more streamline to the consumer even though having the spingbars go into the case added a lot of support and strength to the design.

All this just shows that change is not always for the better of functionality or durability of an item, but the changes were made to enhance the "look" of the product.

Rant over.....

[lebowski321]

Just wondering if you got that springbar that connects the SEL to the rest of the bracelet replaced. Mine is broken and I need that small fat springbar to fix it. Ive been sporting the nato on my 16710 for a while and am ready to fix my oyster bracelet.
Tyler

[George Ab]

Clean your bracelet. If it is a 2004 and you have lost 1/4 of your screw diameter then you have dirt inside the pins that is acting like polishing compound as the bracelet moves. You need to thoroughly clean the bracelet to remove the "polishing compound" to stop damaging your bracelet. Then you can repair what is left.

Replace all the screws, that will take up some slack. They are like $5 each. Get new spring bars they are like $10 each. Often people replace with generic undersized spring bars, which could be the problem here. Have your watchmaker remove and thoroughly clean the bracelet. He can replace the rivet that goes through the fliplock. Most watchmaker will have all those parts in stock as they are fairly common replacement items.

Keep your bracelet clean. If kept clean you will get a lifetime of use. If not, you can go through a bracelet in 10 years.

[Puffy]

that's what i call worn! good job! that's what they're for!

as stated a few different options...

a. get a brand new bracelet and you won't look back
b. replace the springbars but it'd still be loose