Will keeping gold bands super clean avoid "stretch"?

[IJP]

Regular use of ultrasonic, etc.?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by IJP

Regular use of ultrasonic, etc.?

It should help but metal cannot stretch what happens the dirt grit from every day wearing gets around the bracelet pin holes.Now this dirt grit with friction elongates these hole while wearing. But wear snug fit and keep them clean with soap and water and say ultrasonic once a month or so they should last 20 plus years

[IJP]

Thanks very much, great.

[TSW]

Originally Posted by padi56

It should help but metal cannot stretch what happens the dirt grit from every day wearing gets around the bracelet pin holes.Now this dirt grit with friction elongates these hole while wearing. But wear snug fit and keep them clean with soap and water and say ultrasonic once a month or so they should last 20 plus years

X2, And also don't wear your watch too loose.

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by padi56

It should help but metal cannot stretch what happens the dirt grit from every day wearing gets around the bracelet pin holes.Now this dirt grit with friction elongates these hole while wearing. But wear snug fit and keep them clean with soap and water and say ultrasonic once a month or so they should last 20 plus years

[shgems]

I agree 100% about keeping the dirt out to prevent wear BUT the statement
" but metal cannot stretch" is totally wrong. Anyone who ever saw a hollow gold rope chain will know metal can stretch or ask an engineer about yield points in metal. An oz of gold can be stretched out and worked into a wire 1 mile long. Some metals are more ductile then others. Those hollow Jubilee links could stretch easy and also wear from dirt.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by shgems

I agree 100% about keeping the dirt out to prevent wear BUT the statement
" but metal cannot stretch" is totally wrong. Anyone who ever saw a hollow gold rope chain will know metal can stretch or ask an engineer about yield points in metal. An oz of gold can be stretched out and worked into a wire 1 mile long. Some metals are more ductile then others. Those hollow Jubilee links could stretch easy and also wear from dirt.

I think we're all aware of the fact that metal can indeed stretch. I believe Padi's point was that when people talk about bracelet "stretch" that it has nothing to do with the metal actually "stretching".

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by shgems

I agree 100% about keeping the dirt out to prevent wear BUT the statement
" but metal cannot stretch" is totally wrong. Anyone who ever saw a hollow gold rope chain will know metal can stretch or ask an engineer about yield points in metal. An oz of gold can be stretched out and worked into a wire 1 mile long. Some metals are more ductile then others. Those hollow Jubilee links could stretch easy and also wear from dirt.

Technically speaking you are correct about metal yield and stretch but in the case of a metal bracelet I think you`re "stretching" the point rather absurdly,don`t you think?The amount of force required to actually stretch any of the metal components of the bracelet cannot be applied in the manner necessary to make this scenario a reality.

The term "stretch" is a misnomer and refers to the wear of the numerous parts which reduces or increases their size as they wear against one another and allows the bracelet to lengthen due to reduced pin diameter and elongated holes.The reason the Jubilee bracelet has such a reputation for "stretch" is because it has several times the moving parts of an Oyster bracelet.The greater the number of moving parts the greater the potential for lengthening over time.

[HORNBLOWER]

Wear occurs when metal rubs on metal. A good tip is to get a small amount of musical instrument oil (flute, clarinet,saxophone etc). This oil is specifically designed for areas where metal rubs against metal . The oil is light and clear. Once a year I apply a small amount of this oil to my ss bracelets. Lay them flat on a sheet of newspaper and apply the oil to all the joints. Let it soak in and then gently clean off any oil with a tissue.This will greatly extend the life of a bracelet. The correct oil must be used, it can be got in any musical instument store for a few cents and it comes in a little plastic bottle which is easy to use. Just make sure you dont have a reaction to the oil first!! but a good wipe down should remove all residue.

[Dweller of the Sea]

Not my pictures, but they illustrate well what stretch is.

Its the metal that wears away. Metal against metal will cause stretch no matter what you do to prevent it, but keping the dirt away will slow down the "stretch process", as dirt acts as a grinder.
Some of this dirt will also be metal that has been worn off from regular wear.

New:





Stretch:
Worn inside the links and at the pins. This increased the space between the links.

[MortgageGuy]

Cleaning is the name of the game IMO. Keep it clean and you will have very few issues... Gold/SS/TT...

[DDG]

I took all four screw pins out of my EXP ll bracelet, and they all need replaced. They each have about 10-25% wear, and I suppose I have an equal amount of wear in the links themselves. I like the idea of lubricated links, but this might be a double edged sword. The miscroscopic grit from day-to-day living would be attracted to the oil. Years ago Caterpillar tractor tracks would wear out very rapidly because sand & dirt would work it's way into the pins & bushings, same as it does on our bracelets. The answer? "SALT"... Sealed And Lubricated Tracks. They last three times as long now. Sealed and lubricated bracelets might last forever.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by HORNBLOWER

Wear occurs when metal rubs on metal. A good tip is to get a small amount of musical instrument oil (flute, clarinet,saxophone etc). This oil is specifically designed for areas where metal rubs against metal . The oil is light and clear. Once a year I apply a small amount of this oil to my ss bracelets. Lay them flat on a sheet of newspaper and apply the oil to all the joints. Let it soak in and then gently clean off any oil with a tissue.This will greatly extend the life of a bracelet. The correct oil must be used, it can be got in any musical instument store for a few cents and it comes in a little plastic bottle which is easy to use. Just make sure you dont have a reaction to the oil first!! but a good wipe down should remove all residue.

Although I'm sure this works well on musical instruments. My Sub is constantly exposed to dirt, dust, sand, etc. I'd be afraid that oil would in fact ATTRACT particulate and increase wear.

Just a thought...

[azguy]

I think washing it on a regular basis is the best maintenance you can do

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Thank you for these awesome illustrations !

Originally Posted by Dweller of the Sea

Not my pictures, but they illustrate well what stretch is.

Its the metal that wears away. Metal against metal will cause stretch no matter what you do to prevent it, but keping the dirt away will slow down the "stretch process", as dirt acts as a grinder.
Some of this dirt will also be metal that has been worn off from regular wear.

New:





Stretch:
Worn inside the links and at the pins. This increased the space between the links.

[harry in montreal]

Guys, gold is a soft metal. softer than steel. so, if you are as muscular as i am, over the course of a normal day, your watch bracelet is certainly subject to stresses and pressure countless times. picking up a kid, putting on a winter coat, quickly reaching for something, t etc.

in sum, stretched bands are an indication of metal fatigue. i am unsure if salt can enhance the wear, but it sounds possible.

while keeping it clean is a nice theory, i cannot believe that you can offset the impact that with stress and pressure has on a band, expecially with gold links.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

Guys, gold is a soft metal. softer than steel. so, if you are as muscular as i am, over the course of a normal day, your watch bracelet is certainly subject to stresses and pressure countless times. picking up a kid, putting on a winter coat, quickly reaching for something, t etc.

in sum, stretched bands are an indication of metal fatigue. i am unsure if salt can enhance the wear, but it sounds possible.

while keeping it clean is a nice theory, i cannot believe that you can offset the impact that with stress and pressure has on a band, expecially with gold links.

How much has your gold wedding band stretched over the years?

[esm]

this was dad's 16010 (no idea what i want to do with it in terms of restoring) - it is almsot 25 years old, worn daily.
i remember dad use to wash the bracelet quite often too.



love this stretch pic

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by esm

this was dad's 16010 (no idea what i want to do with it in terms of restoring) - it is almsot 25 years old, worn daily.
i remember dad use to wash the bracelet quite often too.



love this stretch pic

That picture should be on cigarette packets. !

[shgems]

Well, No Im not trying to "stretch" the point absurdly and thanks for that remark by the way. I am real interested since I have a bluesy two tone sub with those hollow center links but SEL ends.
People are saying all the stretch comes from dirt wearing metal away from around the pins and I don't think that is 100% correct. I saw jubilee bands where the metal is stretched away from where the band meets the head. Those hollow center links on the jubilee band have bent out of their original form or stretched NOT just worn by dirt. There can be enough force in day to day wear to bend the metal. Trying to add some thoughts to this thread. Can that happen to my oyster SEL? I don't know but don't call it absurd.

Technically speaking you are correct about metal yield and stretch but in the case of a metal bracelet I think you`re "stretching" the point rather absurdly,don`t you think?The amount of force required to actually stretch any of the metal components of the bracelet cannot be applied in the manner necessary to make this scenario a reality.

[shgems]

By the way the " how much has your wedding band stretched" question is not related to this point since your ring is worn on the finger and does not have the stress applied pulling it outward. More directly to this point is a gold bracelet which will grow or stretch over time from both wear from dirt between the links and metal stretch. The more hollow the bracelet the more the gold stretches. I have been in the business fixing them for 21 years. Im not saying keeping the band clean is not a good idea it is but it is not the whole answer.

[snaggle]

Originally Posted by esm

this was dad's 16010 (no idea what i want to do with it in terms of restoring) - it is almsot 25 years old, worn daily.
i remember dad use to wash the bracelet quite often too.



love this stretch pic

That is quite a bit of stretch, but believe me, ive seen worse, and it wasn't pretty lol. on a TT jubilee bracelet as well.

[JustABreathAway]

I am somewhat amazed that, for the price of these watches, Rolex cannot or does not find a solution to the 'stretch' problem. The design of these bracelets are decades old, and yet this is still an issue. Perhaps it's a strategic decision by Rolex to build in designed obsolescence, like our wonderful auto companies in Detroit or Apple. From that stand point, Rolex may be practicing smart business to persuade their customers to buy a new bracelet or entirely new watch sooner than would otherwise be necessary. Regardless of the reason, I certainly think a solution for this is long overdue.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by esm

this was dad's 16010 (no idea what i want to do with it in terms of restoring) - it is almsot 25 years old, worn daily.
i remember dad use to wash the bracelet quite often too.



love this stretch pic

My Moms TT jubilee was worse than that. After about 25 years of wear and 3-4 links removed it was beyond help. The new band was 3-4x more than the watch was in 1986. To the OP cleaning will slow the stretch but not prevent it.

[JustABreathAway]

Originally Posted by gwalker

After about 25 years of wear and 3-4 links removed it was beyond help. The new band was 3-4x more than the watch was in 1986. .

Perhaps it is purposeful built-in obsolescence. Smart shrewd business, Rolex. I'm guessing the watch of your mom's TT was still in perfect working order?

[FeelingTheBlues]

Originally Posted by Onikage

That picture should be on cigarette packets. !

I found those information very useful, it makes me think I should start to regularly clean my DJ's bracelet!

[liuk3]

Originally Posted by esm

this was dad's 16010 (no idea what i want to do with it in terms of restoring) - it is almsot 25 years old, worn daily.
i remember dad use to wash the bracelet quite often too.



love this stretch pic

Maybe we should recoin the term as flacid bracelet...

[tranny]

Originally Posted by MoBe

Technically speaking you are correct about metal yield and stretch but in the case of a metal bracelet I think you`re "stretching" the point rather absurdly,don`t you think?The amount of force required to actually stretch any of the metal components of the bracelet cannot be applied in the manner necessary to make this scenario a reality.

Not necessarily. Gold is very soft and prone to plastic deformation. Gold does not deform elastically like steel. Its stress-strain curve is almost vertical then horizontal. That means that any impact exceeding its stress limit could cause some permanent deformation in the metal, even if just a little bit. Over time, those little impacts could cause noticeable stretch in the bracelet, compounding any joint wear issues.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by transio

Not necessarily. Gold is very soft and prone to plastic deformation. Gold does not deform plastically like steel. Its stress-strain curve is almost vertical then horizontal. That means that any impact exceeding its stress limit could cause some permanent deformation in the metal, even if just a little bit. Over time, those little impacts could cause noticeable stretch in the bracelet, compounding any joint wear issues.

If you've ever seen the links of a "stretched" bracelet (SS or gold) you'll see that it is quite obviously wear to the metal that adds play in the joints. It has little/nothing to do with any actual, physical stretching like you're describing.

[tranny]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

If you've ever seen the links of a "stretched" bracelet (SS or gold) you'll see that it is quite obviously wear to the metal that adds play in the joints. It has little/nothing to do with any actual, physical stretching like you're describing.

Fair enough... I only meant to state that it's "possible" not that it's "actual".