114060 Sub on 24mm BLACK Bonetto Cinturini 300D Deployment :-)

[joejeweler]

Well, I bought a new 114060 no date Sub a few weeks ago, and almost immediately removed the original bracelet to both preserve it, but also because I really like the "black on black" look on this particular model. A black strap jumps out and blends in nicely with the dial and bezel.

Considering what the original Rolex Glidelock bracelets cost and bring on the secondary market($2,500 I read),....I decided to put it aside for now. Rolex doesn't offer this bracelet on other models and folks WANT them)

While I await a couple of custom Black leather straps ( handmade by Andreas Mario Muller, 1 deployment /1 regular buckle) for my 11406 Sub no date, I decided to order up a decent black rubber deployment, and really like the way it "came out",.....eventually.

I decided I would prefer a black strap that started out at 24mm, with a cut in to the required 20mm lug width required on this model. I thought this would deflect some of the thickness of the lugs on this model, and bring added "meat" at the place you notice it most where the band connects to the head.

I also felt a 20mm black strap width looks a bit narrow on this watch, because the BLACK contrasts to much with the SS of the case. With the original SS band in place this isn't as noticeable, IMO, because there is no contrast as the band and case are the same SS.

The Rubber B rubber bands meet the lugs at just 20mm, so besides the rather high cost being a deterrent, it didn't meet my preference of starting width of 24mm at least.

I did some research, and decided the $35 price of a Bonetto Cinturino Model 300D Black Rubber band was worth a shot to experiment with. I ordered up the 24mm width version, planning on cutting off 2mm from each side to fit the lugs.

When the band arrived, I noticed the prominent "vanilla smell" noted for this higher quality "NBR" (nitrile) rubber. I kinda like it......

However, besides the anticipated fitting the strap to the lug width, I immediately noticed a bigger problem. The strap pins holes were too small to handle the 2mm heavy Rolex double shoulder pin bars, and there wasn't really a lot of room to make them bigger! urgh.......

The strap comes with 1.78mm spring bars, but the pin ends that reach inside the lug holes are MUCH thinner than the Rolex pins. (which I recall reading were 1.1mm) Using the pins that came with the band would mean the ends would be moving all around inside the lug holes,.....imparting unnecessary wear there, as well as being inherently weaker due to their smaller diameter.

I was about to put in a return notice with Amazon, but decided for $35 I'd give it a shot. The deployant buckle had to be worth $10 if I messed up!

First I used a 1.5" diameter stone separating disc and my Foredom flexible shaft machine to carefully cut the sides down to a little OVER the needed 20mm. I wanted a little extra width temporarily left to allow for final truing up the sides to be parallel @ 20mm, have them pretty even side to side, and fit also the depth to have no space where the lug's length ends and the strap starts. (but still move freely), That was all pretty easy, and in 10 minutes I was satisfied with the fit.

However, I found that when "drilling" the pin holes larger this material doesn't drill too well. The rubber is a bit "greasy" in relation to the drill (but not to the wearer), and tends to just push out the rubber rather than "cut"into it. It "grips" rather well also,....creating friction on the drill bit but little hole enlargement.

So I ended up working a drill slightly bigger than the hole, and work it back and forth for JUST a few seconds and then dipping the drill in water and blowing on the band to keep it all cool. Slowly I could see a bit of black residue, but it was slow going. After about 15 minutes I still wasn't at a 2mm hole diameter, but was enough larger to easily push the Rolex pins in with a little "coaxing", and checked to make sure te pins would still function and not lock up in the compressed state. The rubber allowed the pins to function fine.

The Rolex pin bars went in, and last step was to size the strap to my wrist. After cutting sections from both sides I found this rubber DOES sand rather nicely, when I trued up the ends to flat with a slight edge bevel. (used a 1" drum sander in the same flexible shaft machine)

I really like the look of the strap on this watch, and will always keep it handy for whenever I'm planning any water activities. The leather straps will get more wear once they arrive, but not near any water if I can avoid it.

BTW, I left the band as it came to me with the "machined" textured side out and the smooth surface against the wrist. This can be changed the other way if you wish.

One last area I plan to address is the pin bars connecting both band sections to the clasp "could" be a little thicker as the holes in the rubber are bigger than the included pin bars. When a find a thicker bar, most likely I'll have to slightly enlarge the adjustment holes in the clasp. But a jeweler's drill bit will handle THAT much easier than on this rubber!

[Man of Kent]

Interesting read and I like the look. Thanks for posting.

[Andad]

A picture us worth a thousand words Joe.

Closer to two thousand in this thread.

Looks good.

[joejeweler]

Originally Posted by directioneng

A picture us worth a thousand words Joe.

Closer to two thousand in this thread.

Looks good.

Yeah,....I can get wordy,....so maybe 3000 words are in there. Did you count them?

At least when I'm gone,...... someone will be able to know how to do it!

[Bigguy]

Looks great