Is there actually a way to tighten a Jubilee band?

[Bisquitlips]

I just purchased a great Jubilee band from Steve Mulholland and the band is perfect, but I know as the years go on that the Jubilee bands have a tendency to stretch quite bit.

Is it actually possible to tighten a Jubilee band / bracelet?

[CharlieG]

I don't have any personal experience but you could try here and click restoration services, band restoration

http://www.classicwatchparts.com/ind.../services.html

If anyone has used them I would like to know?

[greekbum]

Yes and no.Yes it can be done on.The cost might be more than the band is worth.What style is it?Old oval or D? Post some pics.SS or 2 tone?
I will say unless you have a solid gold band its really not worth the trouble or money. D links can be found mint fairly inexpensive. Oval links are a different story.

[Paul B]

Over on the Vintage Rolex Forum they talk about a guy who restores bracelets, don't know if if it's they same company?
You could always try asking over there, but don't expect a flood of replies, often no one will answer unless you post a pic of some obscure esoteric rarity.



Paul

[Bisquitlips]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

By the way it is a D link.

[buz-lh]

Michael Young, mentioned above rebuilds all types of Rolex bracelets. He currently is tightening up a jubilee for me that came originally on my 16750, and I've just sent him a riveted oyster. Everyone seems to be quite happy with his work. I'll let you know when I get mine back.

[chriseskew24]

Originally Posted by buz-lh

Michael Young, mentioned above rebuilds all types of Rolex bracelets. He currently is tightening up a jubilee for me that came originally on my 16750, and I've just sent him a riveted oyster. Everyone seems to be quite happy with his work. I'll let you know when I get mine back.

Agreed he did a great job on my jubilee beand. And hes very reasnobely priced as well.

[Bisquitlips]

Thanks all!

I will need this information someday soon!

[av455]

If you are low on money and have a USA Jubilee (oval links) there is a poor man's way of taking the stretch out. The bracelet guy will simply crimp two of the three center links to make the bracelet tighter. I had it done by my bracelet guru (in Los Angeles) for about $75 (including a nice polish to make it look new again). If one of us Rolex nuts stare at the bracelet you can see the difference in size but it still looks great and it was cheap.

The guy's name is Art Becerra of G&A Watch Designs in Los Angeles. If you don't want to send your bracelets to Asia he is fantastic.
He does an amazing job with oysters as well.

Good luck,
Michael M.

[jimmyz]

How do you contact Michael Young? I did a search for him and couldn't find him. Thanks Jim

[greekbum]

www.classicwatchparts.com

[BeeMee]

Based on recommendations here and on Vintage Rolex Forum, I just mailed my DD Bark finish band to Michael Young for tightening.

I will be very nervous until I hear from him that he received it. Then I will wait patiently for its return.

[SillyB]

Originally Posted by av455

The guy's name is Art Becerra of G&A Watch Designs in Los Angeles. If you don't want to send your bracelets to Asia he is fantastic.

This is just what I was thinking I'd like done to my oval link. Google and yellowpages don't come up with anything for G&A Watch Designs in Los Angeles. Do you have a number and/or website for Art Becerra? I work in LA and would love to have him look at a band or two for repair.

Thanks for helping a noobie!

[Gold Crown]

Yes with a factory replacement.

[6up]

bump.......anyone else on this forum use Michael Young's service? (recent or previous)

[greekbum]

I have he did an excellent job for me.

[Yazo]

Originally Posted by greekbum

www.classicwatchparts.com

Bump again, I've sent like 3 emails to this address "[email protected]" (the only contact info I could find on that site) asking a couple of questions but I've heard nothing back. Anyone know of another way to get a hold of this Michael guy??

[BeeMee]

Sometimes it takes several days for Michael Young to reply. Here is his direct email address: [email protected]

I am thrilled with the restoration that he did on my bark finish President bracelet.

[hhh007]

I'm kinda surprised the NY or Dallas official service centers don't offer a bracelet tightening service either as part of a complete watch service or as a stand alone service.

[Yazo]

Originally Posted by BeeMee

Sometimes it takes several days for Michael Young to reply. Here is his direct email address: [email protected]

I am thrilled with the restoration that he did on my bark finish President bracelet.

Thanks Barry!

[jnmarshall]

Originally Posted by hhh007

I'm kinda surprised the NY or Dallas official service centers don't offer a bracelet tightening service either as part of a complete watch service or as a stand alone service.

The reason they gave me when I asked last month was because they claim it compromises the integrity of the band and can actually make it worse or likely to break and depending on style the labor costs would exceed the parts costs of a new band.

The real solution, stop wearing your watches so tight. I see pictures on here and meet people that wear these things like 3 links too small. I'm surprised it feels comfortable! The 3 links might be a bit exagerated!

[chrislkb]

I am not too sure here, but do use the search engine function in the forum. I can vouch there are many Jubilee oracles or gurus here in TRF

[buz-lh]

Originally Posted by jnmarshall

The reason they gave me when I asked last month was because they claim it compromises the integrity of the band and can actually make it worse or likely to break and depending on style the labor costs would exceed the parts costs of a new band.

The real solution, stop wearing your watches so tight. I see pictures on here and meet people that wear these things like 3 links too small. I'm surprised it feels comfortable! The 3 links might be a bit exagerated!

Wearing your watch too loose will actually do more harm than wearing it too tight.

[jnmarshall]

Originally Posted by buz-lh

Wearing your watch too loose will actually do more harm than wearing it too tight.

That is so true too. My wife likes to wear hers like a bracelet and it spins around on her wrist. Then she wonder's why the lens is all scratch, chiped or cracked after a couple of months. She doesn't like wearing her rolex or tudor much because I had it sized not to do that.

[Rolex2]

Originally Posted by av455

If you are low on money and have a USA Jubilee (oval links) there is a poor man's way of taking the stretch out. The bracelet guy will simply crimp two of the three center links to make the bracelet tighter. I had it done by my bracelet guru (in Los Angeles) for about $75 (including a nice polish to make it look new again). If one of us Rolex nuts stare at the bracelet you can see the difference in size but it still looks great and it was cheap.

The guy's name is Art Becerra of G&A Watch Designs in Los Angeles. If you don't want to send your bracelets to Asia he is fantastic.
He does an amazing job with oysters as well.

Good luck,
Michael M.

I have a loose USA jubilee on an 18k/ss 1505 I just bought.Oval links. It has 14k trim. The gold links are split in the back, indicating it may have been tightened previously. The watch is a '79 by serial no. The bracelet has no numbers.
Do you know when the USA jubilees were made? Can the gold links be tightened (carefully) with plyers? The links are split in back, indicating they were tightened before. Could be a 60s band.

[GlennW]

but Michael Young just did these 3 bracelets for me (2 riveted and a 9315). His workmanship and price is terrific, but you will need to be patient (took roughly 10 weeks). Email him at the Hotmail account, he will contact you within a couple of days.

Glenn

[KarlFr]

MIchael does great worj indeed in my experience as well with bracelets, takes a few days for him to respond, sometimes need to send an additional email since it occasionally gets caught in his spam box

[watchf]

Guys what sort of technique does he use to tighten the Jubilee? Is it a process of reshaping the links back to original size or addition of new material/parts?