Bracelet stretch

[Colnago]

There's that "S" word again...it's been cropping up a lot again recently......

I am a structural designer working with steel design day in day out for the last 30 years.....

You will NEVER EVER manage to stretch a stainless steel Rolex watch bracelet with loadings from your body alone, you could almost hang a car from a Rolex watch bracelet and it would not stretch.

There is NO STRETCH associated with Rolex watch bracelets.....it is ELONGATION DUE TO WEAR.......this is caused when grit/grime/dust etc get in between the links of the bracelet and as the bracelet flexes during nornal wear the grit/grime/dust act as cutting compounds and wear the pins and the links themselves resulting in a looser fit.....

[nektar]

Originally Posted by Colnago

There's that "S" word again...it's been cropping up a lot again recently......

I am a structural designer working with steel design day in day out for the last 30 years.....

You will NEVER EVER manage to stretch a stainless steel Rolex watch bracelet with loadings from your body alone, you could almost hang a car from a Rolex watch bracelet and it would not stretch.

There is NO STRETCH associated with Rolex watch bracelets.....it is ELONGATION DUE TO WEAR.......this is caused when grit/grime/dust etc get in between the links of the bracelet and as the bracelet flexes during nornal wear the grit/grime/dust act as cutting compounds and wear the pins and the links themselves resulting in a looser fit.....

[Coroner]

Thanks for the quick responses. My sub will be getting its exercise right along with me.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Colnago

There's that "S" word again...it's been cropping up a lot again recently......

I am a structural designer working with steel design day in day out for the last 30 years.....

You will NEVER EVER manage to stretch a stainless steel Rolex watch bracelet with loadings from your body alone, you could almost hang a car from a Rolex watch bracelet and it would not stretch.

There is NO STRETCH associated with Rolex watch bracelets.....it is ELONGATION DUE TO WEAR.......this is caused when grit/grime/dust etc get in between the links of the bracelet and as the bracelet flexes during nornal wear the grit/grime/dust act as cutting compounds and wear the pins and the links themselves resulting in a looser fit.....

Have to agree with you 100% myself worked in the steel industry for almost 30 years S.Steel is one of the toughest materials on the planet.And the only time it will stretch when its heated to around 1300c,and the many posts about laying there watch on cloths.Just encase the wood table scratches there watch makes me smile.

[Shelby-villian]

So whats the best way to prevent "elongation due to wear"? Frequent soap and warm water baths of the bracelet?

I guess the best way is to not wear it- so the second best way, then.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Shelby-villian

So whats the best way to prevent "elongation due to wear"? Frequent soap and warm water baths of the bracelet?

I guess the best way is to not wear it- so the second best way, then.

Well put it this way been wearing a few now for well over 20 years and none have any major wear.And all I do is wash in plain water if used in salt water and keep them clean with just plain soap and water it works for me.

[George Ab]

Originally Posted by Shelby-villian

So whats the best way to prevent "elongation due to wear"? Frequent soap and warm water baths of the bracelet?

I guess the best way is to not wear it- so the second best way, then.

Bracelet stretch is from grit that acts as polishing compound and wears the inside surface and pins.

Putting the bracelet in an ultrasonic cleaner every three to four months will prevent bracelet stretch. It cleans where toothpaste and and brush can't. You can remove a pin and see the black grit, reinsert and brush it up and down it will still be there. Try the same procedure and after a few cycles in the ultrasonic it will be clean. An decent enough ultrasonic cleaner can be had on eBay for under $50.

[Sunshine]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have to agree with you 100% myself worked in the steel industry for almost 30 years S.Steel is one of the toughest materials on the planet.And the only time it will stretch when its heated to around 1300c,and the many posts about laying there watch on cloths.Just encase the wood table scratches there watch makes me smile.

Having a background in metallurgy I do agree. However metal will stretch without heat if pulled correctly. I work testing metals tensile strength for weld procedure specifications. A metals tensile strength is its ability to withstand load before changing its shape. At yield strength you can see the amount of stress in which plastic deformation is made noticeable. Or going from plastic to elastic. We pull samples in a testing machine equip with an exlensometer to measure Modulus of elasticity. These tests are covered under the requirements listed in ASME Sec. IX. You guys have about 20 years on me so I will step aside.

I would in away consider the possibility of a hammering effect to the pins of a loose bracelet. Cyclic actively from the watch being allowed to shift from the top of your arm to the bottom of your arm or “hammering” over an existence amount of time might show a notable amount of deformation to the pins. I wear the bracelet on my 16600 loose and one of the pins in the clasp is showing some bend. However it is 13 years old.