Scary experience - bracelet failure

[Sixxgrand1]

Had a screw back out of a link on my two month old Explorer II. Caught it before the screw came out completely. Took it back to the AD. He has his watch smith reapply loctite to all screws then asked that I do not wear the watch for 48 hours to allow the loctite to set up. No issues since...

[Boadicea]

Originally Posted by garGARgar

Wow. Fortunately, it happened in the saftey of your bed! I check the screws every so often--call me paranoid.

I also make a habit of checking the screws every so often. It's quite easy and can usually be done while it is still on the wrist. I simply apply a little tension with a screwdriver until either the link moves, or the screw unlocks.

Have never used loctite but I would consider it if one of my screws became a problem.

[CashGap]

Originally Posted by rolexertion

Four things occur to me:
2. There's no real danger of a Rolex 116610 bracelet 'breaking'. At least not in the middle. Those are likely case-hardened screws holding solid links together. If you made a chain out of the links and the screws that hold them, you could probably tow an SUV out of a ditch with it.

This would be a great activity for a GTG if everyone brought a spare link...

[status.six]

I had a screw release itself from my subC bracelet recently while away from home, luckily I had a screw driver on my Swiss Army knife that's a perfect fit Won't leave home without it now

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=161258

[TSW]

I'm just glad it happened in your bed and not in any other situation

And thanks for the heads-up Patrick

[crowncollection]

lucky escape, omg, get some loctite from the home depot store

[tgoose1]

More movings parts = more potential problems in the long run.

[Jocke]

Have you got it resized? I guess then the screw wasn't properly reassembled.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by TSW

I'm just glad it happened in your bed and not in any other situation

And thanks for the heads-up Patrick

Now you sounds like a private investigator.

[GradyPhilpott]

After I'd worn my new DJ for a couple of weeks I decided to get have an extra link installed and a couple of days later, while driving around with my arm hanging out the window, I noticed that a screw was protruding from my Jubilee bracelet.

I wasted no time getting to the AD, which was only a few blocks away, to have the watchmaker take a look at it. He was quite embarrassed and this time put some Loctite on the screw.

No harm, no foul, but I was very, very, lucky. It does pay to inspect your watch frequently for such things.

So far, so good.

I'm glad in your case you didn't have to look farther than the bed for your watch.

[arttay10]

Originally Posted by Alan G

I was told by a local AD that when adjusting bracelets that the link should be warmed up around the thread area before attempting to unscrew the screw has it can burr the edges of the screw which I have seen happen myself ,I assume they use an hair dryer and the heat expansion allows the screw to move easier

On assembly the recommended Loctite should be used on the threads only! Dont overtighten it has this can also burr it

I never knew that........

[dalip]

Lesson for everyone...
Good to see it wasn't much worse Patrick....Not good.

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by Sarajevo

Seems like you had a lucky escape. Just out of curiosity, do you always wear your Rolex in bed??

I do !!

[dsio]

+1, waking up and no knowing the time sucks.

[TSW]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Now you sounds like a private investigator.

Haha i guess we read the same newspaper

[dddrees]

Whew close call, glad to hear it wasn't any worse.

Thanks for sharing Patrick.

Guess this gives me something that I need to be checking on as well.

[brownbear]

Rough Night, eh??

[Michael M.]

Wow, that's scary, luckily it happened at home!

[ersnyder]

Had a screw back out of my bracelet (after I had done an adjustment) and it jammed up the clasp before falling out. So, it didn't get lost but did give me a scare. Loctite stopped the problem.

[JVP]

Itemize you Rolex (es) on your home owners insurance policy. It's not that expensive and it's worth the "piece of mind." I've been wearing Rolex watches for over 20 years now and I'm not afraid to wear my watches where ever I go.

[cornerstore]

Originally Posted by psv

Note to self: check those screws on all the Oyster bracelets.

Cheers,

Patrick

Looks like from the photo you had a permanent link removed or do the new Sub C have only three permanent links on that side instead of four ? I ask as I owned a bracelet that had a permanent link taken out by the original owner and it always seemed to loosen at that spot.

[HL65]

Scary is right--good thing it happened at home. Not a bad idea to check those screws every now and then--they are screws after all and screw come loose!! Come to think about it--My wife is always saying I have a screw loose--I think she is on to something!!

[psv]

I've been wearing various Rolex divers pretty much every day/night for over 12 years and I've never experienced anything like this. I've actually noticed screws portruding/starting to come out a couple of this on my Deepsea, come to think of it.

This might be related to the new bracelets. I'm definitely getting some Loctite and taking care of this myself.

[Eric88]

Is this really a story of bracelet failure or of AD bracelet resizing failure?

I do check the screws on my bracelet often, but reading this thread makes me want to get some Loctite.

Two questions -- where do you get Loctite and what is the approach to applying it so that it only gets on the threads and not inside the entire channel of the bracelet link?

[dligg72]

I had to have all the screws on my sub c bracelet removed and loc tite applied. My screw backed out into the bracelet slot and caused a big headache after 1 week of owning it. Rolex should have done a better job with this not the AD.

[psv]

Originally Posted by Eric88

Is this really a story of bracelet failure or of AD bracelet resizing failure?

The latter in this case but regardless, this is obviously not an isolated incidence.

[Andad]

So the bracelet didn't break.

You just had a screw loose.

[toolr]

I've read a few reports of screws backing out of the new solid center link bracelets for both the 116710 and the 116610. The issue seems to stem from the counter twisting force between the outside parts of one link against the opposite twisting of the solid center link of the link next to it (the screw going through both). This is not as much of an issue on the older bracelets as the center links being hollow are not as tight fitting around the screw. This means that the use of loctite is more important. I believe Rolex recommends loctite 221.

[RW16610]

Wow, close call! Some loctite is for sure needed here.