Bracelet stretch

[007Sub]

I'm curious what the tech gurus think about causes of bracelet stretch... is it more common when one wears their watch tight or loose? I've heard that its entirely about how dirty or clean the bracelet is kept... do you think that the tighter or looser a watch is worn could also contribute?

[lorsban]

Dirt is said to be the main culprit. It gets between the links, screws and wears the surrounding metal.

When I got my YM, the bracelet was really stretched and there was a lot of dirt.

I suppose that if if it were loose, there would be a lot of movement and movement + dirt causes wear. Too tight, and there would be too much tension on the links and it would gradually stretch.

At least that's how I understand it.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

[77T]

Search on "stretch" in the forum and you'll see hundreds of posts on the topic. I think it ranks 2nd only to "price increase"

[lorsban]

I remember spending about $1100 for a bracelet replacement for the YM.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

[GrayTuxedo]

I put my watches in a wolf designs watch winder... I have to force the watches around the holders... Wonder if this may be an issue.

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by GrayTuxedo

I put my watches in a wolf designs watch winder... I have to force the watches around the holders... Wonder if this may be an issue.

Doubt it. My sense is that stretch comes from a combo of dirt and movement (perhaps under strain) applied to the bracket especially lateral torsion... So a I doubt sitting on a winder even if tight would hurt...

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by 77T

Search on "stretch" in the forum and you'll see hundreds of posts on the topic. I think it ranks 2nd only to "price increase"

Here's the most recent one and it pretty well covers the subject:

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=302790

This should help explain it.

[Roll the Lex]

Interesting thread- I've had a Omega Seamaster which was worn fairly loose and cleaned the bracelet once in the 13yrs of almost daily wear- out of the past 13yrs, I'd say it's been off my wrist for about 6 months.

Is there stretch? Minimal as in I never knew what stretch was until I came here and read about all these stretch issues.

[Billywiz]

Metal cannot stretch so it never does...the link bars and holes wear with dirt and grit and become loose...thats it. To avoid keep clean.

[Billywiz]

Originally Posted by GrayTuxedo

I put my watches in a wolf designs watch winder... I have to force the watches around the holders... Wonder if this may be an issue.

100% not. Only dirt makes this happen...

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by Billywiz

Metal cannot stretch so it never does...the link bars and holes wear with dirt and grit and become loose...thats it. To avoid keep clean.

Metal certainly can stretch, but not from the forces typical from wearing a wristwatch.

There have been some terrific photos posted showing the wear that results from dirt grinding away at bracelet links.

Keep it clean and it will last forever...