Softening the bottom edge of a metal bracelet?

[seankendall]

I just got my sub stainless steel bracelet back from the watch maker at the store I bought the watch from. It is much more comfortable now. I had them polish the whole thing and then work on the very sharp 90 degree angle of all the links to round them. They did a great job!

Before when the watch shifted on my wrist it would dig into my skin and bug me. Now it just slides around easily and I don't notice any discomfort..

Has anyone else done this?

[Jefferyasher]

Pics?

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by Jefferyasher

Pics?

X2


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[seankendall]

OK. I'll take some and post when I can I'm just curious if anyone else has ever done this. From the lack of relies it looks like this isn't 9f much interest. I'll try to have pics tomorrow.

[slide13]

Never heard of someone purposely doing this. Typically soft edges on what were once sharp edges is a clear sign of over polishing. Doing it on purpose is a unique decision.

I too would be interested in seeing pics just to satisfy my curiosity.

In the end, as long as you're happy and find it comfortable that's what matters. Will kill resale value if disclosed, but assuming you don't plan to sell it.

[breitlings]

I thought it was the sharp angles on the band of my ym that were an irritant. Then i began to think there was some polish on the band. Then i realized i was allergic to nickel and thus 904l.

[SubmarinerSA]

Have not had that problem. My Sub is very comfortable. Interested to see the pictures.

[watches.ist]

Originally Posted by breitlings

I thought it was the sharp angles on the band of my ym that were an irritant. Then i began to think there was some polish on the band. Then i realized i was allergic to nickel and thus 904l.

I have the same problem - a mild allergy to Nickel, hence unable to wear SS Rolex watches on bracelet for extended periods. So, here's what I did:

PSX_20170602_135028.jpg

[coleburns]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

X2


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X3 come on. It's standard procedure

[joli160]

It sounds like you ruined your bracelet
But if you like it better this way, why not

[Andad]

It is just a watch and it has to suit you.

[Xenophon]

The horror ! Perhaps that was Gods way of telling you to put it on a different strap

[1William]

If it works for you.

[brandrea]

Hopefully the OP posts pictures.

Personally I find the Oyster bracelet to one of the most comfortable out there.

I'd certainly try getting a better fit without polishing the edges away as a bracelet shouldn't dig into your skin whatsoever if fitted properly.

Seems pretty drastic to me, and will most certainly hurt your ability to sell it.

[mtgjr]

Most people wouldn't have a Sub polished that they just bought new from the AD less than a year ago either.

[WatchDigger45]

Pics

X4

[c41006]

I can't wait to see pics... x5

[Old Geezer]

Sounds like an interesting concept like many wedding bands have. If it was done this way from the factory, we would accept it as normal but to purposely rounded off the edges on the bracelet or clasp would be considered ruining it. Maybe on a spare bracelet but not on the one that came with the watch.
FWIW, I have never experienced the discomfort mentioned by OP in 25+ years of wearing oyster bracelets. Maybe not sized well ?

[Ginseng]

I have not done this to any of my nice watches. However, on one or two "daily beater" watches, I have taken 1,500 grit wet/dry sandpaper to the corners of the clasp that lay on the skin to take off a particularly sharp corner. Note: my arms don't have much hair or padding (let's just say it, naked and bony) so I might be a bit more sensitive to this than most.

[ejvette]

Wondering if the OP had the bracelet adjusted to tight to start with

[zesty55]

Come on Sean, post pics!

[seankendall]

Hi all,

Sorry for not getting the pics yet. My DSLR is in my motor home left by accident. Anyway some more info:

- I have always had some irritation with watch bands as I am very hairy
- metal bracelets in particular grab hairs
- I have no intention of selling this watch. It's been on my wrist 16 - 18 hours a day since I got it.
- even though I have around forty watches I don't consider myself a collector
- the Rounding of the bottom edge of both outside 90 degree angles was done incredibly well.
- unless you put you eye up close with the watch off of your wrist you would never be able to see this mod, it's very subtle
- I couldn't care less if this hurts its value
- I tend to wear the bracelet it just enough wriggle room to shift it when I need to
- as far as fitting goes, I adjust it with the micro stops two to three times a day, sometimes I am on the keyboard and sometimes I'm woodworking, I have never run out of adjustability in either tighter or looser
- I don't like it when it slips down over the top of my hand, I notice a lot of "substatial" watch wearers have them very loose on their wrists, if I had my druthers, my watch wouldn't move one centimeter from where I set it up in the morning

I'll get that camera as fast as I can, but I think that the pics are going to be anticlimactic.

[173rdabn]

Yup, I did the same thing (very carefully) with a Dremel tool and metal polish. No more random edges that dig in

[SatansLittleHelper]

Not with a bracelet but with an IWC buckle from the Mark XVIII. Those things are sharp! I got some wet & dry and just put a small radius on each side where it touches the wrist. It'd probably look terrible under a loupe but feels great now.

[TuckerHorology]

Pics x7

[versatile1]

Originally Posted by joli160

It sounds like you ruined your bracelet
But if you like it better this way, why not

It takes very little to ease the sharp edge on the bracelet. You would really have to look hard to notice unless the OP really had them rounded off which isn't necessary

[rolexnub]

x8 pics?

[El Cascarrabias]

Originally Posted by 173rdabn

Yup, I did the same thing (very carefully) with a Dremel tool . . .

I . . . uh . . .

Really!?!

[sanosan34]

I think if it improves comfort for you then you did the right thing.

Also, please post pics!

[amh]

Originally Posted by El Cascarrabias

I . . . uh . . .

Really!?!

Really, why not? I'll bet he didn't use a grinding wheel but rather one of those felt pads along with some polishing compound - and low speed. Easier than doing it by hand

Either way it should have no effect on appearance. (It would be nice if they did this at the factory!)