GMT bracelet

[KMdad44]

HI guys, I have a GMT II c and I love this watch. It is the nicest watch that Rolex makes (or anyone else for that matter). However, it do have it's achilles heel. The bracelet. I like to wear my watch snug (but not tight) so one day when I was in the back of a truck, I jumped down and my hand went back to support myself as I jumped. My hand flexed back on the tailgate of the truck and my bracelet instantly flexed and stretched. That was about a year ago. I left the bracelet loose so that if this happened again, it would be loose enough to handle any flexing of my wrist. This weekend I was outside and slipped on some ice and my hand went down to catch myself and it happened again. Before my GMT I had a Datejust jubilee and on 2 occasions I flexed my wrist and the same happened to it too. I thought the oyster bracelet was stronger, but I guess not. I would really wish Rolex would make a bracelet to take a little pressure and bounce right back. But I guess until this happens I would like to know how much would I have to pay for a replacement all steel bracelet? PLC and all.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by KMdad44

HI guys, I have a GMT II c and I love this watch. It is the nicest watch that Rolex makes (or anyone else for that matter). However, it do have it's achilles heel. The bracelet. I like to wear my watch snug (but not tight) so one day when I was in the back of a truck, I jumped down and my hand went back to support myself as I jumped. My hand flexed back on the tailgate of the truck and my bracelet instantly flexed and stretched. That was about a year ago. I left the bracelet loose so that if this happened again, it would be loose enough to handle any flexing of my wrist. This weekend I was outside and slipped on some ice and my hand went down to catch myself and it happened again. Before my GMT I had a Datejust jubilee and on 2 occasions I flexed my wrist and the same happened to it too. I thought the oyster bracelet was stronger, but I guess not. I would really wish Rolex would make a bracelet to take a little pressure and bounce right back. But I guess until this happens I would like to know how much would I have to pay for a replacement all steel bracelet? PLC and all.

Post a picture of your bracelet Oyster bracelets have been stress tested and will take 525 lbs pressure before breaking thats enough to seriously damage your wrist.I once had a spring-bar clasp or a lug-pin fail but in fairness they are not designed to have almost 15 stone dangling suspended, over the side of a boat.It was around 2000 trying to get back into the pick up boat after a dive in the Red Sea.I started to take my BC off when the Egyptian deck hand just pulled up my BC and left me suspended by my SD bracelet.Good job the spring-bar failed the weakest point as steel itself cannot stretch, one SD lost to the abyss but I still have my wrist..

[Tools]

I would say that it is practically impossible to actually "stretch" your modern solid link bracelet in the manner you describe..

You may have bent a spring-bar pivot. spring-bars should be replaced every couple of years because of the wear and stress they undergo..

[joe100]

I'd say its a bent spring bar. Wear it loose enough to handle a full rotation of your wrist. Otherwise if it snags you could get hurt

[mjclark32]

I'd like to see pics too

[kilyung]

No way that's likely. You'd loose circulation before you wore it tight enough to flex the pins (if that was even possible). Pics!

[Colnago]

I'm a Structural Designer with well over 30 years experience...no way will steel like this stretch under the stresses you are talking about.......is there any chance it could have been the "easy link" popping out....this gives half a link extra to cover for humid conditions which can cause your wrist to swell.....one of the spring bars would fail well (well, well, well) before the steel of the bracelet would actually stretch

[KMdad44]

Hi guys upon further inspection it doesn't appear that the links are further apart. However, I can feel that the watch, which was snug before the incident I spoke of above, is now much looser. I would take a picture, but there is nothing to real see. Is there something on this bracelet that can slip without bending or breaking?

[MatthewInSeattle]

Without seeing some pictures, it's not likely that we'd be able to figure out what the problem is. Post the pics of the links, and where the bracelet attaches to the watch.

Also, you may want to check to make sure that your Easylink didn't pop out. That half-link may be the difference in fit you're feeling.

[KMdad44]

Originally Posted by MatthewInSeattle

Without seeing some pictures, it's not likely that we'd be able to figure out what the problem is. Post the pics of the links, and where the bracelet attaches to the watch.

Also, you may want to check to make sure that your Easylink didn't pop out. That half-link may be the difference in fit you're feeling.

I'll take some pictures and post them

[xjeeunitx]

Yes, pictures would do wonders.

[joseluu]

Check your wrist too.

[ecsub44]

I wonder if he simply bent the folded part of the clasp (that has a slight curve to it to ensure the clasp locks tightly). It's possible that has bent slightly and loosened the watch.

Maybe.

[kilyung]

My guess is the easylink popped out