Bracelet help

[doogan]

Hi,

I am new to the forum and Rolex's - I just received my first today which is an Oysterdate precision (34mm). I don't know anything about it other than it seems in relatively good condition. I have arrange a service with Christian at watchguy so will send it off shortly.

I really love the classic look of the watch. My only (very slight) reservation is that it is quite small. I've read that putting it on a bracelet can make it seem a bit bigger and as I like that look, I'm keen to try that at some point if I can.

Does anyone know what model of bracelet and end links I should get? I can see from some online pictures that the Oyster bracelet is most common with 357 end links. I think the width would be 19mm.

My wrist is a pretty slim - 6.5 inches. Would that cause any issues or are these generally adjustable?

Finally, can anyone point me in the direction of a trusted seller and suggest a price range? I'm based in the UK.

Thanks for reading. I will post a pic once I have made 10 posts.

[doogan]

Sorry for replying to my own post. I've seen bracelets on Ebay for around £400 which look good. Some have end links marked 357 and some 557. Is there any difference here? Also, would the lug width for my watch be 19mm?

[Paul]

Hi Doogan and greetings from sunny New Zealand.

Yes, a 19mm endlink is correct for your OysterDate and yes, a stainless bracelet does seem to give a smaller Rolex more presence on the wrist.

I'm thinking ...

Early OysterDates ..... '7205' rivet bracelet with '57' endlinks
Later OysterDates ... '7835' folded link bracelet with ' 357' endlinks

There are other 19mm bracelets too, but either a 7205 or a 7835 will fit your watch and are references that we commonly see on OysterDates. If you are fussy, one will be more correct than the other depending on the manufacturing date for your watch.

12 links would be considered to be a good length for many folk, we see 13 links sometimes. And yes, they can easily be adjusted. £400 sounds about right nowadays too, possibly slightly more for a well-preserve, good length rivet bracelet

[doogan]

Thanks for the detailed post. I have small wrists (I've only just realised that). Do you know if these are easily adjustable?

[offrdmania]

The easiest to adjust would be a newer solid link 78350 bracelet with 57 end links. This bracelet is the newest generation of the bracelets listed above and uses screws to remove links.
It may not be the original and correct bracelet for your watch but if you brought your watch to Rolex for service, it would be the model bracelet that they would put on it.

[doogan]

Thanks! Just checked and my watch seems to be from 1981 albeit with an older dial.

[doogan]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1...kAAOSwzpxd864d

Does this look genuine? Only 15cm. Would that fit a 6.5inch wrist (16.5cm)?

Hope Ebay links are ok, otherwise I will remove..

[doogan]

Sorry to bump, just wondered if anyone could validate the above bracelet before I go ahead? Thanks again for the help.

[Paul]

Just viewing on my small phone screen cos. I'm at work (more telling when viewed on a large PC screen I'm sure) but it looks to be a correct Rolex item to me.

Condition though ? .... it certainly has a good chunk of stretch ... often why they were retired from the original watch of course .... and from what I see I'd be checking carefully to see it is indeed robust and safe before I put it into use.

Specifically, it's decidedly gappy between the links, bent and certainly baggy where the bracelet is attached to the clasp ( a weak area on old Rolex bracelets). Its a bit crusty around the clasp, I can't see if that's deterioration or just crud so it might clean up ok. Might be ok for use as-is but more likely a good candidate for a Michael Young rebuild I think. 11 links it's probably the bare minimum needed for most fellas nowadays (we were on average a lot slimmer 40 years back) . Be aware too that a baggy bracelet shrinks considerably when refurbished.

So ... purchase price + refurbish cost + extra link if needed .... I have seen better and cheaper 19mm bracelets .

[doogan]

Yikes! Thanks for taking a look!

[doogan]

Hi,

I have another bracelet check request please! This seems to be in better shape (less stretch). Would 257 end links fit an Oysterdate Precision ok?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-R...IAAOSwevJd36jL