The unofficial Rolex Band Restoration Manual

[classicwatchparts]

Many dealers including the RSC and AD swears by that used Rolex bands cannot be fixed or restored.

However that is not true and many members of this forum knows of the band restoration service for quite some time.

Becasue my other business in watch packaging has taken up so much of my time I have not be able to join these forums for the last few years. My apologies. Sometimes this silence is good when I see negative comments, some white knights will come to save my burning reputation.

Much better than for me to try to explain the situation. Kudos for all who helped to keep this business alive, at some point of time I was considering killing it off because of the negativeness of some members. But decided to go on since I go so much support once this news broke out. Plus I needed to use my own services for my new aquisitions, that is the other part of the story

Back to the topic

Just wanted to get some facts straight and demystify the whole band restoration process.


Myth #1
Sometimes they will say that all the links are changed to new ones and only the buckle and end links are saved. Not true. They are all saved. Except sometimes for broken links, we usually help to find good used original links for replacement.


More of those later if interest level is high.....




OK photos of the day

Drum Rolls .........



See Band1 pic. This is the black box. This is the small version of our machines to break open this 93150 first link.


Band 2 shows that the link has been gripped by the 2 black claws and by pulling in opposite directions the links slowly breaks open.


Band 3 shows the inners of the link, 3 pins for each link for both solid oyster and jubilee bands. The 1st and 3rd pin is load bearing and usually is where the wear is most.

The looseness is not the center piece of the link stretching, it mainly comes from the inner pins wearing the center link becasue it is hollow. After thousands of times of grinding the pins becomes thinner and the link wears thinner at the inner exteremes. Worst cases is that there is too much slack and the links starts to move, then it grinds into the corners of the center link. So in very worn bands you will see the center links with chamfered corners.

Our job is to first put a metal sleeve or tube over the existing pin, depending on wear we have different thickness of sleeves. After the correct ones can be identified then the link is put back in place by the same machine going the the other direction as before to force back the 3 pins into its home.


To be continued....

[Alcan]

Welcome aboard Michael, and thanks for posting these pix and explaining the process.

[Beaumont Miller II]

Michael I love to learn. Thank you for starting this informative thread. As an aside I have only heard good things about your work, and I wish you continued success.

[T.S.Eliot]

Welcome Michael, great work you have going on with positive feedback as well

[greekbum]

Good to see you here Michael and thanks for showing us.

[Kingair]

Hello Michael,

Welcome !

I really appreciate that you became a member . . . and thanks for the pics . . .

Regarding the negatives words of some people . . . it will always exists . . .

But I have seen several members posting pics of your work . . . and I will be sending my bracelet to you . . . without a doubt !

HAGOne

[Gaijin]

Thank you Michael. You will have my business someday should I need a band restoration.

[Mark020]

Originally Posted by classicwatchparts

Sometimes this silence is good when I see negative comments, some white knights will come to save my burning reputation.

Much better than for me to try to explain the situation. Kudos for all who helped to keep this business alive, at some point of time I was considering killing it off because of the negativeness of some members.

You have done a wonderful job on a bracelet for me in the past and with 2 new ones in the mail to HK I can only say: you are the king of bracelets.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by Mark020

You have done a wonderful job on a bracelet for me in the past and with 2 new ones in the mail to HK I can only say: you are the king of bracelets.

Here you go . . . .

Isn't this positive feedback . . . ?



HAGOne

[gbany]

Hello Michael, is good to see you here and thank you again!

All the best,

gb

[HRV]

Thanks for taking the time to post Micheal, I have heard great things

[Vincent65]

Hi Michael and thanks for posting. Would love to see how you tackle the old folded-link and riveted bracelets as well... time permitting, of course. Very happy with the one you did for me! Cheers, Karl (Zurich).

[SPARTAN2161]

Michael,

Welcome aboard! Hope to see more informational threads such as this in the near future.

Nick

[mikkibarry]

Fascinating! Thank you for posting these. I will use your services when my bracelet gets a little looser :-).

[Vlad]

Michael, Great to see you here. You consistently do amazing job on everything you touch, not just the band. Thank you!

Vlad

[ndb80]

Gorgeous!

Originally Posted by Vincent65

Hi Michael and thanks for posting. Would love to see how you tackle the old folded-link and riveted bracelets as well... time permitting, of course. Very happy with the one you did for me! Cheers, Karl (Zurich).

x2!

Would love to see some pics of the process on a folded band like 9315!

[Passionata]

Great thread


Best
George

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[GTS Dean]

That's pretty much exactly how I figured you separate the links. I wasn't sure how you accounted for wear tolerances.

Thanks for the photos, and the fine service you provide!

____________________________
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SS/Black "U" Daytona
TT GMT II-C
DD OysterQuartz
Breitling Aero
Omega Speedmaster Pro

[joseluu]

Greetings from muthaiga! Make me write good things please!

I'll be pestering you soon...

[Stoner319]

Wow very interesting process.

[tedscott3]

I have only heard good things. I will be sending my President bracelet to you soon...

[derst]

You did a phenomenal job on my 9315. Very much appreciated and worth the turnaround time for sure!

[tonton_luxio]

Michael thank you very for your great job with my 9315

[laphroaig007]

This is THE useful topic for all vintage Rolex fans !
Thanks Michael for having explained things over here.
;-)

[DrLindaPhD]

OMG Michael - this is so great - I just picked up a replacement band (just for a link) for my newish Tudor Lady Sub. I was wondering if I could replace the link myself and then adjust the clasp myself. So, I guess I need that machine to take the pins apart safely, right. Otherwise, I don't want to get ripped off for a simple link add to my watch (especially if I am supplying the link).

[classicwatchparts]

I mean just stating the obvious, if the link is a removable one with a screw on the side then its user removable, but for the fixed links its pretty much us or the RSC. I have not personally seen the RSC machine, but I know they can do it.

Originally Posted by DrLindaPhD

OMG Michael - this is so great - I just picked up a replacement band (just for a link) for my newish Tudor Lady Sub. I was wondering if I could replace the link myself and then adjust the clasp myself. So, I guess I need that machine to take the pins apart safely, right. Otherwise, I don't want to get ripped off for a simple link add to my watch (especially if I am supplying the link).

[DrLindaPhD]

Originally Posted by classicwatchparts

I mean just stating the obvious, if the link is a removable one with a screw on the side then its user removable, but for the fixed links its pretty much us or the RSC. I have not personally seen the RSC machine, but I know they can do it.

Both the bracelet on the Tudor and the one I bought for the spare link do NOT have screws so they will need the MACHINE. My watchmaster seemed to think they could do it but I will check again. I hate to send it to the other side of the world (I am in NY) to have a link put in. I wish I could do it. Dang it !

[Mickyfin]

Originally Posted by classicwatchparts

I mean just stating the obvious, if the link is a removable one with a screw on the side then its user removable, but for the fixed links its pretty much us or the RSC. I have not personally seen the RSC machine, but I know they can do it.

Thanks for the info Michael, and thanks again for this thread.

The tool you use to open the non-user removable links (to open them), it looks like a simple enough tool to make if familiar to CNC tooling.

[swish77]

Guess I should have posted this here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=291864

[classicwatchparts]

Originally Posted by Mickyfin

Thanks for the info Michael, and thanks again for this thread.

The tool you use to open the non-user removable links (to open them), it looks like a simple enough tool to make if familiar to CNC tooling.

Yes the tool is not rocket science, just clamps for the sides