Refurbishing Rolex bracelet

[browjam]

Hi All,

A very old friend of mine came over yesterday and asked me if it is possible to refurbish his bracelet on his 1986 Sub, it is very badly stretched and in my opinion it is only a matter of time before one of the pins breaks. The cost of a new one from Rolex is circa £1000 so can anyone on here recommend anyone how could replace all the pins?

Many thanks in advance.

James

[kinyik]

Michael young in Hongkong is supposedly the go to but I’m sure Steven Hale in London could do it.


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[wileeeeeey]

Michael Young in HK or closer to home probably Seth?

It's probably worth considering a new bracelet (not on an exchange basis) anyway unless there is a specific reason he wants the refurb the existing -- price/originality?

[learningtofly]

Michael Young in HK or closer to home probably Seth?

It's probably worth considering a new bracelet (not on an exchange basis) anyway unless there is a specific reason he wants the refurb the existing -- price/originality?

And it'll be a year on a NATO with both of those options.

[wileeeeeey]

And it'll be a year on a NATO with both of those options.

Personally I'd go RSJ and just get a new bracelet and leave the original in the box or get in the queue for the bracelet whisperers.

[Kingstepper]

And it'll be a year on a NATO with both of those options.

Crazy they have bracelet for a year. Realistically, how long does the work actually take - is it too difficult to have a booking system and request it when they're ready?

TBF, same for overlong services.

[browjam]

Thank you for your responses, I will get back to him having explored the suggestions so far👍

[Montello]

Buy a new one, expensive but will see him out and will make the watch feel like new again.

[ENES]

This echoes my experience.
Quote for the work & say it will only take 4 weeks - get your bracelet back a year later!

Crazy they have bracelet for a year. Realistically, how long does the work actually take - is it too difficult to have a booking system and request it when they're ready?

TBF, same for overlong services.

[colin t]

https://swissrefurb.com/

[browjam]

https://swissrefurb.com/

Thank you for this👍

[walkerwek1958]

Buy a new one, expensive but will see him out and will make the watch feel like new again.

Agreed, but I`m wondering what the rest of the watch is like. A new genuine bracelet would be my choice, it'll be more expensive but getting the old one rebuilt won't be cheap. A new one will have a brand new clasp too which is worth having.

[browjam]

Agreed, but I`m wondering what the rest of the watch is like. A new genuine bracelet would be my choice, it'll be more expensive but getting the old one rebuilt won't be cheap. A new one will have a brand new clasp too which is worth having.

It has been well worn for it’s entire life, I agree with you and my advice to him is to bite the bullet and get a new bracelet.

[Mick P]

It has been well worn for it’s entire life, I agree with you and my advice to him is to bite the bullet and get a new bracelet.

I have a 1980 explorer11 model 1655 and the previous owner fitted it with a genuine Rolex replacement bracelet. It is as per the original model so has a lot of life left in it. However it looks new in contrast to the watch which looks old.

Had it been down to me, I would had it refurbished, originality is something to be retained if possible.

[verv]

I have a 1980 explorer11 model 1655 and the previous owner fitted it with a genuine Rolex replacement bracelet. It is as per the original model so has a lot of life left in it. However it looks new in contrast to the watch which looks old.

Had it been down to me, I would had it refurbished, originality is something to be retained if possible.

IMO bracelets on older Rolex are/should be classed as perishables. Id rather have an old watch on a new bracelet than an old watch on a bracelet that has been repinned/refurbished.
In my experience which includes MY HK and Seth, they dont come back looking and feeling as good as a replacement does.

[Mick P]

IMO bracelets on older Rolex are/should be classed as perishables. Id rather have an old watch on a new bracelet than an old watch on a bracelet that has been repinned/refurbished.
In my experience which includes MY HK and Seth, they dont come back looking and feeling as good as a replacement does.

If I had the power of dictatorship I would have every WIS hypnotised to regard having watches spruced up as being desirable and normal rather than, as of present, being considered a way of eroding the history of of the watch.

The last two watches that I had serviced have not been polished at all, so today I am wearing an Omega Constellation that is mechanically perfect and looks bashed up.

If my 1655 had been polished and generally tarted up, the bracelet would have blended in with it. However the watch looks more knackered than me and the bracelet looks all shiny and new. It just ain't right.

[Montello]

If my 1655 had been polished and generally tarted up, the bracelet would have blended in with it. However the watch looks more knackered than me and the bracelet looks all shiny and new. It just ain't right.

In time the new bracelet will match the watch with wear ...

[learningtofly]

IMO bracelets on older Rolex are/should be classed as perishables. Id rather have an old watch on a new bracelet than an old watch on a bracelet that has been repinned/refurbished.
In my experience which includes MY HK and Seth, they dont come back looking and feeling as good as a replacement does.

Agreed. You can always hang onto the original bracelet but they're consumable items IMO.

[Mick P]

In time the new bracelet will match the watch with wear ...

Yes and I will be dead by then.