SIGforum
Rolex Experts Step on in
March 21, 2017, 11:36 AM
leonidas211Rolex Experts Step on in
Hey Folks,
How about some help. I would like to put a leather strap on this watch. It is a model 1601 from 1964.
Was my dad's watch that he gave to me. If anyone knows how I can accomplish this, please let me know.
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March 21, 2017, 12:01 PM
VgexPop the springbars. Measure the lugs (probably 20mm). Get a generic/custom/factory 20mm strap. Boom.
March 21, 2017, 03:53 PM
coloradohunter44Their is a forum all about watches, TRF The Rolex Forum. Look in the classifieds there, you will find many options, and folks who can tell you what will fit what.
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March 21, 2017, 04:17 PM
leonidas211I actually did post on Rolex forum. Not much help, thought I would try here.
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March 21, 2017, 04:29 PM
Syngin1066Yes, you can put the watch on a leather strap fairly easily. Take it to a jeweler that sells watches, they will have replacement leather straps and spring bars.
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March 21, 2017, 06:00 PM
leonidas211quote:
Originally posted by Syngin1066:
Yes, you can put the watch on a leather strap fairly easily. Take it to a jeweler that sells watches, they will have replacement leather straps and spring bars.
I wish saddle back leather made watch bands... not seeing anything I love at the moment.
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March 21, 2017, 06:25 PM
JD83I'm no expert but I have switched out a GMT
oyster bracelet for a jubilee.
I didn't want to do any damage to the spring bars so I got a Bergeon spring bar removal tool.
Once you have the bracelet removed,
you can put on a new bracelet/band yourself.
(Should you ever want to resize your bracelet, you'd need a 1.10 mm screwdriver/blade).
You can buy the spring bar removal tool at Otto Frei(and also the blade):
www.ofrei.com/bergeon-tools.html
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March 21, 2017, 06:29 PM
Ronin1069quote:
I wish saddle back leather made watch bands... not seeing anything I love at the moment.
.
.
.
For just a moment, you had me VERY happy when my eyes saw only saddle back and watch bands in the same sentence. Then I read the whole thing....drat.
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March 21, 2017, 10:21 PM
marksman41It's been a while since I perused the Rolex forums but I remember there was a fellow in Hong Kong who repaired bands like the one in the OP's picture to like new fit. As I recall his work was very well regarded and not that expensive relative to buying a new band.
March 21, 2017, 10:27 PM
leonidas211quote:
Originally posted by marksman41:
It's been a while since I perused the Rolex forums but I remember there was a fellow in Hong Kong who repaired bands like the one in the OP's picture to like new fit. As I recall his work was very well regarded and not that expensive relative to buying a new band.
David does excellent work. I actually sent it to him and he did his best. The clasp of the jubellie (sp?) band is very well worn and beyond real daily use.
Hence my thought to find a leather strap for it.
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March 21, 2017, 10:31 PM
jhe888quote:
Originally posted by marksman41:
It's been a while since I perused the Rolex forums but I remember there was a fellow in Hong Kong who repaired bands like the one in the OP's picture to like new fit. As I recall his work was very well regarded and not that expensive relative to buying a new band.
Yes, his reputation is sterling.
http://www.classicwatchrepair....ish/band-restoration A new bracelet from Rolex in gold and steel costs a lot - the repair is cheap in comparison.
But any competent watch shop can change it to a leather strap. Hell, nearly anyone with a spring bar tool can do it.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything. March 21, 2017, 10:55 PM
mod29What would an old Rolex like that be worth these days?
March 21, 2017, 10:59 PM
jhe888quote:
Originally posted by mod29:
What would an old Rolex like that be worth these days?
https://www.bobswatches.com/
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything. March 22, 2017, 12:38 AM
mod29Thanks for the link, great site with lots of info.
March 22, 2017, 09:00 AM
YellowJacketI have bought a few bands/straps from
https://www.cheapestnatostraps.com/ and had good luck.
These are not super top quality leather bands, most likely, but they are cheap and might give you an idea of what you want before you drop big bucks on something else.
Also, this image was posted in the watch thread in the gallery and shows how you take the pins out with a metal bracelet. Taking a bracelet off is much easier than getting it back on, imo.
I'm gonna vote for the funniest frog with the loudest croak on the highest log. March 23, 2017, 04:08 PM
M'headSigThere are a lot of videos on how to do this on Youtube.
March 23, 2017, 04:42 PM
rduckworGo to Amazon and search for 20MM watch bands. Drink until you thirst no more.
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March 23, 2017, 06:34 PM
callibirdI ordered a leather strap from
Bas and Lokes a few years ago and couldn't be more pleased with the quality and finish.
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April 04, 2017, 08:51 PM
NK402Talk to Amy at
www.globalwatchband.com . She'll fix you up .
April 05, 2017, 01:58 PM
220-9erI sent my 1980 stainless/gold Datejust band to Michael Young, the guy jeh888 provided the link for, about two years ago. It looked about like yours and I was amazed how much better he was able to make it.
I was afraid to wear it before the work and a new band was very expensive and the gold didn't match my 14k model.
As I recall it was about $200 plus Fedex over and back and he returned it within about 30 days of when I sent it off.
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