- Posts
- 691
- Likes
- 670
PandaSPUR
·These watches should last forever as long as they're serviced periodically. What you do with them will just make servicing more or less frequent.
How hard is sand/the beach on bracelet pins, etc.
- Posts
- 7,002
- Likes
- 13,076
Evitzee
·There is a professional diver who has been wearing an 18k gold Rolex Sub in his work for years. Gets it serviced and life goes on. Watches are meant to be worn which is why older watches show wear, they've been used. If you can't wear a watch meant for water activities to the beach it's not much of a watch. We worry way too much about these things.
- Posts
- 9,106
- Likes
- 47,564
gbesq
·They don't call modern luxury dive watches "desk divers" for no reason. Can a Seamaster or a Submariner stand up to sun, sand and saltwater? Sure. That doesn't mean that every owner wants to expose their watch to that. I wear my SMPc when I go sea kayaking and it gets carefully rinsed and dried off when I return, but hanging out with it at the beach where it's likely to end up with sand on it -- and possibly IN it? No thanks. I can't think of a faster way to destroy the AR coating on the crystal, for starters.
- Posts
- 257
- Likes
- 555
3rdstringholder
·These topics run the gamut....Anything from "why expose a $5000.00 watch to the abrasiveness of sand and all of the damage that entails?" to "it's a tool watch, treat it as such". Just use common sense.
- Posts
- 16,307
- Likes
- 44,926
JwRosenthal
·I think we are getting, once again, into the philosophical about what is the meaning of life for a $5k dive watch watch….this is not the question that was asked.
“I don't care about scratches/hairlines. What I'm worried about is sand getting in between the links, grinding down the pins etc. Is that something to worry about….”
The answer is Yes.
How the OP decides to deal with or prevent premature failure is up to him. Some good suggestions have been given.
“I don't care about scratches/hairlines. What I'm worried about is sand getting in between the links, grinding down the pins etc. Is that something to worry about….”
The answer is Yes.
How the OP decides to deal with or prevent premature failure is up to him. Some good suggestions have been given.
- Posts
- 54
- Likes
- 40
jmnav
·I agree completely with the concept that you can actually wear your dive watch on the beach. If you are really worried about the bracelet (which will likely be subject to the most wear) you could use a NATO.... Good luck and enjoy your watch!!!!!!!!
That's exactly what I do, not because wear to the bracelet but to avoid the risk of losing the watch if per chance a spring bar fails -and then, it also gives it a sporty look suitable to the occasion. I don't consider two~three weeks a year by the beach (my "standard") to be significant regarding wear.
PS: that's not in contradiction with my previous post... it's been only the last two~three years that I started using a NATO, it was bracelet all the years before that.
- Posts
- 795
- Likes
- 1,156
Pazzo
·How hard is sand/the beach on bracelet pins
I would be more worried about the spring bars rather than the bracelet pins. Changing them more frequently wouldn't be a bad idea, imho.
A good overall rinse after use is a must.
I would be more worried about the spring bars rather than the bracelet pins. Changing them more frequently wouldn't be a bad idea, imho.
A good overall rinse after use is a must.
Edited:
- Posts
- 2,178
- Likes
- 16,801
Paedipod
·I would be more worried about the spring bars rather than the bracelet pins. Changing them more frequently wouldn't be a bad idea, imho.
A good overall rinse after use is a must.
This.
I used rubber straps on the watches that went to the beach, thought that was the saviour for the bracelet issue....went for a dive with my stepson and had one give out, thankfully the 1000m WR watch dropped into the sand, corroded spring bar. Regardless of the $value of the watch, sand and salt will eat the generally cheapass pins. Replace often!
- Posts
- 133
- Likes
- 113
spe777
·Interesting topic. I'd never had a spring bar fail due to corrosion and I've had a number of vintage watches with old spring bars.
Seems like if you're going back and forth between a bracelet/strap/nato, you'd have a good opportunity to do visual inspection of the bracelet/pins to see if anything requires repair or replacement.
Seems like if you're going back and forth between a bracelet/strap/nato, you'd have a good opportunity to do visual inspection of the bracelet/pins to see if anything requires repair or replacement.
- Posts
- 2,026
- Likes
- 7,157
MTROIS
·J jmnavThat's exactly what I do, not because wear to the bracelet but to avoid the risk of losing the watch if per chance a spring bar fails -and then, it also gives it a sporty look suitable to the occasion. I don't consider two~three weeks a year by the beach (my "standard") to be significant regarding wear.
PS: that's not in contradiction with my previous post... it's been only the last two~three years that I started using a NATO, it was bracelet all the years before that.
Overall, I just find people being overly cautious on something like this.
- Posts
- 308
- Likes
- 263
eldiano84
·I mean, pins can be easily swapped out for 4 bucks, easily hands down, it would be the least of my worries to be honest. I grew up with pin holes and just thought it was it, now I’m used to Omega just giving me unlimited pins for the bracelets so i don’t worry about it that much I guess. Damn and i thought my Apple Watch was my beater watch haha
- Posts
- 16,307
- Likes
- 44,926
JwRosenthal
·I mean, pins can be easily swapped out for 4 bucks, easily hands down, it would be the least of my worries to be honest. I grew up with pin holes and just thought it was it, now I’m used to Omega just giving me unlimited pins for the bracelets so i don’t worry about it that much I guess. Damn and i thought my Apple Watch was my beater watch haha
Each link of a watch bracelet (depending on design) is usually a series of individual blocks with holes, and pins inside. As grit and grime get into each link, and the bracelet flexes and rotates on the wrist, the internal grit (be it sand, dust, skin cells, anything that can be used as an aggregate) will start to wear down the metal inside each link- some more than others depending on their rotation.
We hear this most with Rolex bracelets as “stretch”, but all watch bracelets show this over time (again- depending on construction) and the results is worn metal parts that lose their strength and shape.
There is always going to be metal on metal wear inside the links of a watch bracelet- but adding an aggregate will accelerate the wear.
Edited:
- Posts
- 308
- Likes
- 263
eldiano84
·The OP is thinking in terms of the internal pins inside each link, the $4 parts are the spring bars- those are actually pretty robust.
Each link of a watch bracelet (depending on design) is usually a series of individual blocks with holes, and pins inside. As grit and grime get into each link, and the bracelet flexes and rotates on the wrist, the internal grit (be it sand, dust, skin cells, anything that can be used as an aggregate) will start to wear down the metal inside each link- some more than others depending on their rotation.
We hear this most with Rolex bracelets as “stretch”, but all watch bracelets show this over time (again- depending on construction) and the results is worn metal parts that lose their strength and shape.
There is always going to be metal on metal wear inside the links of a watch bracelet- but adding an aggregate will accelerate the wear.
- Posts
- 16,307
- Likes
- 44,926
JwRosenthal
·That makes sense, I grew up in panama though I guess some customer don’t really have that much of a choice haha, especially since my rolex oyster bracelet from the 90’s was hollow, so i understand the grime and cleaning, i remember all of that now it makes sense on why they broke easily and why it they were all black most of the time ewwww
- Posts
- 17,705
- Likes
- 26,852
Foo2rama
··Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can.D dtdIsn’t half the point of a dive watch to wear it to the beach? 😁 A bracelet will probably see some wear with sand, but wearing it on a strap and rinsing it with fresh water afterwards should help out a lot? I am planning on buying the same watch as OP, and I plan to use it whenever I am near a water activity and my speedmaster should stay at home, but it sounds as you guys mean we should baby it because going to a beach with a diver is bad for the watch 😵💫
Yup on a nice dive STRAP.
- Posts
- 16,307
- Likes
- 44,926
JwRosenthal
·Yup- $70 rubber strap saves $1k bracelet- and it’s a cool look to boot!
- Posts
- 224
- Likes
- 269
Bizcut1
·Love that look for your Sub!
- Posts
- 2,026
- Likes
- 7,157
MTROIS
·Another thing to take into account is bracelet fit.
Indeed, the looser the bracelet is worn on the wrist (ie, the least well adjusted to the wrist’s size) and the more movement and flex you have around the pins, which, over time, leads to more and more wear and tear (ie, damage).
If the bracelet is well adjusted and regularly rinsed with clear water, the potential damage will be greatly minimized.
Indeed, the looser the bracelet is worn on the wrist (ie, the least well adjusted to the wrist’s size) and the more movement and flex you have around the pins, which, over time, leads to more and more wear and tear (ie, damage).
If the bracelet is well adjusted and regularly rinsed with clear water, the potential damage will be greatly minimized.
- Posts
- 54
- Likes
- 40
jmnav
·While the use of a NATO bracelet, yes, technically makes losing your watch a lower risk in case one of your spring bars fails, if you are really THAT worried about this, then you would need to have fixed bars soldered in the lugs!!
Hummm... yes, and then not so.
I mean, technically yes: there's a chance that one spring bar fails, and then the watch pivots freely against the other spring bar strongly enough to break it too.
But then, not so. I mean, I had broken spring bars and the second one was strong enough for me to notice the problem before it became worse (not when wearing an Omega but a Citizen, though). So soldered bars, at least in my experience add very little security. What they add is longer MTBF (but even the standard bracelet setup is robust enough) and the chance of having a problem and yet being able to continue with what you are doing: something that, while interesting in a professional/military position, not so much in recreational activities -if something goes wrong, I can stop immediately.
Overall, I just find people being overly cautious on something like this.
I'm the one that wears his 30m Speedmaster (a Mk40 one) to the beach, the pool or the shower, so I wouldn't consider myself "overly cautious", but I had broken spring bars myself and I have listened first person to the guy that lost his Daytona because of that, so...
- Posts
- 251
- Likes
- 349
philips
·Personally, I would want to wear one of my nicer waterproof or dive watches to the beach, to really enjoy the experience. I'm not concerned about sand and just thoroughly rinse the watch in fresh water after.
