Community Stories

I’m making the move back to expansion bands

keepsonticking
Posts
670
Likes
6,560
6A936AE3-3EC5-4835-B5BD-AE565AA08977.jpeg

I went through a NATO phase years ago, and I went through a jb champion mesh NASA on everything phase. Still use a lot of those. Now, I’m shaving my wrists and buying old expansion bands for 70s watches. That’s the way nearly all the men I knew wore them, including my dad. And my first adult watch was an Accutron on a twistoflex. They are actually comfortable and the easiest to go on and off. I just got this one. I BULOV it.
7D60FD89-2744-4F74-8B63-D5BF7E205525.jpeg
Edited:
 
TexOmega
Posts
8,347
Likes
59,700
Dad always wore expansion bands....... did you also buy some Butch Wax for your crew-cut?
 
amcclell
Posts
1,534
Likes
3,234
I've always liked them and have a few USA made Spiedel bands that were in some bins in my local jeweler's basement. Like the OP, my dad and grandfathers also wore them.

20200721_101002.jpg 20210323_123517.jpg
 
Dan S
Posts
23,351
Likes
51,974
You are definitely not the only one who likes them. Every time I mention that I have accumulated a few (usually because they are installed on watches that I buy), I get multiple PMs from people who are happy to take them off my hands. None at the moment BTW.
 
Evitzee
Posts
7,557
Likes
13,954
Anybody who was around in the 60's and 70's either had, or knew someone, with a watch with a Speidel Twist-O-Flex band, they were the standard if you walked into a jewelry store and were looking for a metal bracelet. My dad certainly had one, and I had one on a watch in my teens.
Edited:
 
Professor
Posts
2,327
Likes
2,541
Nicest expansion band I have , An Admiral.
elgin 6.jpg elgin 2.jpg

Very comfortable due to the inner surfaces having a slight belly that prevents contact between edges and skin.

Another good one is the Timex "Fast Fit". Nothing special other than having a wide range of adjustment without the need to remove or add links.
timex band.jpg
A Fast Fit adjusted for a skinny wrist can be quickly readjusted for a thicker wrist in seconds
timex band 2.jpg

This has the adjustment in the center, I have another with the adjustments at each end, but it's not as comfortable because the ends don't have enough curve for a smaller diameter wrist.
 
Walrus
Posts
10,644
Likes
51,850
I know this sounds like an untrue story but I picked this 60’s timex up when I found a couple nice gold watches at a junk store. To keep the guy happy I picked up this 60’s timex and some other junk he was trying to get rid of. I can’t take these stretchy bands but twice I went to change it for a leather one and the watch stopped. It came back shortly after each time but I am now just figuring I’m just gonna leave this thing on. By all rights this watch should not be running. I will leave her be with this annoying stretchy band.
image.jpg image.jpg
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,981
Walrus Walrus
I know this sounds like an untrue story but I picked this 60’s timex up when I found a couple nice gold watches at a junk store. To keep the guy happy I picked up this 60’s timex and some other junk he was trying to get rid of. I can’t take these stretchy bands but twice I went to change it for a leather one and the watch stopped. It came back shortly after each time but I am now just figuring I’m just gonna leave this thing on. By all rights this watch should not be running. I will leave her be with this annoying stretchy band.
image.jpg image.jpg
You need to get yourself a pair of white sansa-belt polyester slacks, a brown polka-dot shirt with butterfly collar and white patent leather loafers to complete the look.
 
Walrus
Posts
10,644
Likes
51,850
JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
You need to get yourself a pair of white sansa-belt polyester slacks, a brown polka-dot shirt with butterfly collar and white patent leather loafers to complete the look.
How did you know what I’m wearing right now that is freaky
 
keepsonticking
Posts
670
Likes
6,560
In truth, I rarely have any trouble with them pulling at hairs, and they are at least as comfortable as any band I've used. The easy on and off is also a nice plus. I think there has been a certain anti-expansion snobbery for many years. I'm liking the ones with the built-in calendar when I can find them. And some are actually attractive. I just put a nice one on a Seiko. They are a big part of watch history, and I'm all about nostalgia. Also, a note on the post with the coiled wire band. I love those, too. I put them on old WWII watches when I can find them.
373AC4D8-E68A-4083-82CD-DA96936C1EC4.jpeg
 
AngelDeVille
Posts
167
Likes
326
I have a few watches on a twist-o-flex, I like them a lot.



I'm wearing one now....


IMG_20210527_153435.jpg
Edited:
 
S
Posts
96
Likes
783
Great to see those old Timex watches and expansion bands. The everyday wear-ability of that old Timex hardware was tough to beat.
 
yvrclimber
Posts
663
Likes
4,772
I only have one proper expansion bracelet (out of 40+ watches). I have my Dad's 1968 Waltham on a Fix-O-Flex style bracelet. I can flip it inside out 😀

And thanks @Duracuir1 - now I can't get that damn Slinky ditty out of my head!

IMG_6014.JPG
 
gatorcpa
Posts
13,119
Likes
17,992
Just remember that the "one size fits all" feature of these expansion bands are hell on the inside of 50+ old lugs.

If you can find some that use sized end pieces rather than spring-loaded ones, that would be optimal.
gatorcpa
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,981
gatorcpa gatorcpa
Just remember that the "one size fits all" feature of these expansion bands are hell on the inside of 50+ old lugs.

If you can find some that use sized end pieces rather than spring-loaded ones, that would be optimal.
gatorcpa
^^ just a cautionary of what the spring loaded endlinks can do- it’s not a myth

CC124206-7309-40C7-959B-FAB22D5726B6.jpeg 62353383-1071-4EC7-80FC-9415346B98A6.jpeg 24A9426C-03FE-45A4-8BD2-621A503B45B9.jpeg
 
1 More Post...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

Stosh

Omegas with expansion bands

Stosh Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
MRC
MRC
Posts
17
Views
9K