This is why Speidel expanding bracelets are bad

ClarendonVintage · Jun 9, 2019

M'Bob
Not that I'm a Speidel fan, but let's look at this a bit more objectively: is this a frequent occurrence with this type of band? Is it possible there are other confounding variables, like the thing was never cleaned, and the debris became unusually abrasive? On the face of it, one would think that all those springs in the band would likely transmit less force to the lugs, not more. I can't tell for sure, but the ends, are they spring-loaded? Because if ultra-gunky, and stuck in the extreme, outer position, without the ability to retract, it would make sense that it would take a uncommon bite into the lugs.

Same.

I don't believe the band does this to every watch when worn on a long term basis.

This one must be an outlier.

Vercingetorix · Jun 9, 2019

ClarendonVintage
Same.

I don't believe the band does this to every watch when worn on a long term basis.

This one must be an outlier.

No, it is a simple matter of hard steel rubbing on soft brass/gold under spring loading. Adding sweat, soap, dirt etc accelerates wear. This was probably worn day in day out for 60 years. Most of the not so worn versions quit 40 years ago and were never repaired. I will admit this is probably an extreme case but I am pretty sure all of them will suffer huge amounts of wear if worn every day.

Dan S · Jun 9, 2019

Vercingetorix
No, it is a simple matter of hard steel rubbing on soft brass/gold under spring loading. Adding sweat, soap, dirt etc accelerates wear. This was probably worn day in day out for 60 years. Most of the not so worn versions quit 40 years ago and were never repaired. I will admit this is probably an extreme case but I am pretty sure all of them will suffer huge amounts of wear if worn every day.

The most unusual thing is that the person just kept on wearing it long after it was in terrible shape.

Vercingetorix · Jun 9, 2019

Dan S
The most unusual thing is that the person just kept on wearing it long after it was in terrible shape.

For us on the board yes. For others, no. My forte is not watches, but everyday I see vehicles driven which should not be on the road.

Dan S · Jun 9, 2019

Vercingetorix
For us on the board yes. For others, no. My forte is not watches, but everyday I see vehicles driven which should not be on the road.

And worn out tires too! A couple of winters ago, there were several major accidents on I70 (I am talking about through the high passes in Colorado) caused by people with no tread left. As a result, the legislature passed a new winter tire law for passenger vehicles that goes into effect under certain conditions. It requires winter-rated tires or chains/cables. Several times I've been stopped at a checkpoint before a climb to a mountain pass in snowy conditions so a Trooper could check the rating on my tires.

JwRosenthal · Jun 9, 2019

Dan S
And worn out tires too! A couple of winters ago, there were several major accidents on I70 (I am talking about through the high passes in Colorado) caused by people with no tread left. As a result, the legislature passed a new winter tire law for passenger vehicles that goes into effect under certain conditions. It requires winter-rated tires or chains/cables. Several times I've been stopped at a checkpoint before a climb to a mountain pass in snowy conditions so a Trooper could check the rating on my tires.

Growing up in Los Angeles is was the same situation going their the grapevine (I5). Us southern city folk had our summer slicks (either by wear or choice) and would hit the checkpoint and either be turned around or have to put chains on. I had an old Landcruiser at the time but I still had chains in the back of the truck in case I had to head north as without snow tires (not mud as I had) -you were sent packing.
Maybe we should stop people on the street and seize their watches that are clearly being abused...I think they call that theft

dsio · Jun 9, 2019

I don’t even bother taking these things off watches properly as even doing that tends to cause more marks and scratches, I just use tin-snips to cut the bracelet away near the lug and then carefully cut again right through the end links and springbar at the corner then toss the lot in the trash. I tried taking one off with a burgeon 6111 once and stabbed mysteriously with the pointy end so many times it led me to give up and try this method.

Dan S · Jun 9, 2019

JwRosenthal
Growing up in Los Angeles is was the same situation going their the grapevine (I5). Us southern city folk had our summer slicks (either by wear or choice) and would hit the checkpoint and either be turned around or have to put chains on. I had an old Landcruiser at the time but I still had chains in the back of the truck in case I had to head north as without snow tires (not mud as I had) -you were sent packing.
Maybe we should stop people on the street and seize their watches that are clearly being abused...I think they call that theft

At the risk of going way OT, Goodyear Duratracs are a pretty damn good choice for a snow-rated tire that does very well off-road. I used to switch off between Bridgestone Blizzaks and BFG A/T KO2 tires season-to-season for snow and off-road. And no doubt both of those tires performed really well. But when they wore out, I switched to the Duratracs for all-season use, and I haven't really noticed much of a decline in performance. One less thing to worry about in the Spring and Fall, and a little more space in my garage.

STANDY · Jun 9, 2019

dsio
I don’t even bother taking these things off watches properly as even doing that tends to cause more marks and scratches, I just use tin-snips to cut the bracelet away near the lug and then carefully cut again right through the end links and springbar at the corner then toss the lot in the trash. I tried taking one off with a burgeon 6111 once and stabbed mysteriously with the pointy end so many times it led me to give up and try this method.

Only way

Always have a set in the boat to cut these out of over enthusiastic newer fishermen.

Archer · Jun 10, 2019

M'Bob
Not that I'm a Speidel fan, but let's look at this a bit more objectively: is this a frequent occurrence with this type of band?

Yes, very frequent. This photo above is certainly an extreme example, but I see less extreme examples of damage from these spring loaded end links all the time.

On a stainless steel case...

18k gold case...

IMO these should never be put on a watch you care about.

M'Bob · Jun 10, 2019

Archer
Yes, very frequent. This photo above is certainly an extreme example, but I see less extreme examples of damage from these spring loaded end links all the time.

Thus, I guess caution should be used with the JB Champions as well, though many report minimal lug damage with these even after many years. Perhaps the Speidels have firmer springs...

Archer · Jun 10, 2019

M'Bob
Thus, I guess caution should be used with the JB Champions as well, though many report minimal lug damage with these even after many years. Perhaps the Speidels have firmer springs...

If you think about the range of lug widths that these are typically designed to cover, it should be pretty clear why smaller lugs would be more problematic than larger lug widths. As for the JB Champion bracelets, they aren't my thing personally (I'm mostly wear straps on my watches) but the steel case example above is a Speedmaster...

M'Bob · Jun 10, 2019

Archer
As for the JB Champion bracelets, they aren't my thing personally (I'm mostly wear straps on my watches) but the steel case example above is a Speedmaster...

Interesting. So that in fact was using a JB Champion?

Archer · Jun 10, 2019

M'Bob
Interesting. So that in fact was using a JB Champion?

Not what I said...came to me without any bracelet or strap.

Vercingetorix · Jun 10, 2019

M'Bob
Interesting. So that in fact was using a JB Champion?

Does brand even matter? Any spring loaded bracelet is going to grind on lugs. QED

JwRosenthal · Jun 10, 2019

Vercingetorix
Does brand even matter? Any spring loaded bracelet is going to grind on lugs. QED

I don’t think the engineers at NASA were thinking about how these watches and bracelets would fare after 30 years. I think they were more focused on not blowing anything up and killing anyone.

M'Bob · Jun 10, 2019

Vercingetorix
Does brand even matter? Any spring loaded bracelet is going to grind on lugs. QED

I don't know...would think greater outward pressure exerted, greater force against the inner lugs, grater potential for accelerated wear. Yes, any spring-loaded bracelet will cause abrasion. But it's a question of degree. @TLIGuy has said that he uses the JB Champions on his Speedmasters without significant wear. So maybe they are not all equivalent in that regard.

Vercingetorix · Jun 10, 2019

The jb champions he uses are not spring loaded.

JwRosenthal · Jun 10, 2019

Don’t forget that watches like that were worn daily in every condition, so wearing a Speedy with a JB on it-only on Tuesday’s, polished with a diaper and kept in a velvet box would take decades to show any real wear. Most people 40 years ago only had one watch, so it got worn to death. It would be an interesting pole to see how many people on this forum only have one watch they wear daily.

M'Bob · Jun 10, 2019

M'Bob
I don't know...would think greater outward pressure exerted, greater force against the inner lugs, grater potential for accelerated wear. Yes, any spring-loaded bracelet will cause abrasion. But it's a question of degree. @TLIGuy has said that he uses the JB Champions on his Speedmasters without significant wear. So maybe they are not all equivalent in that regard.

Vercingetorix
The jb champions he uses are not spring loaded.

Here's @TLIGuy 's Speedmaster with the curved-ends, JB Champion mesh bracelet. I can't say for sure that the ends on his are spring-loaded, but I have the identical bracelet, and mine are:

This is why Speidel expanding bracelets are bad

ClarendonVintage

Vercingetorix

Dan S

Vercingetorix

Dan S

JwRosenthal

dsio

Dan S

STANDY

Archer

M'Bob

Archer

M'Bob

Archer

Vercingetorix

JwRosenthal

M'Bob

Vercingetorix

JwRosenthal

M'Bob

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