A Jubilee Bracelet Restoration.
I watch the YouTube channel Red Dead Restoration and recently he had a video of a Rolex Ladies DateJust and the jubilee bracelet was in some serious need of a refresh.
He apparently doesn't do the jubilee or more serious bracelet restorations, because he sent it to another watchmaker.
They both did a fantastic job.
https://youtu.be/ry6A92mD5kY?si=X4nGY-Y42WLkT23w
Anyway, the fascinating part for me (starts around 10:30 in) was looking at the pins Rolex uses for this (and presumably other) jubilees. They are relatively massive compared to all of the pins I've ever seen in bracelets.
Does this surprise you? Have you ever seen the pins in a Rolex bracelet before? Or how they get re-assembled?
EDIT: I did not realize @reddeadrestoration was on here and verified!
Long time watch appreciator, 2022 inductee into the obsession. Originator (or perpetrator depending on your point of view) of #WhimsicalWednesday, #MacroMay & #MacroMonday Omega Speedmaster simp. Like...
My first serious watches were purchased from a small watch and jewellery shop in Toronto’s second Chinatown that sold more Rolex watches per sq ft than any shop in North America during the 80s and 90s until Rolex Switzerland altered the parameters for ads to maintain their agencies. The watchmaker saw his share of stretched Jubilee bracelets declined the restoration project except for very good customers, the shop was conveniently located next to where I did my banking so I was a frequent visitor and watched some of the watchmaker’s projects even took a few lessons from the aged gent. I seem to recall the man informing me that later bracelets did not fatigued as poorly as samples from the 60s and 70s.
Sorry I never saw work on a bracelet just the completed product. I assume pins were replaced but the small links needed to be returned to the original shape was the labour intensive part of any bracelet work.
Some people really know how to market their videos! I mean, I immediately clicked on that video, because of that beautiful picture of the watch. I mean, the watch was the ONLY thing I noticed about that thumbnail. No other reason for me clicking. Just the watch. Yessiree Bob!