What to do?

[13 DJP]

Morning Chums

I have a dilemma and need your help.

I have the following 2 watches and used to alternate between the Paul Smith as a daily and the Rolex for best.



However the Paul Smith has developed an annoying fault with the strap,

all looks fine:



but does this regularly and stabs the missus!!



It would appear to have worn the stop at the back and now the strap "flicks out" and protrudes 2 razor sharp corners!

I have had the pin changed 4 times as was repeatedly told the pin had bent, however everytime within a couple of days it does it again.

As a result I don`t wear it anymore and use the Rolex daily

This upsets me as I am missing out on wearing a watch I like a lot. Also i`m going to Mexico in a couple of months and am wary of taking the Rolex, so would like to take the Paul Smith only.

What should I do?

At the moment I`m thinking getting the strap swapped for a leather one instead although these seem to be thin on the ground as it needs a 24mm one.

I also like the idea of a fairly lairy one ie; blue leather with white stitching or black leather with red stitching

What do my learned PH friends think?

Cheers
Dave

[Ikemi]

http://www.toshi-straps.co.uk/

Custom made straps by a PHer - If you want leather, lairy and 24mm width, Toshi will sort you out!

[13 DJP]

Ikemi said:

http://www.toshi-straps.co.uk/

Custom made straps by a PHer - If you want leather, lairy and 24mm width, Toshi will sort you out!

Cheers for that, bang goes the next 2 hours of my day

[jgtv]

http://www.db10straps.co.uk/products.html

come highly recommended by those on tz-uk, I picked up two 24mm straps from the sales section of tz from this company http://www.vintagerstraps.com/zoner/index.html the crackle and plainsman for £60 together, which was nice, nicely worn in to.

[13 DJP]

Ok I`ve decided I`m going to order a Toshi Strap

What do you all think about colours?

I`m thinking black to match the face, with plumb sticthing to match the crown, or possibly black with emerald stitching to match the second hand?

What do the masses think

[Ikemi]

13 DJP said:

possibly black with emerald stitching to match the second hand?

What do the masses think

That would be my choice

[GenePoolReject13]

How much are toshi straps generaly? I know it will depend on what leather etc but a guidline would be useful.

[13 DJP]

They seem to vary, but the one I`m looking at would be £70, but they do go up to £120 for vintage leather.
Seems very good value to me for a hand crafted bespoke strap

[Speedracer329]

Seems a shame you can't do anything with the bracelet on the Paul Smith watch, I really like it, not seen that before on any watch.

[Hoofy]

You can fix the bracelet. The springbar isn't the issue. You wear your watches too tight - you're stretching the bracelet and this is the problem. If you have pliers with long prongs, ie suitable for fine work, you can tighten the bracelet yourself.

[13 DJP]

Hoofy said:

You can fix the bracelet. The springbar isn't the issue. You wear your watches too tight - you're stretching the bracelet and this is the problem. If you have pliers with long prongs, ie suitable for fine work, you can tighten the bracelet yourself.

I`m intrigued Darren, I always thought I wore my watches fairly loose? How do I go about tightening the bracelet?

One side is fine, it`s only the other side that seems to pull back on itself and release the fangs!!

I`m still going to get a leather strap anyway as I`ve come to like the idea, but if I can save the orginal one also this would please me greatly

[Hoofy]

13 DJP said:

I`m intrigued Darren, I always thought I wore my watches fairly loose? How do I go about tightening the bracelet?

One side is fine, it`s only the other side that seems to pull back on itself and release the fangs!!

I`m still going to get a leather strap anyway as I`ve come to like the idea, but if I can save the orginal one also this would please me greatly

Oh, it's possible you caught it on something that s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d it.

I'm going to attempt a half-witted description of how to fix it. If it doesn't make sense, try downing three shots of a good vodka. If it still doesn't make sense, try Tramadol.

Ok, the end piece connects to the first "link" of the bracelet. I suspect the end piece is fine but the "sub" link (might not be the correct term) that connects the end piece to the first "link" is slightly loose. If you can bend the bracelet to access the "sub" link, you can apply the fine nose pliers to it and squeeze the "sub" link close.

Does that make sense?

[13 DJP]

Hoofy said:

Oh, it's possible you caught it on something that s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d it.

I'm going to attempt a half-witted description of how to fix it. If it doesn't make sense, try downing three shots of a good vodka. If it still doesn't make sense, try Tramadol.

Ok, the end piece connects to the first "link" of the bracelet. I suspect the end piece is fine but the "sub" link (might not be the correct term) that connects the end piece to the first "link" is slightly loose. If you can bend the bracelet to access the "sub" link, you can apply the fine nose pliers to it and squeeze the "sub" link close.

Does that make sense?

Hmmmm, ok it makes sense, but I`m not entirely sure it`s the problem, there is a small amount of movement between the end piece and the first link, but no more than the other side which does not do it.

The 2 pieces are joined with the bar (which is not at the end of the end piece but about 1/8th of an inch out, so the far end of the end piece

Also main problem is that links are all joined in a toothed shape: /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ like this, so no room to fit pliers of any size

The problem seems to be that the end piece can move just enough for the back to clear the edge of the bezel and swing out, almost as if the bar is a hundredth of a mm out or so

I`m off for the vodka and tramadol anyway though

[Hoofy]

Without having a good look and playing with it, it's tough for me to decide.

[13 DJP]

Yeah I know mate, I appreciate all the advice

I think I`ll just stick to the new leather strap and maybe mess around with it afterwards.

[GenePoolReject13]

13 DJP said:

They seem to vary, but the one I`m looking at would be £70, but they do go up to £120 for vintage leather.
Seems very good value to me for a hand crafted bespoke strap

Ouch, I know they are hand made and no doubt a quality product but I only have one watch that cost more than the strap would and thats staying firmly on its bracelet.

[13 DJP]

UPDATE:

My strap from Toshi has turned up and i`m chuffed to bits with it

[CardShark]

Quality straps, got 3 now myself! Wear them for a while and they break in really well, though they're pretty supple to start off with.

The green stitching is a nice touch

[bigrich4]

13 DJP said:

UPDATE:

My strap from Toshi has turned up and i`m chuffed to bits with it

Isn't that strap on upside down?

[andy tims]

bigrich4 said:

Isn't that strap on upside down?