Michael Young 93150 Bracelet Restoration

[jbsf3]

Greetings all. I just sent my 93150 from my U series 16610 off to Michael Young in Honk Kong for a restoration. The bracelet was holding up well but after 17 years of use it had developed a bit of stretch. Michael confirmed that the bracelet arrived and should be done within 8-10 weeks, I'll post pics when it returns. I've heard very positive feedback on his work, anyone here have experience with his restorations?

[toxicavenger]

I have dealt with him on some bracelet links but not a whole bracelet. He does great work and it will look like new when it returns. You just need to make sure he refinishes it so there won't be any tooling marks on it.

[jbsf3]

Thanks Toxic, definitely looking forward to getting it back, ASSuming the refinish comes standard, I didn't specifically state that I wanted it done but will drop him a line to ensure it is refinished.

[toxicavenger]

Thanks Toxic, definitely looking forward to getting it back, ASSuming the refinish comes standard, I didn't specifically state that I wanted it done but will drop him a line to ensure it is refinished.

Well some dude a while back asked for his to NOT be refinished and it came back with tooling marks and the dude was flipping out. But you do make marks when taking links apart and it isn't a easy process. I do think the refinish is part of the standard price though. Oh and you bracelet will come back like new if not tighter so I hope you weren't in love with the Rolex rattle.

[jbsf3]

Definitely NOT attached to the rattle Can't wait to get it back! Thanks again Toxic

[Jeep99dad]

That's cool it isn't there anyone closer for bracelet work?
Curious, how much does he charge ?

[jbsf3]

With shipping both ways it will run around $200 but as Toxic said from what I've read it'll come back as good/better than new...fingers crossed!

[dukerules]

No personal experience, but I've heard lots of good feedback. And the price seems very reasonable.

[dshap]

What shipping method did you use?

[JP Chestnut]

That's cool it isn't there anyone closer for bracelet work?
Curious, how much does he charge ?

I've heard, though I can't recall where, that someone in the USA does it too. It's a lot more than $200 IIRC.

MY offers a valuable service at a low price, but don't expect to get a perfect bracelet back.

[marchone]

What does he actually do as there's no stretch but metal ground away?

[JP Chestnut]

What does he actually do as there's no stretch but metal ground away?

I know for sure he breaks the permanent links apart with (basically) a press/punch type of tool. After that, I can only guess that he either fits larger pins or fills/drills the links before pressing everything back together. I've seen some fairly bad looking marks (dents really) from where he takes the links apart.

[marchone]

For $200 it sounds like a crap shoot on an expensive bracelet.

[JP Chestnut]

For $200 it sounds like a crap shoot on an expensive bracelet.

Someone on TRF sent him a Presidential bracelet. When the guy got it back, the links weren't drilled (or whatever) parallel with each other, so the bracelet wouldn't articulate. I can't remember if the bracelet snapped itself apart before the guy realized the problem, but the owner was super pissed.

I think I'd send MY a thrashed bracelet rather than throwing it away. However, I wouldn't send him one that I cared about or could sell for good money.

[jbsf3]

I used USPS priority to send it over, believe he uses FedEx to send it back. Here is an older post that details how the restoration is done:
http://www.thedivewatchconnection.com/f ... 47&t=32576

[toxicavenger]

For $200 it sounds like a crap shoot on an expensive bracelet.

It is very rare that when he is done with a bracelet that it has issues. Like I mention up above one guy had a issue because he decided NOT to have the bracelet refinished so it had tooling marks on it. MY only charges from 150-200 and one of the very few who even does this kind of work and make it og. I haven't ran across a thread yet (except for the one I mentioned above) where there was an issue with his work. But every blue moon regardless of how good you are there is going to be 1 or 2 problems along the way.
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=276849

[toxicavenger]

What does he actually do as there's no stretch but metal ground away?

The way I understand it is he takes the old pins out and puts new one's in that connect each link. There is pics in the link I posted above..

[marchone]

Got it. Now it makes sense. Thanks.

[matt.wu]

I've sent him two jubilees for a couple friends with great results.

[toxicavenger]

Here are some more stolen pics of before and after.

[toxicavenger]

[toxicavenger]

But like all great watchmaker's he doesn't hang around the computer answering emails all day so people who expect communication 24/7 will be disappointed.

[JP Chestnut]

If you're going to search Terry, can you look for the TRF thread where the guy got his Daydate bracelet ruined? I looked briefly but I was too buys at the office to find it.

[toxicavenger]

If you're going to search Terry, can you look for the TRF thread where the guy got his Daydate bracelet ruined? I looked briefly but I was too buys at the office to find it.

I will look around for that one. I do know shit happens and after all of the repairs he has done it I am sure there are going to be a few issues along the way. Hell some of the watchmakers we praise here everyday I am sure have had a few problem child's along the way.

Oh and I hate TRF and I am not a member there anymore so if I do a google search and it doesn't come up then I don't have that info. But if I do find it I will post it up also.

[jbsf3]

Been meaning to follow up on this for a few weeks. I received the bracelet back about a month after I sent it in, it had an issue with one of the clasp rivets that had to be fixed, so back it went to HK (on Michael's dime). Received it back around a week later all fixed.

Overall I am happy with the restoration, it is much tighter than when it was sent in. It still has some play but it is where the bracelet meets the clasp. There are some tool marks on the backside of the bracelet, very minor and of course they don't show when it is worn.

While the bracelet was in the shop I was working a trade on another watch. I had a 1680 pass through my hands that had a 93150 on it that had MUCH more wear on it than mine, it could have really benefited from a restoration. Looking back I think mine could have gone for a few more years before needing a refresh. Of note, the other 93150 had enough wear that there was quite a bit of metal missing from a few of the links, Michael could laser weld material back on the link for $200, so that is another option if your bracelet is missing metal.

All in all I am happy with the service, Michael did a great job and was very prompt with both communication and shipping.

Thanks!