Page 1 of 1

Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:05 am
by demer03
Those of you who know me, know the biggest issue I have with modern Doxa is the bracelets. Nothing, for me, beats true beads of rice. The new ones are rigid, heavy, and not as plyable. The newest rendition is better, but still misses the mark.

Doxa always says, the old style was weak and fallible. I disagree. I have been rebuilding and restoring them for years. Did they wear more than the watch, sure, but the trade off is the most comfortable bracelet design I've ever worn (Rolex Jubilee is dead on too).

So.... I an loving the Tgraph, but not on bracelet. Got a wild hair and snagged an old BOR from ebay...voila;

Image

Image

Image

Image

Not perfect...beads splay a little at the end link...this is a "Bulova" brand...but with a little sourcing and work I can franken-build a better mousetrap.

I wish Doxa would embrace this concept....I'd pay more to get it.

Maybe before I die :lol:

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:14 am
by r.palace
I'd agree with you Mike that the only Doxa bracelet I like is the BOR.

That being said, this one gives the Tgraph a nice vintage look. A bit of a narrow taper but I can still dig it

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:16 am
by demer03
Agree on the taper. It will take some searching, but I will find the right parts. Point being....it can be done...muhahahaha

I'll get to this...eventually.

Image

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:17 am
by kfalk
Whew...for a second I thought this was going to turn into a sales thread.

Looks good - MacGyver of the BOR.

edit: I would be down with the newer generation if they were tapered. The 1000t and 1200t's aren't huge and don't need a non-tapering bracelet.

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:17 am
by hoppyjr
Good job Mike, you "made it your own" :)

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:21 am
by rockmastermike
glad you found what makes you happy

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:55 am
by dukerules
Love it. Good job.

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:41 am
by Ryeguy
Have you looked at Harold's (Yobokies) BOR bracelet? It is also a true BOR design (solid, individual beads). I have one and can measure the beads for you to help determine if it would potentially be a better fit to those endlinks.

Another option is buying it with SRP777 endlinks. Yobokies BOR endlinks are hollow, so you can fit them to other, similar style cases with a little bit of modification.

As an example, this is a Yobokies BOR fitted to my CREPAS TACTICO TC-2 (next to my old CREPAS Cayman):
Image

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:51 am
by jimyritz
Well done Mike--Whatever works best for you :thumbsup:

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:07 am
by unixshrk
Looks great

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:08 am
by demer03
Ryeguy wrote:Have you looked at Harold's (Yobokies) BOR bracelet? It is also a true BOR design (solid, individual beads). I have one and can measure the beads for you to help determine if it would potentially be a better fit to those endlinks.
That is what the new doxa bracelet is...and it's not "true". It is individual "blocks", so some float happens, but very little.

A true BOR bracelet should fall in a pile, or lump.


Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:43 am
by mellonb1
Looks great, Mike.

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:50 pm
by Ryeguy
demer03 wrote:
Ryeguy wrote:Have you looked at Harold's (Yobokies) BOR bracelet? It is also a true BOR design (solid, individual beads). I have one and can measure the beads for you to help determine if it would potentially be a better fit to those endlinks.
That is what the new doxa bracelet is...and it's not "true". It is individual "blocks", so some float happens, but very little.

A true BOR bracelet should fall in a pile, or lump.

I think I am on the same page as you... Harold's BOR is individual "beads" and does fall into a "pile" when placed on a table. It does not "fold" like an oyster style bracelet.

Some of the modern Doxa bracelets seem more "BOR-like" than actual BOR. They are more similar to an oyster bracelet with individual bars machined to look like beads, but is in fact a solid bar.

Not trying to promote Harold's products, but I found his BOR to be good quality, very comfortable to wear, and with the folded endlinks, fairly adaptable to non-Seiko cases.

Here are a couple more photos of the TC-2 on the BOR. I hope they illustrate it a bit better. I can snap some more tomorrow. Heck - I might be confused as I thought this was a "true" BOR so if I am mistaken, I'm happy to be educated.

Image

Image

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:24 pm
by toxicavenger
yobokies
Image

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:01 pm
by demer03
His are blocks...not beads, unless I am wrong. The difference is huge in weight and flex.

Bead:

Image

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:06 pm
by toxicavenger
demer03 wrote:His are blocks...not beads, unless I am wrong. The difference is huge in weight and flex.

Bead:

Image
oh those are hollow beads, these are solid individual beads

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:07 pm
by demer03
Can his be disassembled? Are all those pins removable?

If so....you could install the ring beads.

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 6:02 pm
by Ryeguy
I'm fairly certain all the pins are removeable in Harold's BOR bracelet, but I'm not certain I would want to go through the process of swapping out his solid beads for hollow ones. While Harold's beads are solid, they are uniformly rounded on both the sides and ends ( "blocks" would not be an accurate discription) so the bracelet is extremely flexible. I think it strikes a nice balance between being very flexible yet also feeling strong and rugged.

Again, my suggestion isn't meant to be a sales pitch for Harold. It's just another option potentially worth exploring (or not).

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 6:19 pm
by andrema
Good job, Mike! Looks nice!

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 6:46 pm
by demer03
Ryeguy wrote:I'm fairly certain all the pins are removeable in Harold's BOR bracelet, but I'm not certain I would want to go through the process of swapping out his solid beads for hollow ones. While Harold's beads are solid, they are uniformly rounded on both the sides and ends ( "blocks" would not be an accurate discription) so the bracelet is extremely flexible. I think it strikes a nice balance between being very flexible yet also feeling strong and rugged.

Again, my suggestion isn't meant to be a sales pitch for Harold. It's just another option potentially worth exploring (or not).
Honestly not being argumentative, but I'm very particular about what works/doesn't work. Been down many paths. I know traditional beads...ring style...is what works for me. Solid blocks/beads just don't offer the flex and weight I'm looking to recreate.

I might contact seikoboy and see if they can be disassembled. Especially if the links are wider than 18mm.

Appreciate the input. Seriously.

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:06 pm
by CGSshorty
I'll be the turd in the punch bowl. It doesn't look nearly robust enough for that big case. I much prefer the look of the standard bracelet or the Isofrane. That BOR belongs on one of your vintage Doxa.

Re: Can you make a Doxa better?

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:30 am
by demer03
It's because of the lack of taper. I'll get there eventually. :)