Can you Replace your Rolex Clasp? All you Should Know
The clasp is a central component of each Rolex bracelet. In turn, the bracelet of a Rolex watch is an even more crucial component for each Rolex watch. In Rolex’s own words:
“Bracelets and clasps play a full part in the unique pleasure of wearing a Rolex watch. Their ergonomics are carefully studied, while their robustness and reliability, their aesthetics and lustre are all inherent to the personality of the timepiece. Like the Oyster case, they are the product of a complex alchemy of form and function. Their design, development and production, as well as the stringent tests they face, involve advanced technology, know-how and craftsmanship.”
As such, Rolex heavily invests in the research and development of its clasps to improve their design, functionality, and longevity.
Just like with the rest of its bracelets, Rolex has improved the quality and functionality of its clasps over the decades in numerous ways. The company has introduced clever functions like the Glidelock and Easylink that allows the wearer to adjust the size of the bracelet without the use of any tools. The company has also considerably improved the rigidity and quality of the clasps by making the constructions more robust and thus also higher quality.
Types of Rolex clasps
Rolex has created a number of different clasps which are dedicated to its different bracelets and specific models over the years. The key clasps in its collection today include the Oysterclasp, Oysterlock, and Crownclasp.
Professional dive watches have the Glidelock Oysterlock clasp, more classic watches tend to use the Oysterclasp, and the President Day-Date tends to have the Oysterlock.
“No other part of a Rolex is subject to such regular manipulation as the clasp, a tactile bond between the watch and its wearer. Few are so crucial to the security of a Rolex owner’s prized possession and to their comfort.” The new-generation Oysterlock clasp reconciles the demands made on the Professional watches, with a sublime blend of robust yet sophisticated engineering, simple handling, smooth lines and, above all, security.”
But whilst Rolex’s clasps today hold great quality and can last for a long time, that has not always been the case. Rolex’s early clasps were stamped from metal and are considered rather flimsy today. As such, these older clasps are much more prone to being worn out or breaking than modern replacements. However, that is not to say that modern clasps cannot break, either.
This brings us to the key question of this article: can you replace your Rolex clasp?
Can you replace or exchange your Rolex clasp?
The answer to that question is for the most part yes. The Rolex clasp is not a part that is integrated into the rest of the bracelet and so it is removable. And because it is removable, it also means that it is technically possible to replace it.
Why do you need to replace your Rolex clasp? Is it because the clasp is broken or damaged, or is it because you want to modify it and put a different clasp to your existing bracelet for a different look or functionality? Which of these you need depends on how easy it will be to change (or at least source) your Rolex clasp.
Replace Rolex clasp to repair
This is the most common reason that people need to replace their Rolex clasp. Perhaps it is crooked, old, and damaged. In this case, you may need to replace the Rolex clasp. In this case, it is generally quite easy to replace your clasp. You can simply take the watch to a Rolex authorized dealer and they will most likely be able to order a new clasp for you. The answer to the question as a whole is yes, you can always replace your Rolex clasp with a new one, assuming that you change to the exact same clasp.
In some cases, you may even be able to change your Rolex clasp to one that is not originally intended for your bracelet, but more on this further on.
When you need a new clasp for your Rolex because your current one is broken or not functioning the way it should, you have three options:
- Source the clasp on the secondhand market
- Turn to a Rolex service center
- Replace the whole bracelet
You can find lots of different Rolex parts on the secondhand market, including Rolex clasps. However, because Rolex has strict rules when it comes to supplying spare parts, it may be difficult to source certain parts on the secondhand market. Moreover, due to the limited nature of Rolex parts, the prices for them also tend to be rather high.
The fact is also that spare parts in general are also quite expensive when you buy them from Rolex as well. For example, a gold and steel Oyster clasp for the Oyster bracelet on Datejust 126233 in gold and steel costs about 1700 USD. That is for the clasp alone! With this said, replacing the clasp on a Rolex bracelet is in general very expensive so this is something you need to take into account. But of course, the price of a Rolex clasp varies depending on the bracelet you have. Gold and steel clasps of course cost more than those made in steel.
Repair the bracelet
Because replacing a Rolex clasp can be so expensive, another solution would be to have the clasp repaired. Depending on the condition of the clasp, the repair may be difficult, but it may be more affordable than if you buy a brand new replacement clasp. In general, Rolex doesn’t repair broken or worn-out clasps, so to do this, you need to turn to a professional independent watchmaker that is specialized in the repair of Rolex bracelets. Fortunately, there are a number of these on the market that will be able to help you with this.
At the same time, they will also be able to repair your bracelet as well, for example by removing the stretch on the bracelet and restoring it to its former glory.
Replace the whole bracelet
Another solution would be to replace the whole bracelet on your watch. This may be suitable when your whole bracelet is worn out and damaged and not just the clasp. However, if the clasp alone is expensive, buying a new bracelet will set you back even more. In particular, if the bracelet is made in gold and steel, or solid gold. Gold bracelets may set you back several thousand or even tens of thousands so it’s necessary to consider whether or not you think it is worth it.
Replace the clasp for modification
Some people are looking to replace the clasp of their bracelet to modify their bracelet and not because the clasp is broken. This question is more complex because the answer of whether or not this is possible ultimately depends on the type of bracelet you have, and the clasp you want to change to.
One of the most common clasp replacement modifications is for the Oyster Perpetual 39mm reference 114300 and Oyster Perpetual 36 reference 116000. These bracelets are equipped with Oyster clasps but they do not have the Easylink extension system. If you want the Easylink for the clasp, you don’t need to change the whole clasp. You can source the Easylink extension system and mount it to the clasp. That way, you don’t have to buy a brand new clasp.
Moreover, another modification that is possible is if you want to change to the exact same clasp that you have, but in a different metal. For example, the Submariner 116618LN in yellow gold has the exact same clasp as the Submariner 116610LN in steel. Because these watches have the same clasp, they are interchangeable. So let’s assume you want a gold clasp for your steel watch, you could switch it for a gold clasp and modify the bracelet. This is true for all Rolex models that are made of different metals as they have the exact same clasp, only in different metals.
Buy a new Rolex bracelet
The last option if you want to change your Rolex clasp is to replace the whole bracelet.
You can refer to our complete guide on changing Rolex bracelets on your watch here.
As already discussed, buying a new Rolex bracelet can be rather expensive so this is not always a viable option. If you send in your Rolex watch for service and want to only replace the clasp, Rolex may deem that the bracelet is in such a poor condition that they do not only want to replace the clasp. In this case, they may require you to exchange the bracelet for a new one.
You do however have other options to change the clasp or bracelet other than turning to Rolex, depending on what your purpose with changing the clasp is. If the clasp is broken and needs repair, you can turn to a professional repair shop that specializes in the repair of Rolex bracelets. You can also try to source the original clasp for your bracelet on places like eBay and Chrono24. This may be a more affordable option than being required by Rolex to buy a new bracelet.
Conclusion
The clasp is always a removable component of a Rolex bracelet. As such, you can replace your Rolex clasp. However, the question of what clasp you can change it for is a completely different question. You can of course always change the clasp of your Rolex bracelet to the exact same one but whether or not you can change it to a different clasp depends on the bracelet. For example, it’s not always certain that your bracelet is compatible with an Oysterlock clasp if you want to change it from your Oysterclasp for added security.
