MandoBear
Well-known member
It rather looks like your bins are suffering from a phenomenon well known to collectors of G-Shock watches, which they refer to as "resin-rot". The exterior protective armour and the wrist straps of most G-Shock watches is also made out of PU rubber, and over the years it also breaks down - becoming waxy and brittle, and in severe cases, just crumbles off the watch. This generally happens after a number of years (depending on use and exposure to light, heat, skin oils and acids, etc.) - but it can be quite variable. For vintage G-Shock collectors this can be a real issue, as replacement resin bezels and straps are often no longer made, and new old stock spares may be on their way to breaking down.
Hopefully, your's is an isolated example and Swarovski will be able to replace your armour at no cost to you, and they will maintain supplies of replacement armour for very many years to come (I hope so - I also have a pair of EL-FPs). I don't think dealing with this issue would be unique to Swarovski - I think Leica, Zeiss and very many other manufacturers use PU rubbers in their armour. They must all face similar environments and contaminants - and be required to be reasonably durable.
Hopefully, your's is an isolated example and Swarovski will be able to replace your armour at no cost to you, and they will maintain supplies of replacement armour for very many years to come (I hope so - I also have a pair of EL-FPs). I don't think dealing with this issue would be unique to Swarovski - I think Leica, Zeiss and very many other manufacturers use PU rubbers in their armour. They must all face similar environments and contaminants - and be required to be reasonably durable.