Is there a way to increase/return pliability to silicone?

No, just go get a new one. Nothing bonds to silicone.

I have never heard of any methods for restoring pliability to silicone. We mold earpieces for hearing aids and earplugs out of silicone, but I’m guessing the use different compounds, because they seem to hold flexibility well, despite daily use. However, they do change color, which I’m sure would have been unacceptable for a watch band.

I can’t get a new one, that’s the problem. Discontinued, @RocketGuy.

Thanks, @hearkat. It’s black, so discoloration’s not a problem. I know this is an area of your expertise, so I appreciate the input.

Ha! I have some experience working with silicone, but not expertise. Some of the earmolds will turn milky white with repeated use – especially with people who are more prone to perspiration, so discoloration could be a concern even with black. I was guessing that the manufacturer had various colors and wanted them to stay true so they may have had to choose colorfastness over flexibility when deciding on what compound to use.

Even though the specific watch is discontinued, have you double-checked with Fossil that the watch band can not be replaced? Sometimes they just need special gadgets to remove the old ones… the pins aren’t always visible.

Fossil does not make replacement bands, @hearkat. Ticked me off, as I believe they once advertised replacement parts for the life of the product.

I have a ‘new, old stock’ watch on the way (from eBay). That will tell me if silicone brittles with age alone, or with use.

Ahhh… when you said “non-replaceable” in the Question, I thought you meant that it physically could not be removed and replaced. There are generic watch bands available, if the eBay purchase does not meet your expectations. It seems that getting the right fit and style could be a challenge, though. Good Luck!

The watch guy at my local CVS carries generic watch bands.

There are two types of plastic, thermosetting and thermoplastic.

The former, including plastics like polyurethane (styrofoam) and polyesters cannot be melted and remolded. Their shape is permanent and if you try to melt them they will burn.

Silicone is a type of vulcanized rubber that is cured, making it a thermosetting plastic.

Polyethylene and polypropylene are the two most common types of thermoplastics. They can be melted and remolded without losing their chemical properties.