Changing straps

[naga]

Hello all,

Alright, so I am trying to change my bracelet and swap it for a leather strap on my chrono evo, but I can't do it. I am using a bergeon tool, but I still can't get the bracelet off.

I can get as far as pushing the lever back using the tool, but the bracelet still won't budge. Any suggestions or am I going to have to bring it in to the AD everytime I want to change straps?

Thanks,
naga

[davey vermaak]

Naga

It's practice....and care. The bracelets on my B1 and before also the B2 are so carefully engineered that they can be difficult to remove, but they definately get easier.

ALWAYS approach it with care and from the backside!!!! obvious I know.

I tend to work the lugs upwards as opposed to sideways across the watch. Also when you have one side released, try working the tool on the other end....this usually does the trick

Have fun

Davey

[Alan M]

It's going to be so much easier to chang mine thanks to Davey!

[Simon]

It's going to be so much easier to chang mine thanks to Davey!

Ditto

si

[naga]

Thanks for the tips Davey, but still no go for me. I can remove the levers and change straps for my other 4 watches (not breitlings) but I can't seem to remove the levers on my breitlings. I've tried all 4 sides numerous times. Oh well, I guess I must go to the AD everytime I feel like a change of straps.

Thanks,
naga

Naga

It's practice....and care. The bracelets on my B1 and before also the B2 are so carefully engineered that they can be difficult to remove, but they definately get easier.

ALWAYS approach it with care and from the backside!!!! obvious I know.

I tend to work the lugs upwards as opposed to sideways across the watch. Also when you have one side released, try working the tool on the other end....this usually does the trick

Have fun

Davey

[Kurt Koerfgen]

Are you sure you have the right spring bars installed in the watch?

It is possible that, if the watch was originally delivered with a strap and had the bracelet fitted at a later stage, spring bars for the strap are still fitted.

There are small but important differences between spring bars for straps and bracelets not every salesperson is aware of. If you have the wrong type, it WILL be difficult to remove the bracelet.

My suggestion is to take the watch to a good watch dealer, ask them to remove the bracelet for you and ask them to fit bracelet spring bars.
Chances are, they won't even charge you for it.



Hope that helps..

[O2AFAC67]

It is possible that, if the watch was originally delivered with a strap and had the bracelet fitted at a later stage, spring bars for the strap are still fitted. There are small but important differences between spring bars for straps and bracelets not every salesperson is aware of. If you have the wrong type, it WILL be difficult to remove the bracelet. My suggestion is to take the watch to a good watch dealer, ask them to remove the bracelet for you and ask them to fit bracelet spring bars.
Chances are, they won't even charge you for it.Strap springbar on the left, bracelet springbar on the right... ;-)
Cheers,
Ron

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/923/springbars11et.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3448/springbars24hb.jpg

[Alan M]

Thanks Davey!

[ckhy]

so does that mean if my watch came with a bracelet originally and I would have to get myself a new springbar for the straps?

anyone got a spare 20mm? B-)

[SnapIT]

Its the other way around ckhy, a strap springbar should not be fitted to a bracelet. The centre tube of a bracelet bar is slightly shorter then the strap version. This allows the sprung pin to retract that little bit more. Very important when the end piece is solid steel, not like leather, which can be compressed a little if needed. The other way around, a bracelet bar into leather strap as you can see would not present the same sort of problem.

A jeweler will supply and fit, sometimes as a favour, sometimes for a fee.

And by the way, you can pick up bars to suit for a few $$ on the bay any time you want.
Soooo many to choose from...

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=spring+bars+watch