BB Bracelet Removal - I'm gonna lose it!

[samson66]

OK Rolex/Tudor veterans, please help me before I lose my freaking mind! Trying to replace the steel black bay bracelet with the factory fabric strap. What in the world am I doing wrong? I have watched videos and I swear for the life of me I can't get the damn thing off.

I have a spring bar removal, I also tried a push pin. I just can't get the one side to hold in the compressed position while I try to remove the opposite side. There has to be a trick to this I can't figure out. HELP!!!!

[Spoonage]

No trick. I swap all the time. Compress one side and the put slight pressure on the endlink away from the case. Then compress the other side. Done. Make sure you tape the lugs with painters tape or electrical tape to minimize any scratches to the underside of the lugs.

[Jidonsu]

I use these.

https://www.esslinger.com/horofix-wa...ers-band-tool/

[samson66]

I compress one side but I swear no matter what type of pressure I put on the endlink it simply will not hold while I'm attempting to free the opposite side. I try to keep the constant pressure on there but I hear that magical "click" every time when it decompresses right back into the lug. Good thought on painters tape.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Jidonsu

I use these.

https://www.esslinger.com/horofix-wa...ers-band-tool/

That looks like it would work great. I'd like to see a video of one of these in action on a Black Bay

[Jidonsu]

Originally Posted by samson66

That looks like it would work great. I'd like to see a video of one of these in action on a Black Bay

I bought it specifically for the Pelagos. Once you get the hang of it, it’s great.

[Syed117]

You want to apply a little pressure pulling the bracelet away from the case as you depress the spring bars.

Then just apply the same pressure to the other side while maintaining the first side where the spring bar has already come out of the hole.

Maybe a little hard to explain, but keep trying and you will get it. Having a good spring bar tool helps as well.

[Chadridv]

It's possible the spring bar is jammed up. If at your first attempt you happen to put a slight bend in the spring bar, it won't open without a lot of pressure. If that is the case, it's best to let a professional watchmaker/tech have a look.

Otherwise, I'm not sure. Maybe just take a breath. Get some air and come back for another try in a bit.

[kwingy]

I have no problem changing on Rolexes but the first time I tried a black bay I was at it for over an hour before I thought I can be doing much better things with my time then this. The tolerance on them are just set really high. Tried on a Pelagos with similar results.

[samson66]

SUCCESS!!! Good God that was a PITA! Why do they include a fabric strap with the damn watch and then make it so difficult to change out! I've changed bands in other watches but have never struggled like this the first time. Sheesh, hopefully it will be easier next time around... Thanks for the tips guys!



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[samson66]

I would still say the toughest part is getting the one end of the spring bar to hold up, just outside the lug hole, while you are trying to release the other side. Kind of an art to it that I guess gets easier the more you do it.

[Wcdhtwn]

It takes practice, nothing more. Looks like you got er done.

[Dan Pierce]

Worth the learning curve, look great!
dP

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

It's possible the spring bar is jammed up. If at your first attempt you happen to put a slight bend in the spring bar, it won't open without a lot of pressure. If that is the case, it's best to let a professional watchmaker/tech have a look.

Otherwise, I'm not sure. Maybe just take a breath. Get some air and come back for another try in a bit.

Hate it when that happens, and it happens reasonably often with Rolex/tudor springbars.