Putting a Leather Strap on a 5-Digit Day/Date Isnt as Easy as it Sounds

[offrdmania]

Those of you familiar with a 5-digit day/date are familiar with the weird shaped ends on the spring bars used in the President bracelet.
The notch for the spring bar tool fork is inward by 2mm compared to other more common spring bars making them very hard to use with a leather strap unless you want to use a 19mm strap to gain access to this notch by sliding the strap from side to side or crush the ends of a 20mm strap trying to reach the notch with with the fork end of the tool.



After speaking to no less than a half dozen AD's trying to find an 18K yellow gold spring bar that will work with a strap for a Day/Date, all of whom pointed me in the direction of the wrong spring bar pictured above; I was able to track down an old part number for the correct spring bar in the tech section of our very own forum. Unfortunately, the part number listed was quite old and had seen a few part number updates over the years. With a little detective work, I was able to track down the most current part number and get the spring bars ordered. The part number is B23-30208-D2 in case someone else wants to put a strap on a 5-digit Day/Date.

[swish77]

Great detective work! And stunning Day-Date! Black leather on black dial. Great combo.

[Seascooch]

I have thought about doing this a few times, It's nice to see what it really looks like! Beautiful.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Seascooch

I have thought about doing this a few times, It's nice to see what it really looks like! Beautiful.

And with the correct spring bars.

You dont want to use stainless steel spring bars in a gold case. It will make the holes in the case bigger over time.

[miamiclay]

I can hardly tell you how much time, effort and frustration this information will likely save me. I will be up your way in Ft. Bragg starting in early July — If you come over to the coast, PM me and I will be happy to buy you lunch!

PS - By any chance, did your research also reveal the current part number for the WG version of these? (I believe that info would be useful for members with either WG or platinum DDs.)

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

I can hardly tell you how much time, effort and frustration this information will likely save me. I will be up your way in Ft. Bragg starting in early July — If you come over to the coast, PM me and I will be happy to buy you lunch!

PS - By any chance, did your research also reveal the current part number for the WG version of these? (I believe that info would be useful for members with either WG or platinum DDs.)

For white gold, I only have the old spring bar part number of 23-9385. I dont know what the new superseded number is unfortunately.

[05carbondrz]

I’d love to know what a set of those Gold Spring Bars sell for.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

I’d love to know what a set of those Gold Spring Bars sell for.

If you are lucky enough to get them from an AD, if they will actually sell them to you, then you are looking at about $250 for the pair.

If you have to pick them up in the secondary market then they tend to sell for between $150-200 each.

They are solid 18K gold.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

If you are lucky enough to get them from an AD, if they will actually sell them to you, then you are looking at about $250 for the pair.

...

They are solid 18K gold.

This. I got a pair from my local AD in Japan for my 1802, and they were the equivalent of about $220.

They wouldn't sell me them loose, though - I had to actually produce the watch for the tech to fit the springbars onto. I guess they wanted to know that I owned the watch, and that I wasn't just planning to flip them on the secondary market.

[Monsterdood]

I just inherited an old 1803 D-D from my dad and it had regular steel pins on some random old band. So I ordered a burgundy band from StrapFreak (sorry not splurging for a President band right now) and then these pins from offrdmania and look forward to getting them on. The watch is getting serviced at the moment but thanks for the pins and the quick shipping offrdmania!


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[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Monsterdood

I just inherited an old 1803 D-D from my dad and it had regular steel pins on some random old band. So I ordered a burgundy band from StrapFreak (sorry not splurging for a President band right now) and then these pins from offrdmania and look forward to getting them on. The watch is getting serviced at the moment but thanks for the pins and the quick shipping offrdmania!


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I am glad to help you out and hopefully you can do what I did and upgrade to the bracelet once funds become available.

[Monsterdood]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

I am glad to help you out and hopefully you can do what I did and upgrade to the bracelet once funds become available.

Then I’ll need the other 18k pins LOL!


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[photo2u]

Thank you so very much for the information. I owe one nice bottle of Rutherford.

[carwashchris]

What about a WG 1803 are matching correct spring bars for them as well ?

Thanks Chris

[SubMarine]

I don’t want to see what your lug backsides look like...

[Grandcrew]

Your research paid off! Tux worthy on the black leather strap.

[springer]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

And with the correct spring bars.

You dont want to use stainless steel spring bars in a gold case. It will make the holes in the case bigger over time.

When did gold Day-Date spring bars go from being 10k to 18K? Last I heard they were 10k.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by springer

When did gold Day-Date spring bars go from being 10k to 18K? Last I heard they were 10k.

The package they come in says 750 on it

[carwashchris]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

The package they come in says 750 on it

So are 750 marked package's YG or WG and do they come in both colors ? If not,I guess you can use the YG on a WG watch but it may look weird.

Thanks Chris

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by carwashchris

So are 750 marked package's YG or WG and do they come in both colors ? If not,I guess you can use the YG on a WG watch but it may look weird.



Thanks Chris

The picture above is yellow gold but the white gold is also marked 750 which is 18K

[SubMarine]

So much work for a second rate configuration... I would rather have the President band.

[BigJaJa]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

So much work for a second rate configuration... I would rather have the President band.

Watch is beautiful both with president band and on leather IMHO. It’s a matter of taste but for some people (including me) dress watches worn when dressing up look nicer on a strap.

[nigelk]

The watch looks stunning. I'll keep the part number in mind ;) Thanks!

[krh7]

Is part #B23-30208-D2 also the match for a 1803? Anyone try it?

[Vincent65]

I never had a problem using the original notched 18K spring-bars with strap changes on my '78 18038. Just briefly compress the strap a little with the tool and it's fine. In terms of 'damage'/wear-and-tear, it's no worse than buckling up the strap with the tang in the hole, so to speak...

[carwashchris]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

I can hardly tell you how much time, effort and frustration this information will likely save me. I will be up your way in Ft. Bragg starting in early July — If you come over to the coast, PM me and I will be happy to buy you lunch!

PS - By any chance, did your research also reveal the current part number for the WG version of these? (I believe that info would be useful for members with either WG or platinum DDs.)

In addition to the above question, will these same bars work for a 4 digit DD or DG or do they use something else ?

And BTW the this was great thread OP Thanks Chris

[Mbalce]

You don’t have to buy new 18k spring bars - I use the stock spring bars from my 18038.

What you need is to buy a strap that is set up or comes with “quick release” spring bars. The leather will have a little oval hole where the quick release catch comes through.

Guess what? That hole lines up perfect to stick your fork through to release one side. Any strap will have more than enough give to come straight off, not like a solid end link where you need to work both sides sometime. Pics included. Not sure if you can see the little slot in the leather but it’s there.



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[Mbalce]

View from the front.




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[carwashchris]

Thanks that's a big help, 1 more question are the spring bars for a holes case 36mm DG different ?

Chris

[Mbalce]

Originally Posted by carwashchris

Thanks that's a big help, 1 more question are the spring bars for a holes case 36mm DG different ?



Chris

Kinda - if the case has holes all the way through the lug you can use any style spring bar. No shoulder, single shoulder, or double shoulder. They should all work. You can either use the fork if they have a shoulder or the pin side (or a toothpick) to release the bar. Biggest thing for the hole thru the lug is to use the right size (they use 1.5, 1.8 or 2.0 depending on the reference) as well as appropriate material (steel in a steel case and gold in a gold case). Using dissimilar metals cause premature wear.


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