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A reminder to check your vintage bracelet clasps.

Davidt
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This came up in my WTB ad and thinking about it, it’s worth flagging in the wider forum.

I was putting my Eterna Kontiki on this week when a part of the clasp snapped off when closing. Thankfully as I still had hold of it, the watch didn’t fall to the floor. This prompted me to check my other clasps and I found one was very, very close to the same failure type, with a significant fracture, held in place by a thread of steel and good luck.

So, it’s worth a period check of your vintage clasps, as if it fails on the wrist the outcome could be worse.

The watch in question.
IMG_6063.webp


Broken inner clasp
IMG_6150.webp IMG_6152.webp IMG_6151.webp
 
140dave
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VBF strikes again
(Vintage Bracelet Failure)
I am a bit paranoid about this, I admit it, and threads like this just reinforce my paranoia lol

(Laughing at my paranoia, not your issue. I think I have the blade you need and will measure)

Edit: measured 15x35 so not quite the size you’re looking for.
Edited:
 
JwRosenthal
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Perhaps one of our resident watchmakers or experienced hobbiest can share how to drive the pins out (what tools to have) that hold the sections together so a generic or replacement section can be put in place.

This is a problem though
IMG_3063.webp


(I have a couple like this) as they are riveted- but there has to be a way to remove it and replace with a spring bar.
 
DON
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Perhaps one of our resident watchmakers or experienced hobbiest can share how to drive the pins out (what tools to have) that hold the sections together so a generic or replacement section can be put in place.

This is a problem though
IMG_3063.webp


(I have a couple like this) as they are riveted- but there has to be a way to remove it and replace with a spring bar.
Dremel with small grinding disc or wheel to remove most the head and trying not to touch the side of the clasp
 
Davidt
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Perhaps one of our resident watchmakers or experienced hobbiest can share how to drive the pins out (what tools to have) that hold the sections together so a generic or replacement section can be put in place.

This is a problem though
IMG_3063.webp


(I have a couple like this) as they are riveted- but there has to be a way to remove it and replace with a spring bar.

As the ‘blade’ (what are these pieces actually called?) is already toast, I was going to snip it carefully here, assuming the two pieces of the bar would come away from the outside of the clasp. Yes it would break the middle blade of the clasp as well but that’s already broken anyway.
IMG_6168.webp
 
vienna
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I would cut the bar at the circled area with a thin Dremel cutting wheel if I wanted to safe the blade,

kind regards Max

IMG_8488.webp
 
CalgaryJim
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Dan S Dan S
These pin rivets are available to buy.
I assume you need a riveter tool to fit them?
 
Dan S
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These are just press in rivet pins. Tap the head in with a hammer.
 
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