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Flat link - mix & match

V
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Hi!
I was wondering whether anyone has tried doing a frankenstein flat link bracelet? My biggest gripe with current offerings from both US and Forstner are that "vintage" flat links are 19mm and in my opinion they look a bit out of place on speedies (just a personal preference). I was wondering, what if i were to use the fixed links from contemporary Forstner FL and pair them with removable links and clasp from a normal Forstner one? In theory it could be a best of both worlds, full look with light clasp and jangly aesthetics. Maybe even one could use US folded end links for the ultimate feel. Only thing is that i am afraid of, is the thickness difference between bracelets but maybe it wouldn't be that noticeable. Anyway, if anyone has both bracelets and would be willing to try the mentioned combination i'd be really thankful since currently i only possess the vintage one.
Cheers!
 
Donn Chambers
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The vintage-style links are thinner than the contemporary bracelet. So even if you could do this, the mismatch would look weird and cheap, IMO.

I find the contemporary Forster to be superior to their vintage one in every way. Just get it and be done with it.
 
NotJackson
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
The vintage-style links are thinner than the contemporary bracelet. So even if you could do this, the mismatch would look weird and cheap, IMO.

I find the contemporary Forster to be superior to their vintage one in every way. Just get it and be done with it.

I agree. I have the contemporary Forstner flat link and think it’s excellent.
 
V
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
The vintage-style links are thinner than the contemporary bracelet. So even if you could do this, the mismatch would look weird and cheap, IMO.

I find the contemporary Forster to be superior to their vintage one in every way. Just get it and be done with it.
I do not like the feel of the milled clasp, its too thick and too smoth on the bottom making it stick to the wrist when the wrist gets sweaty. For the same reason im not using my stock bracelet
 
V
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NotJackson NotJackson
I agree. I have the contemporary Forstner flat link and think it’s excellent.
I do not doubt, however im not a fan of contemporary bracelets
 
josiahg52
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Yeah, I don't like the huge-ass milled clasps either. I thought the whole point was to emulate the light bracelets and then everyone wants a big and heavy clasp on it because "premium" or "my precious is expensive so the bracelet should feel expensive, too." The links are already bigger. The screwed links really irk me, too. I use the US flat link and is sold as a 1035. I think making the first link after the end-link 19mm also would've been a better choice. I love the construction and the pressed clasp and it works on my SM300 nicely.
 
NotJackson
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josiahg52 josiahg52
Yeah, I don't like the huge-ass milled clasps either. I thought the whole point was to emulate the light bracelets and then everyone wants a big and heavy clasp on it because "premium" or "my precious is expensive so the bracelet should feel expensive, too." The links are already bigger. The screwed links really irk me, too. I use the US flat link and is sold as a 1035. I think making the first link after the end-link 19mm also would've been a better choice. I love the construction and the pressed clasp and it works on my SM300 nicely.

I don’t dispute that the lighter flat link design is more true to the original. And I really wanted to love it. Paradoxically, I found the contemporary flat link to be more comfortable on my wrist. Definitely one of those YMMV kind of things.
 
josiahg52
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NotJackson NotJackson
I don’t dispute that the lighter flat link design is more true to the original. And I really wanted to love it. Paradoxically, I found the contemporary flat link to be more comfortable on my wrist. Definitely one of those YMMV kind of things.

For sure. I think the US 1035 is the "best" of the style and then Forstner has two different flat links now? I'm wearing a US 1450 President on my green Seamaster and it's great. I wish there was a little more definition on the end link but really, US has nailed the vintage feel and look where Forstner seems to focus on the aesthetic which is a fine.
 
V
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NotJackson NotJackson
I don’t dispute that the lighter flat link design is more true to the original. And I really wanted to love it. Paradoxically, I found the contemporary flat link to be more comfortable on my wrist. Definitely one of those YMMV kind of things.
Tbf if I were to try the combination in question I’d have to get the contemporary one anyway, so I’d probably give it a shot while at it. I just have a part of vintage one laying so i was wondering how it would turn out ‍♂️. Im still hoping that someone could help me out.
 
mrchen
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You can change out the milled clasp for a clamshell style one on the contemporary flat link. I did this with my bracelet but it ended up being a little more complicated than just pushing the pin out with a pin sleeve removal tool. I recall the pin holding the clasp was welded in place and needed to get tapped out with a jeweler’s hammer and I might have also needed to drill part of it out. Not impossible though and The end result was the contemporary bracelet with a vintage clasp.
 
V
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mrchen mrchen
You can change out the milled clasp for a clamshell style one on the contemporary flat link. I did this with my bracelet but it ended up being a little more complicated than just pushing the pin out with a pin sleeve removal tool. I recall the pin holding the clasp was welded in place and needed to get tapped out with a jeweler’s hammer and I might have also needed to drill part of it out. Not impossible though and The end result was the contemporary bracelet with a vintage clasp.
That is one way of doing it, i just thought that mixing fixed contemporary links with removable vintage ones could have more of a 1039 vibe since it was a little janky with taper too
 
josiahg52
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What about fitting a pressed clasp to the contemporary flat link in place of the milled clasp? I'm guess I'm okay with the idea of a slightly heavier bracelet for the slightly heavier modern Seamaster but I don't want a big milled clasp. I know this is not a case of just putting a new cover on the clasp element, it would require complete replacement.
 
V
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josiahg52 josiahg52
What about fitting a pressed clasp to the contemporary flat link in place of the milled clasp? I'm guess I'm okay with the idea of a slightly heavier bracelet for the slightly heavier modern Seamaster but I don't want a big milled clasp. I know this is not a case of just putting a new cover on the clasp element, it would require complete replacement.
As mentioned before its just a matter of a springbar and a knurled pin
 
josiahg52
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V vct4
As mentioned before its just a matter of a springbar and a knurled pin

It looks like press out the first pin away from the milled clasp and that leaves you a male receptacle on the bracelet end that should match up with the pressed clasp.

Screenshot_20230724-121300_DuckDuckGo.jpg Screenshot_20230724-121306_eBay.jpg
 
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