FOIS + Forstner Flat Link

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PiperJ

·Oct 25, 2023

Hi all,

I bought a forstner flat link bracelet for my beloved FOIS. It looks absolutely great however I want to mix it up and put another strap on.

I can’t get the spring bars to budge at all! I took it into my local Omega Boutique and they had no luck either (I’m not sure how much they tried to be fair).

has anyone else run into this problem and could you give any advice?

 

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Davidt

·Oct 25, 2023

I’d say it will just require more effort. I’ve managed to remove spring bars that have been in place for decades, including the dreaded shoulderless ones on non lug hole cases. Just make sure you tape up the lugs so they don’t get scratched.

 

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redzer007

·Oct 25, 2023

FOIS is 19mm. Any chance you fitted 20mm spring bars when fitting the Fostner? Not the end of world, just will take more persuasion (force) to remove, and a good springbar tool

 

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Donn Chambers

·Oct 25, 2023

redzer007

FOIS is 19mm. Any chance you fitted 20mm spring bars when fitting the Fostner? Not the end of world, just will take more persuasion (force) to remove, and a good springbar tool

Wondering this as well. I have no problems taking my Forster bracelet off — in fact, I just removed it to put on the original strap. Took less than 3 seconds for each side. Can you take a picture of the backside showing where the spring bar connects to the lug. Any possibility you used a shoulder-less bar?

 

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ErichPryde

·Oct 25, 2023

I have had this happen with incredibly cheap Chinese springbars. You can try using a thin flathead screwdriver to get in there and force it out maybe

 

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wilderbeast

·Oct 27, 2023

I’ve had no problems with the spring bars supplied with the Forstner flatlink and, as @Donn Chambers testifies, it’s a quick change - and I do change my FOIS up quite a bit. It’s one reason why I take pains to keep the original spring bars with the bracelet when I remove it.

From the OP's first post it sounds like the original spring bars that came with the bracelet were used - is that right? I’m also not convinced that the boutique will have tried very hard…

 

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scapa

·Oct 27, 2023

Just did mine in a few seconds, so I join others in wondering whether these are 19mm spring bars? I have very occasionally had to snip a spring bar free of a bracelet or strap, but in this case I'd make sure the lugs are well-taped and then try to gently pull one end free without damaging case or holes. Bon chance!