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Need some help sourcing end links

Anthony Lane
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I have a Favre-Leuba bracelet here that doesn’t have the original 19mm end links. Finding these will be a crapshoot, but I’m trying. In the meantime I’m looking for an aftermarket set that will get me by until originals are sourced.

Some key measurements that I have taken is the spacing between the spring bar links and then the width of them. I know that side profile of the end links should match the lug profile of the watch as well. Any help would be be appreciated.

Here is the bracelet (it’s for a first execution Favre-Leuba Ref 59603 “Deep Blue”) the end links I currently have force these two inner band links outward as they are about 0.5mm too wide for the openings in the endlinks. This causes a bit of binding and too tight a fit.

A1C469BC-0255-4BC5-97BD-01172D3BF2B7.jpeg
Edited:
 
C68F7B5C-89E9-4672-B1C1-D5EF0AC4FAEE.jpeg
Anthony Lane
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
What’s the width of the endlinks you need?

how could I forget the most important part. 19mm

Example:

BCA8917A-00C9-4732-B874-EEB31D55C60F.jpeg
Edited:
 
janice&fred
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You previously pictured a pair that, if I remember correctly, you said were too tight? A lot can be done with metal, and since they were a close approximation already, you might look into finding a talented laser welder and metal finisher to make them fit as you need.
 
JwRosenthal
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janice&fred janice&fred
You previously pictured a pair that, if I remember correctly, you said were too tight? A lot can be done with metal, and since they were a close approximation already, you might look into finding a talented laser welder and metal finisher to make them fit as you need.
Agreed. The Uncle Seiko Holzer is very similar to this and he sells just the endlinks if you only want those. If the spacing is similar, they may be able to be customized
 
Anthony Lane
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Agreed. The Uncle Seiko Holzer is very similar to this and he sells just the endlinks if you only want those. If the spacing is similar, they may be able to be customized

I actually emailed the Uncle before making this thread. I wonder if what I currently have are Holzer endlinks, they look very similar. We’ll see what he says.
 
Dan S
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This style of bracelet is sometimes called "railroad", so that might help you search.

or

File the openings in the current endlinks a tiny bit, which is a very standard approach.
 
Anthony Lane
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Dan S Dan S
This style of bracelet is sometimes called "railroad", so that might help you search.

or

File the openings in the current endlinks a tiny bit, which is a very standard approach.

That helps. I have been doing a bit of filing. The problem with these current endlinks is that they sit very high between the lugs and there is noticeable a gap on the top side of the link. I have tried to reduce the height of the links but then it’s impossible to get them to fit. I’m tired of trying to make these work.
 
Dan S
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I get it, I don't even want to describe the amount of time I have spent fiddling with end-links. Still, adapting the ones you have may nevertheless be easier than your other options. Even if you find something close, most likely you'll need to adapt them as well. Take a break, and maybe when you approach the problem again after a day or two, you'll have some other ideas about how to proceed.
 
JwRosenthal
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I do the same with stamped endlinks on many watches- tweak, fit, tweak, fit, bend and squeeze- by the end you are lucky if they don’t snap (and I have had a very rare old one do that 🤦)

not sure what method you are using but I use two pair of small precision pliers with the teeth wrapped in electrical tape. I have also found it easier to do micro tweaking with them mounted to the bracelet with a spring bar as it gives the endlinks some support. But using a pair to hold and a pair to bend makes it much easier than one pliers and your fingers.
Not sure what other methods people are using to manipulate endlink- I would love to hear others methods.
 
JwRosenthal
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What would be interesting to find our is who made the bracelet. There were only a handful of OEM bracelet manufacturers back then and many made cross brand bracelets. Any identifiers in the clasp as to a maker? If you have that, you may be able to find another from a different brand but with the same fit
 
Anthony Lane
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I might give the uncle Seiko Holzer links a try. Just waiting to hear back on some spacing measurements between the windows where the watch links feed into. Bracelet is signed Favre-Leuba, and Stainless Steel. I have confirmed with FL enthusiasts that this is the original bracelet. I have also been told “good luck” in locating the original endlinks. Damn the person who lost those!

In the meantime I’ll keep modifying what I have and aim for a better fit. Thanks OF!

2CC77384-AB6E-4CFD-AD78-684F43CA1E77.jpeg image.jpg
 
Anthony Lane
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I have located what I believe to be the endlinks that came with the bracelet. They look identical.

5CD5EFCC-B5F1-4E2B-935E-AB7D77C36357.jpeg
 
JwRosenthal
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Probably new repro pieces but who cares! Worth a shot and I would buy 2 or 3 pairs in case they need to be modified and get mangled.

I have been on the hunt for a couple sets like these for about a year
32BEFE32-3300-43A9-B6A3-09609FCFC306.jpeg 85660713-2EC1-4382-81F0-4DD1139A6F5D.jpeg 789BCD77-D887-4DBE-A007-A1382E6380A7.jpeg


You take what you can get when it comes to vintage endlinks.
 
timesofplenty
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Anthony Lane Anthony Lane
I might give the uncle Seiko Holzer links a try. Just waiting to hear back on some spacing measurements between the windows where the watch links feed into. Bracelet is signed Favre-Leuba, and Stainless Steel. I have confirmed with FL enthusiasts that this is the original bracelet. I have also been told “good luck” in locating the original endlinks. Damn the person who lost those!

In the meantime I’ll keep modifying what I have and aim for a better fit. Thanks OF!

2CC77384-AB6E-4CFD-AD78-684F43CA1E77.jpeg image.jpg

i think that might be a jb champion bracelet
 
Anthony Lane
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timesofplenty timesofplenty
i think that might be a jb champion bracelet

this is helpful, thank you. A quick Google search reveals that JB Champion did in fact supply bracelets to FL. The clasp on my bracelet looks identical to this one, even though mine is not signed JB
 
4ABFFEF8-8321-4EFB-BE08-642559F889FD.jpeg
JwRosenthal
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Anthony Lane Anthony Lane
this is helpful, thank you. A quick Google search reveals that JB Champion did in fact supply bracelets to FL. The clasp on my bracelet looks identical to this one, even though mine is not signed JB
What you are looking at it this one

383092FE-D1EE-45F1-8714-542D496A84B2.jpeg


The links on yours are more angular. Not to say it may not be made by JBC, but it’s not quite the same bracelet.
 
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