I have been trying to find said bars for weeks. Nay, months.

I once got gouged for a grubby, used, pair on the Bay by a bloodsucker. I vowed never again...

So I bought some from Cousins UK (Female Swiss Spring Bar Ø1.8mm x 18mm, 10pcs). I was optimistic and after the hellaciously slow shipping, quite excited for their arrival...

It turns out the diameter of the case pin exceeds that of the hole in the bar! DOH! As if these little buggers weren't hard enough to fit even if the size is right! No wonder UG collectors are looked upon as the autistic savants of the WIS world, with their crazy female spring bars!

Would anybody be willing to swap a virgin bag of 10pcs for a single, solitary set for my Tri-Compax?

 

I suspect that case started out with fixed lugs and someone cut it.

You could have the lugs drilled, I suppose.

 

What is the diameter of the case pin? Some 18mm female spring bars with a 0.95mm hollow end diameter are here, if this helps: http://www.ofrei.com/page1466.html

 

I'd hate to vandalize it just to get a strap on it...

 

Thanks. I'll get out the Verniers later and check...

It looks like I have to buy a minimum order of 15pcs (!). I'll give it a go if nobody here has any they'd be willing to swap with me

 

This issue is quite common on these pieces. In the old days, they made female spring-bars with flanged ends. Unfortunately, I don't have any. They look like this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FEMALE-SPR...ge-Watches-16mm18mm19mm20mm-NOS-/192873003722Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Take a caliper of the post OD ... let us know. I will dig around in my parts inventory.

 

It's even worse than you imagine, as when you do find them, they tend to be temperamental.

 

One could say that it was already vandalized.

 

Or have a goldsmith restore the fixed lugs?

 

Read the thread title wrong...I thought I'd find stories of the dangers of females at bars this spring

 

Have you seen this reference with fixed lugs?

 

There are pics online that look close. Not my watch, not up to me to do the research.

 

Mine has the same case. Same lugs. Bought my female spring bars from Jules Borel in KC. Worked the first time. Sorry about the struggles.

 

That sounds like a mega thread in the making. I’d subscribe!

 

Pins are 1.3mm diameter...

 

And yet you comment - multiple times - as though you know lugs were originally fixed, hence my curiosity.

 

Looks like these are too small too. I’m contending with 1.3mm pins...

 

The ones I linked have a 1.2mm I.D. unfortunately.