This was the same advice I received from @oddboy a couple of years back when I had the same problem.

It was a very good piece of advice, Simon Freese fixed it for me and probably saved me destroying the end links. Somehow he got the bars out in one piece and returned them to me with the watch.

 

I prefer a screw slotting file, but again there is potential to damage both the lugs of the case and the end links when you start cutting.

Cheers, Al

 

Thanks, great idea.

 

Just for grins, can you post a pic of the scene of the crime?

 

Yup, can do it later. Thanks.

 

that’s what she said

if you can just see the lever, try looping some dental floss (if you have teeth to floss and not dentures, thus dental floss around) and hook it around.

 

Has Achim said....
Some old spring bars have a tab which is hard to see unless you turn the spring bar, also hidden by years of dirt.

 

Thanks, I’m hoping this is this case. Will be a much easier solution if so.

 

I don't know who would use a spring-bar like that with a bracelet, but I guess it's no dumber than using shoulder-less spring-bars.

 

Not sure if Omega used these, but they are common enough on vintage Omegas to make me think they did use them. I agree they are stupid, and make getting the bracelet off more difficult. They never look like the photos posted above - they are almost always so caked with crap you can't see the little handle. Sometimes the body cheese is so hardened that I have to split the bracelet, open the case, remove the movement, and chuck the case and bracelet in the ultrasonic to clean it out, just to be able to remove the bracelet...

 

Omega did definitely use them from new, the case I show is NOS but has been in my drawers for years, I have also seen them 100s of times before too on other Omega watches especially with the flat link bracelets.. I like to see them on an old Omega but I don't leave them on.

 

When they’re lined up perfectly, and not crudded up, they actually work okay. But it’s almost never the case, so I think it’s a good idea, poorly executed from a design perspective.

 

I've had gold ones on 18kt flat link bracelets too, not sure if they are solid gold, but gold coloured anyway

 

The QR spring bars are great in straps designed for them, but in anything else...no thanks.

 

Back in the 70's and 80's Patek Philippe used 18kt spring bars with the little 'handle', I doubt if they use them nowadays. On a watch like a PP that wouldn't get a lot of heavy wear they were easy to extract.

 

Wrap some un-waxed floss around the springbar tightly, pull snugly on each end, pull down.

 

The culprit:

 

That outer bar is all fixed all the way?

Al's advice is looking better and better.

 

Are you skilled with a Dremel and cutting bit? I don’t have a steady enough hand to even attempt it on something like this without fear of taking out the lug, but I know some people who can. Just depends on your confidence.