I change my straps or bracelets often, so some years ago I bought a Bergeon 6767F. Later I picked up the 6825, also, from Bergeon.



Has anyone on OF bought tools or do you use tools included in a purchase?

 

I imagine many on here have a 6767 but the other thing is is about £120 so I am guessing not too many amateurs will have laid out the dough. I have a cheap timing machine that cost about that though.

 

Pretty sure amateurs is all they sell those to....

 

I also fell into that trap...if the spring bar is right for the lug width it is pretty useless as you can't press both sides of the spring bar inwards as much as you would need to remove the bracelet [emoji849]

 

Blimey mate!...Just nearly choked on a biscuit reading that answer.

I'm like that when I see cheap bricklaying trowels and dodgy spirit levels.

 

The pliers speed up changing straps/bracelets. It is another option I use. They are less traditional, but perhaps some are too lazy to try them.

 

Can you elaborate, please? I use it to remove the bracelet from my 2254 with no issue.

 

Sorry mate - didn't mean to cause a choking incident!

Yes, when you do a certain thing every day to make a living, sometimes the "new and improved" tools they sell are questionable in a professional setting certainly. The only spring bars I can't get out quickly using my regular old Bergeon tool are those that need to be cut out.

 

I actually bought the 6825 awhile ago and returned it because it was much too cumbersome for me to use vs the 6111 and you can't press the springbar 100% to release a strap. I also have the 6767F and S but never use it because the 6111 works better for me.

 

I only use the knife or screwdriver ^_^

 

Which presumably means your lugs are scratched to hell and you only have 3 fingers on your left hand?

 

None applied to me ^_^

 

@Archer. I'm wondering what your 'regular old Bergeon tool' is and what you use for those really tight SEL end links.

I'm another one (of those amateurs) using the 6767. And I've been tempted by either the 7825 tweezers or the 6825 pliers.

 

I use it so much all the printing with the numbers has worn off long ago, but I know it's a 6111. It has a 1 mm fork for bars (same as the 6767 I believe), and that flips around to a 0.8 mm pin for watches with drilled lugs. The other end has a bent 4 mm fork - I use this on watches with straps.

Keep in mind that most people who are not watchmakers are under the impression that tools come ready to use, but very few watchmaking tools do - I am used to fitting, filing, or polishing most things once I take it out of the box for the first time. I've filed the smallest fork to fit something specific when needed. Also I use this tool multiple times per day, nearly every day, so although this isn't like troubleshooting a chronograph or burnishing pivots using a Jacot tool, there is a learning curve and experience does count for something.

Cheers, Al

 

I try, but keep in mind that I am no native English speaker.

The pliers as they are called above are used to press in both spring bar ends at the same time. This is in theory very useful when you want to remove a bracelet that has end links that are fitted with very small tolerances to the case, e.g. Rolex. In this case you can not wiggle the end links or tilt them. If you use a tool like the 6767, you do this on one end. I've experienced the using the 6767 fork on one end still compresses both ends of the spring bar, and the end that is still in the whole takes a portion of the spring bar end. You have the same "contraction" of the spring bar like pushing on both end PLUS some of the spring bar end in one hole. With the pliers I have experienced on two watches, e.g my GS, that compressing the spring bar on both ends and trying to remove it in its position in the middle of the lugs without tilting the end link, the spring bar ends are still in the holes of the case or scratching the case by touching it. This has to do with the position the forks are grabbing the spring bar end and how much the spring bar end protudes outwards from the fork.

I don't know if this is understandable without a drawing...

 

Mostly made by DeWalt

 

I have the same exact setup. I HATE scratching the case, so the pliers for the Rolexes were really the best investment I've made with my limited skills.

 

The 6767 works great. What's really nice is when the lugs are entirely drilled through and you can use the pin end to remove it.

I recently quality Swiss spring bars for about $1.50 apiece. Using the 6767 I could not even get the bars in, and if I did I'd never get them out. I don't think they can be compressed to 18mm. I don't think the pliers would have been any more helpful. Anyways I purchased the same ones in a 16mm size and they are sturdy. The lug would probably snap off before the spring bar would fail.

 

Mix of Makita and Milwaukee for me.

 

Or, you can buy an FB-504 from Otto Frei. Identical to a Bergeron 6111, but $25.00.