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It came with either a bond or a speedy style bracelet from the factory. The speedy one tapered to 18mm at the clasp. I have both ( courtesy of a 2230 Seamaster). And here we we are with a new shark from our great @docthor

New to me [emoji111]️

It looks like interest has waned somewhat for the BP Fifty Fathoms models. Some of this may be attributed to the market being satiated, or it could be a combination of relatively high prices, the lack of new versions, and the step backward in accuracy of the V2 & V3 S/S Black dial. But for those of us who have the watches, there seems to be a recurring theme no matter what model, what tool do we use to change out straps. There have been several threads on this, even on the genuine forums, where the problem persists as well. Some of the first threads on the various forums advised using a Torx screwdriver to unscrew the threaded end caps. Problem was/is, different size Torx screwdrivers were needed. however they seemed to do the job. After reading another thread a couple of days ago from someone who was trying to figure out what tool was needed, I thought about recommending Torx as well, as I had used them to change the strap on my Rose Gold. Before recommending anything, I decided to google Blaincpain Fifty Fathoms Spring bars. It lead me to quite a few discussions both on the rep forums as well as gen forums. Reading about the springbar dilemma, it was soon apparent that the Torx screwdriver was the wrong tool for the job. The guys on the gen forums were all pretty angry at Baincplain, as they would not sell the proper tool, and required the watch be sent in to an AD just for strap changes!! Probably OK if you were in a city with a convenient BP AD, not so good if you were 3-4 hundred miles away. So actually , we have it pretty good, as we are able to remove the end caps, usually with not too much trouble. Another problem with the gens, BP uses some type of thread locker on the screws, so even with the proper tool the screw must be heated to release the thread locker. Some of the more ingenious guys were able to figure out that the gen end caps used a .9mm Hex head Allen wrench. After reading through forum discussions on both rep and gen, I decided to have a look at the screw caps on my BP RG as well as my BP Blue dial. I took some close up photos of the ends to let everyone see what we are encountering. My Rose gold has had one strap change from the rep strap to a gen strap, my Blue has not been touched except when the strap was attached at the factory. One thing that was pretty apparent to me after looking at the photos, these screw ends are constructed of very soft metal. As you can see from the photos, the original hex heads have been distorted and you can see the grooves cut by the Torx screwdriver. Any decent metal with proper hardness would not be recontured like this. The first photos are the screw caps on my Rose Gold. as you can see, they are pretty "boogered up". I am concerned that over time, the Torx screwdriver will completely round out the opening and there will be no way to remove the screw end. The one in the first photo is the best of the lot, it still retains the hex shape The next one is not so good, you can see the grooves where the Torx screwdriver bit distorted the metal. The next photos are the Blue dial, no strap changes and it's pretty easy to see the distinctive hex heads So what did I conclude from this. First off, you need to be very careful when changing out the screws. Just looking at these photos, it's pretty apparent that the correct tool is necessary. Using a Torx bit is probably fine as long as you are careful that it's the correct size and is not slipping and rounding out the inside of the screw head. If I were starting with a fresh set of screw ends, I believe that I would try to see if I could find a proper hex head Allen wrench. Another alternative is to use a fat 23mm Spring bar like the Seiko bars. I have a V1 incoming and the owner told me that he lost one of the screw ends the first day he had the watch. He purchased a set of tubes from Essinger which need to be cut down slightly, but the screw end works with the original bar. So that is and alternative. Another alternative is purchase a set of genuine bars from a BP AD. Downside of this is the expense, the bars with screw ends are around 40.00 USD each. So a set would be 80 bucks per watch!! That's pretty steep for a set of bars. So there are definitely several alternatives, everyone has to decide which one they are going to use. I would say if you are into frequent strap changes, then the Fat Seiko bars might be the best alternative. Replacing the hex head end screws with the Essinger slotted would also be and alternative. Finding the correct size hex head wrench is another. .9mm is the correct size for the gen but it might not fit the rep. Torx bits have been and are being used, just be careful that you get the correct one and be mindful that over time the Torx is going to completely distort the original contour of the screw end. It's just too bad that the makers didn't use better quality material for these screw ends as well as using a standard size that would accept the correct hex head wrench, problem solved!! After a lot of thinking and looking, I contacted a friend who has a genuine BP Fifty Fathoms. luckily he lives pretty close by. I asked him if he had ever changed out the strap on his FF. He told me that he had a couple of times, but always seemed to go back to the OEM sailcloth strap. I told him what I was doing and asked if he could stop by at his convenience and let me try the genuine lugbars in my latest addition A V1 BP FF. I told him that I was thinking about trying to find a set of gen lugbars, but I didn't want to shell out 80 bucks or so only to find that didn't fit. He agreed to come over if I supplied a "wee dram" of single malt!! Yesterday he came over and we sat at my bench and removed the lugbars with the two 0.9mm hex drivers he brought over. Much to my surprise and delight they fit!! I was able to take some close up photos of the screw ends and the hex driver we used. While this is a welcome update and certainly adds another option to the question of what to use for the lugbars on your FF, it is a rather expensive option. I don't see a lot of folks rushing out to a BP AD ands springing for a set of genuine lugbars.I would expect that some folks will if they know in advance that the OEM lugbars will fit their watch, just as some folks have sprung for a genuine sailcloth strap. Photos of the correct hex driver and OEM screw heads So there you are, the OEM lugbars on a BP FF V1. Here are my conclusions and a bit about each: 1. Lugbars that come standard with your watch Pros: You already got em Fine if you never change the strap, or are very careful fit very nicely in the lugholes Cons: Very soft and easy to round out the screw ends if not very careful Must purchase Torx Screwdrivers or file down a Hex driver(s) The 0.9mm Hex driver that fits the OEM Screwheads WILL NOT fit the rep screw heads. they are too small 2. Essinger bars and screw ends Pros: Cheap and available Screw ends will work with the rep bars Cons: Screw heads are slotted, and the ones I got were a little too big and did not fit inside the lugholes, aesthetically not very nice. And a dead giveaway, if someone with knowledge of gens looks closely. 3. Seiko "Fat" springbars (Or equivalent) Pros: Cheap, readily available Makes strap changes very easy and quick Cons: The shouldered springbars don't fit well inside the lugholes, never having tried them, I cannot say, but if only the very end of the springbar fits inside the lugholes, they don't look very secure. 4. OEM Lugbars Pros: Look great, fit well Very secure Strap changes pretty easy with the proper tools Cons: EXPENSIVE!!! What would be a great alternative would be 23mm shoulderless springbars like the "fat" 2mm ones used in Vintage Rolex sport watches with lugholes. Unfortunately, despite searching all over the internet, I could not find any source for 23mm Shoulderless springbars. That is my summation of the various lugbar options available for the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

Pam 297 on isofrane Sent from my HTC 10

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Lovely... what is the deal with the different bracelets with this model - I've seen both in pics but never researched?

There are as so many I want

You can try Vac too: http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?247392-Vac-Aftermarket-sub-pearl

Lovely. Mine says hi.

I tread softly along the fine line separating raving insanity and lucid moments of ingenuity. The issue is I've no idea which is which mostly.

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Stay here. We are a much more cultivated and forgiving bunch anyway. Not so crowded but with a lot of substance.

I tread softly along the fine line separating raving insanity and lucid moments of ingenuity. The issue is I've no idea which is which mostly.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A better way is get a ladies tudor and put a refinished tudor dial branded as Rolex.