bumroxas Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Hi Guys, I really like the look of having the rounded ends of sub springbars sticking out a bit from the lugs but I couldnt find any that did. Plus the fact that I kept breaking my 1.3 drillbits didnt make things easier for me too. So I made my own using stainless steel paperclips....Yeah you heard me..its quite embarrasing but its the best I could do given my tools and parts available. Anyway here's what i ended up with. Its an MBW budget build 1680 turned 1530 with Josh's 5513 dial and a crystal from an mbw 1665 If anyone knows where i can get springbars that'll get this effect let me know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 you can achieve this effect by over polishing the watch case, thats how the gens get it from years of polishing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumroxas Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Hey Highoe, So thats how it works! I held a gen 1680 with this look and made it my model. I guess those lugs were overpolished to the extreme by Rolex service center. Well back to my work bench... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 you can achieve this effect by over polishing the watch case, thats how the gens get it from years of polishing Exactly. Standard springbars will stick out because the lugs have been thinned with excessive polishings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumroxas Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Can I keep this look for my 5513? or will it look funny based on the pics? here's another pic- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeromatic Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 My yukiwatch springpins stick out a bit on my 6538 build i polished the case sides to replicate this rounded effect only problem i had with these springpins were the tube part was 20mm exact and it was a hard to fit them between the lugs, on ebay you can find aftermarket pins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeromatic Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) my watchmaker friend makes his own pins for his watches he cuts a stainless steel rod the correct diameter and puts two slight bends in it and then feeds the rod into the lugs and its held in place as the bends cause the rod to act like a spring made correctly the only way that the pins come out is when you use a tool to push the pins out this is a good quick fix or can be left in, there is no risk of failure like ordinary springpins iin fact he has replaced most of his springpins in his collection ! almost forgot you will need a stainless steel tube for the width between your lugs because the rod/spins are thinner . note this mod can only be done to lughole cases! . Edited September 24, 2012 by aeromatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumroxas Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 this is very interesting aeromatic...I kinda get what you mean but pics would be awesome if you have some... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeromatic Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) this is very interesting aeromatic...I kinda get what you mean but pics would be awesome if you have some... Here are some quick photos to give the general idea. The stainless steel rod (lughole redrilled to 1.3mm Rod cut to size (depending on how much you want the pins to stick out next job to sand/polish and round off the ends with 600 wet n dry Here are the bends i have shown them bent a little bit more than is nesserary even one slight bend in the middle will work as long as the rod is a tight fit you will need a tube 2mm or a springpin tube with the ends and spring removed one you push the rod through the first lug then fit the tube until the other end is seen you will need to put pressure on the rod to line it up with the other lughole Disclaimer this is meant as a quick fix there are correct rolex springpins available this method could be used also for bracelets that the endlinks will not fit 2mm springpins just fit without the tube part. this may seem (crude) Edited September 24, 2012 by aeromatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumroxas Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Very ingenious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Can I keep this look for my 5513? or will it look funny based on the pics? Quite honestly, unless your watch has some glaring issue that screams FAKE (causing the viewer to suspect & look for additional clues of fakery), no one (other than you) notices whether your springbars peek out of the lug holes or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 And there are perfectly good spring bars out there at decent prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denimhead Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Used these before, they do need a bit of rounding off but very solid. Top ones by the way http://www.cousinsuk...4/494/1961.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeromatic Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 The puretime 1680 rep case (my base for a 5513) came with 2mm springbars and they were super and strong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 And there are perfectly good spring bars out there at decent prices Most of the watch parts suppliers sell 2mm, non-stepped Swiss-made springbars, which are similar to Rolex's (actually, they may be the same since I am pretty certain that Rolex sources theirs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denimhead Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I think your right Freddy, the Cousins ones look exactly the same as the Gen ones I've owned before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumroxas Posted September 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 I have to agree with you guys, but for me it's these little details that makes it worhtwhile for me. guess i'm just bored...ha ha. Thanks for the heads up..i'll take a look at cousins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 I think your right Freddy, the Cousins ones look exactly the same as the Gen ones I've owned before The look is not the salient issue here (there is little to no difference in the appearance of springbars of the same size/style/type). It is the spring tension, which is considerably stronger on Swiss-made springbars vs Asian-made, that make the difference. The stronger the internal spring, the less chance the springbars will collapse or let go, which can result in a very nasty accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.