Franck Muller strap install tip

[HauteHippie]

This probably won't help *too* many people since this isn't a watch that has been talked about for a couple years now, but I finally finished a franken FM Conquistador project: Old school 2892 FM Conq, genuine silver dial (thanks to you know who), custom painted hands (The Zigmeister), Dial and hands relume (The Zigmeister - the gen dial had not had luminous applied yet), and a Hadley Roma Genesis II Louisiana gator strap in black. Well, this strap is quite nice. It's well padded and just the right thickness for the FM, i.e. there will be no gap between the case and the end of the strap. However, if you think those spring bars are just going to pop right into place, well, think again!! The spring bar holes are VERY close to the edge of the case, so there is minimal clearance for the strap. And after about 20 minutes of cursing at the thing and thinking it was just too thick to fit - it dawned on me..... Bend the spring bars! Done, and done! Total time 30 seconds and the watch is now on my wrist. Pics to follow.

[alt.watch.obsessive]

I've seen genuine straps described as having slightly curved springbars as well. There's actually a tool to bend bars without snapping them.

[HauteHippie]

I've seen genuine straps described as having slightly curved springbars as well. There's actually a tool to bend bars without snapping them.

I've seen that tool, too. I used what I had on hand: two pairs of needle nose pliers.

[pizzanooo]

Have one of those old school, looking forward to your pics.

[Chronus]

Hadley Roma Genesis II Louisiana gator strap in black. Well, this strap is quite nice. It's well padded and just the right thickness for the FM, i.e. there will be no gap between the case and the end of the strap. However, if you think those spring bars are just going to pop right into place, well, think again!! The spring bar holes are VERY close to the edge of the case, so there is minimal clearance for the strap. And after about 20 minutes of cursing at the thing and thinking it was just too thick to fit - it dawned on me..... Bend the spring bars! Done, and done! Total time 30 seconds and the watch is now on my wrist. Pics to follow.

It took me over an hour and lots of cursing !

I got one side in... but the other side was impossible. I eventually got some thinner spring bars and it worked a lot easier, though I sunk the "fork" of the spring bar tool deep into my finger one time !