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Fitting a Metal Watch Bracelet



Most watch bracelets are connected to the watch with spring loaded bars known as spring bars or watch pins. These are the bars that fit into tiny holes in the shoulders of the watch case and are held in place by springs, securing the strap to the watch's body.




Step 1. To remove the old watch strap or bracelet you will need to compress one end of the spring bar so that it can be freed from the hole in the watch case in which it usually sits. You can buy a special spring bar removal tool to do this, which has a special shaped forked end, or you can improvise by using a small screw driver, to compress the bar enough to free it from the watch case.


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Step 2. Some metal bracelets are supplied with a choice of either a straight or a curved end piece (Multi-end bracelets). If the strap you are fitting has this option you need to select either the straight of the curved end-piece which is the correct size to fit between the shoulders of your watch case.
If the bracelet you are fitting does not have optional end pieces (Single-end bracelet) you can go straight to step 5.


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Step 3. If using a watch bracelet with optional ends, connect the chosen end piece to the end of the bracelet by sliding the spring bar through the end piece and the bracelet end.


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Step 4. This image shows the end piece attached with the spring bar in place. Before proceeding to fit the bracelet make sure that you are fitting the right end of the bracelet to the correct side of the watch case for the bracelet clasp to fasten the correct way round when the watch is on the wrist.  


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Step 5. With the spring bar in place, through the end of the bracelet, position one end of the spring bar into the hole inside the watch shoulder. (Make sure that you are fitting the right end of the bracelet to the correct side of the watch case for the bracelet clasp to fasten the correct way round when the watch is on the wrist.)


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Step 6.Now ease the other end of the spring bar into position against the other shoulder of the watch case.


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Step 6. A spring bar removal tool may be helpful to compress the end of the spring bar and push it the hole on the inside of the watch case shoulder.


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Step 6. Repeat the procedure with the other end of the bracelet and now you have your new watch bracelet fitted.


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