The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have a new Navitimer coming in this week (the wait is killing me!!) and I ordered it with an OEM deployant strap as I already have a spare OEM strap and deployant (no holes). I borrowed a spring bar tool from my friend (one end with fork) but I'm afraid to use it. To remove the buckle(?) is pretty easy as the spring bar ends are exposed. However, there doesn't seem to be much room, if any, to remove the strap from the other end (clasp?). Is there a way to do this without ruining the leather around the ends and the clasp? I think I should at least put Scotch tape around the clasp.

Edit: fixed image issue

Your image isn't working, but as long as you are careful removing the strap then there shouldn't be issues - you can compress leather without damaging it. I would tape off the lugs to avoid scratching, but if you are just swapping the deployant from one watch to another then you don't need to remove the strap from the watch - or am I misunderstanding?

My bad about the pic. As you probably already know, the clasp can be separated into 2 pieces by releasing the spring bar in the pic. The part that is detached has the folding section of the clasp and holds the adjustable part of the strap. The part that's left (in the pic) seems to have no obvious way to remove it from the strap. There are no pin holes on the outside. Maybe an easier solution is to buy that part of the clasp and leave it on the other strap but that might not be cost-effective.

OK, now I'm with you.

If you compress the strap it just has a regular spring bar in there. It will come off fairly easily if you compress one end while applying pressure from underneath the strap (which will actually be the top of the strap). As I said in my earlier post you won't damage the leather by compressing it.

Thanks, Roffensian! That did the trick. I put scotch tape around the work area, put tool inbetween strap and clasp and pushed pin inwards while pulling strap at 45 degree angle and popped it out with no scratches to clasp or damage to strap. The force required to do this scares me a little so I doubt I'll do this very often.

Glad that it worked out OK.

It gets easier with a little practice